JACK DEMPSEY TO CAPTAIN WARATAHS -v- BRUMBIES

Gordon Rugby’s Jack Dempsey will captain the  NSW Waratahs as they descend on Mudgee, Saturday 4 February, where they take on the Brumbies in the first trial game in the build up to the Super Rugby season.
Saturday’s game will cap off a week-long trip to regional New South Wales for the full 2017 playing squad, after spending three days in camp at Lake Burrendong as well as running coaching clinics in Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo and Mudgee.

Waratahs Head Coach Daryl Gibson said he was excited about taking one of the pre-season matches to regional New South Wales to give fans, young and old, the opportunity to see and meet their 2017 Waratahs team.

“More than 83 per cent of our squad are born and bred New South Wales and we have several of the squad from regional New South Wales,” said Gibson.

“We have seen four per cent rise in the number of country players taking up rugby and we want to see that number grow even further.

“The support we have had for this pre-season game is amazing, from the Mudgee Council and Chamber of Commerce right through to the Mudgee Wombats.  We are expecting a big atmosphere on game day,” he said.

With only three weeks to the start of the Super Rugby seson Gibson is excited about the emergence of the next generation of Waratahs and what the season will have in store for the side.

“This is going to be an important Trial for many players competing for starting positions come the start of the season.

“Given the limited preparation we’ve had leading into the season, our pre-season games in Mudgee, Brisbane Global Tens and at Brookvale, are hugely important,” he said.

After a stand out 2016 season, Gibson announced Jack Dempsey as the Captain for the game against Brumbies this weekend.

SATURDAY 4 FEB – GAME DAY DETAILS 
Location: Glen Willow Sports Complex, Mudgee
3:55pm: Curtain Raiser; Gen Blue U20 vs Central West Blue Bulls
6:00pm: Main Game; NSW Waratahs vs Brumbies (note this game will be played in thirds).

NSW Waratahs Squad – Mudgee Trial
1. Tom Robertson
2. Hugh Roach
3. David Lolohea
4. Ned Hanigan
5. Senio Toleafoa
6. Jack Dempsey
7. Brad Wilkin
8. Michael Wells
9. Jake Gordon
10. Mack Mason
11. Harry Jones
12. David Horwitz
13. Irae Simone
14. Reece Robinson
15. Bryce Hegarty
16. Tolu Latu
17. Damien Fitzpatrick
18. Paddy Ryan
19. Sam Needs
20. David McDuling
21. Matt Lucas
22. Andrew Deegan
23. Andrew Kellaway
27. Ryan McCauley
28. Jamason Schultz
30. Con Foley
31. Maclean Jones