McKellar vows to stay at Waratahs despite fifth-place finish and injury blow to Gordon

Dan McKellar has declared his intention to continue as NSW Waratahs head coach into 2027, despite overseeing a 5-9 Super Rugby Pacific campaign that ended with a 31-25 defeat to the Western Force in Perth on Saturday night.

The Waratahs finished eighth in the 11-team competition, a step back from their 6-8 record in McKellar’s first season in charge. After opening 2026 with back-to-back wins, they managed just three victories from their remaining 12 matches — including surrendering a 20-7 lead in the final-round loss to the Force.

McKellar, who is contracted through 2027, said he has no concerns about his future at the club. “Yeah mate. I’m contracted for next year, and I certainly don’t worry about that sort of stuff,” he said. “I’m in this for the long haul, and we’ll enjoy a beer together and reflect on the season, and then I’ll quickly get to work around turning things around for ‘27.”

He acknowledged the frustration of a season defined by missed opportunities but expressed confidence in the direction of the squad. “You’ve just got to roll with the punches. Times like this make the good times feel even better, and they’ll come. We’ve got a group here that are buying into what we want to do. Nothing changes from my end.”

The mood around the Waratahs was darkened further by two significant injury concerns to emerge from the Perth defeat. Scrumhalf and Wallabies regular Jake Gordon suffered a suspected Achilles tendon rupture and faces scans, with the club not anticipating positive news. The injury puts his participation in Australia’s international season in serious doubt.

“He’s a tough little bugger, a very resilient sort of character,” McKellar said of Gordon. “Over the next period of time he’ll have his moments no doubt, so we’ll make sure we look after him and get around him.”

Centre Samu also left the field against the Force with a suspected medial ligament injury. Scans will determine whether he can recover in time for the Wallabies’ Nations Championship, which begins on July 4.