If the hapless ’Tahs are putting the 2014 band back together, don’t stop at Foley and Phipps

July 18, 2026 — 10:52am

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News that Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps are returning to the Waratahs next season produced predictable responses this week.

The next signing has to be Cliffy Palu. Bring back Jacques Potgieter. Where is Jeremy Tilse?

Pick a member of the Waratahs’ title-winning squad in 2014 and their name has appeared in the comments this week. Given Foley and Phipps were both stars of that side, and are on the downhill slope to 40, it was an understandable reflex from the rugby world.

But those fans with sky-blue blood had another understandable response: what the hell do these signings say about pathways and talent development inside the Rugby Australia-owned Waratahs?

The rage is justified and slightly misplaced. Signing the duo is decent business given the circumstances, but how the Waratahs and RA got themselves into this position is bush league stuff.

Phipps has come in as an 11th-hour filler, following a last-round injury to Jake Gordon that’ll sideline him for the first third of 2027, and a decision to let Michael McDonald go as the third halfback on the roster. Rumours that Teddy Wilson is leaving are wrong, he has re-signed for next season.

Under the terms of his contract, the Tahs have 19-year-old halfback Angus Grover progressing from the academy into the main squad in........

© The Age