Mike Catt departs Waratahs by mutual consent after two eighth-placed finishes

Mike Catt has left the Waratahs by mutual consent, ending a two-season stint as the Sydney club’s attack coach that yielded back-to-back eighth-place finishes in Super Rugby.

The 75-cap England international joined Dan McKellar’s coaching staff in late 2024, having previously served as Ireland’s attack coach. His arrival carried considerable pedigree — Catt was part of the England squad that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia — and the club recorded improvements in points-scoring across both seasons under his guidance, even if results ultimately disappointed.

Waratahs Director of High Performance B-J Mather confirmed the departure takes effect immediately and paid tribute to Catt’s professionalism. “Mike has made a significant contribution to the Waratahs since joining, and on behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank him for his efforts and professionalism during this time,” Mather said. “He has not only brought extensive international experience, but also a strong commitment to helping both players and coaches improve at the Waratahs. We wish Mike well in the next chapter of his coaching career.”

The recruitment process for Catt’s successor has begun, with the remaining coaching staff facing scrutiny after another campaign that fell short of expectations. The Waratahs’ season ended with a 31-25 defeat to the Force.

Head coach McKellar, however, insists he is committed to turning the club’s fortunes around and expects to remain in charge heading into 2027. “You’ve just got to roll with the punches,” McKellar said following that final defeat. “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. 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.”