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McKellar Departs Waratahs; NZ Rugby Board Reviews All Blacks Coach Robertson

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Rugby Shake-Up: McKellar Leaves Waratahs, All Blacks Coach Under Review

Waratahs Head Coach Departure

Dan McKellar has left his role as head coach of the NSW Waratahs with one year remaining on his contract, following two seasons in charge. He stated the decision was for personal reasons.

"I gave my all to the role." – Dan McKellar

Team Performance: The Waratahs finished eighth in the 2026 Super Rugby season (last among Australian teams) with a 5-9 record. In 2025, the team narrowly missed the finals with six wins.

Context: An internal review reportedly influenced the decision. Less than ten players from the squad McKellar inherited in 2025 remain with the club. Attack coach Mike Catt also departed previously, while assistant coaches Dan Palmer (forwards) and Lachy McCaffrey (defence) remain.

Interim Arrangements: Assistant coach Lachy McCaffrey is expected to lead the team in the upcoming Super Rugby AUS season. Potential candidates for the permanent role mentioned in reports include Scott Robertson, Scott Wisemantel, Michael Cheika, Chris Whitaker, Stephen Hoiles, Chris Latham, and John Manenti.

Statements

  • Waratahs chairman Tony Crawford thanked McKellar, describing his work ethic as "second to none."
  • McKellar thanked his coaching staff and players, stating he gave his all to the role.

Reaction

Wallabies player Tom Wright, who worked with McKellar at the ACT Brumbies and the Wallabies, expressed sadness at the news. Wright stated that McKellar gave him his Super Rugby opportunity and described him as a "world-class" coach.

All Blacks Coaching Review

Separately, the New Zealand Rugby (NZR) board is reportedly reviewing the position of All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson, 20 months before the next Rugby World Cup.

Performance and Factors

  • Record: Robertson's coaching record since succeeding Ian Foster includes 20 wins out of 27 matches, a 74 percent success rate.
  • Factors in Review: Reports cite factors including the departure of coach Leon MacDonald due to "philosophical differences," observations regarding the team's attacking strategies, perceived issues with in-game adaptation, and significant defeats to South Africa and England in 2025.
  • Review Process: The ongoing assessment has reportedly intensified following a review led by NZR chairman David Kirk, former player Keven Mealamu, and former high-performance manager Don Tricker.
  • Player Sentiment: The New Zealand Herald reported that some senior players, including Ardie Savea, were evaluating their futures in New Zealand due to internal concerns. The Herald indicated that feedback targeted Robertson and his senior assistant Scott Hansen.

Potential Successors

Discussions regarding the team's direction have been ongoing for over a year. Reports mention several potential candidates to succeed Robertson:

  • Jamie Joseph: Currently coaching the All Blacks XV and the Highlanders, Joseph is considered a leading candidate. He coached the Highlanders to a Super Rugby title in 2015 and led Japan to a quarter-final in the 2019 World Cup. Reports suggest he would seek to retain forwards coach Jason Ryan and may attempt to recruit Tony Brown from the Springboks.
  • Joe Schmidt: The departing Wallabies coach is also mentioned, despite his stated desire to return to New Zealand for family reasons.
  • Others: Potential candidates include Bristol coach Pat Lam, Blues coach Vern Cotter, and former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.