Darren Coleman’s NSW tenure will wrap up at the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season after the Waratahs announced that his contract as coach would not be extended.
NSW’s 27-7 loss to the Force on Saturday was the final straw as it ended the injury ravaged club’s faint finals hopes.
The Waratahs are last on the ladder with a miserable 2-10 record and two games left to avoid the wooden spoon.
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“The decision not to extend Darren’s contract was made after careful consideration and evaluation of the high performance function, the team’s performance, and the future objectives of our organisation,” NSW chief executive Paul Doorn said.
“During his tenure, Darren has brought a deep connection to rugby in NSW, especially the Shute Shield, a passion for the game, and dedication to the team.
“His leadership of the program has always been very authentic, and he has built genuine connections with staff, players, and Waratahs fans. Under Darren’s leadership, the Waratahs have navigated through three challenging seasons, with resilience and determination being key aspects of his coaching.”
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Coleman steered the Waratahs to the quarter-finals in 2022 and 2023 before the wheels fell off this season.
He will speak to reporters on Tuesday.
“The NSW Waratahs expresses our gratitude to Darren for his hard work and dedication throughout his time with our club and extends its best wishes to Darren for his future endeavours,” Doorn said.
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“His instilment of ‘Tah Tough’ to the team’s on field performances has been commendable, fostering a culture of teamwork and hard grind. We sincerely thank him for his contributions to the NSW Waratahs and rugby in NSW.”
The club said the process to identify and appoint a new coach for 2025 and beyond has “now officially commenced.”
Michael Cheika is a leading option for the club to pursue after he parted ways with Argentina while Randwick coach Stephen Hoiles has expressed his desire to coach NSW at some stage.