Palu boost for Waratahs
Palu is set to add to his 121 Super Rugby caps for the Waratahs, re-signing with NSW and Australian Rugby for 2016. Last week he joined his fellow Wallaby teammates at Waratahs pre-season training for the first time since their 2015 World Cup campaign.
The powerful No.8 was due to head to Japan following the World Cup, but was unable to take up the opportunity after prolonged rehabilitation on a hamstring injury, suffered during the Wallabies' World Cup match against Uruguay, saw him miss most of the Japanese Top League season.
Dynamic halfback Matt Lucas has re-signed with the Waratahs for two seasons until the end of 2017. The brother of former Queensland Red, Ben Lucas and Australian Sevens representative, Tom Lucas, Matt first joined the Waratahs back in 2013 and has 12 Super Rugby appearances already under his belt.
Lucas has spent the last couple of years as skipper of the Manly Marlins, highlighted by a number of standout performances for the side who have remained the team to beat in the Shute Shield over the past few seasons.
Palu said he was keen to return and sees it as a second chance to finish on a high note.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity. They didn't have to take me on, they could have picked someone else, there's a lot of young players coming through," Palu said.
"I'm the oldest now so that's a bit different. We're still doing a lot of the things we were doing before, still working hard, training hard. It's pretty exciting with the new coaches.
"I'm not going to change in the way I approach my rugby. I'll still go out there and be the best I can, but I also want to pass on my knowledge to the players."
The two signings will add to an already rich list of experience in the Waratahs side for 2016. In total, 23 players have been retained from the 2015 Waratahs squad.
This year's squad features 14 players with international experience, including 13 Wallabies and former All Black, Zac Guildford.
Guildford will line up alongside the likes of former National Rugby League speedster, Reece Robinson and superstars Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale and Rob Horne in the backs offering a mouth-watering variety of possible combinations for the Waratahs' coaching staff this year.
Another flyhalf is also set to be added to the team ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season.
Angus Ta'avao, with 48 Super Rugby caps under his belt, will be a welcome addition to the Waratahs heavyweight leaders including Dean Mumm, Will Skelton, Michael Hooper, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan and Dave Dennis.
Guildford, Robinson and Ta'avao, together with young Australian Sevens star, Brad Wilkin were some of the key signings for the Waratahs ahead of 2016.
In addition, top local NSW talent, Hugh Roach, Andrew Kellaway, Jack Dempsey, Jim Stewart and Ned Hanigan, have been elevated to this year's core playing squad.
In total, 33 players out of the 38 players were born in NSW, with most stand-out performers from NSW rugby development pathways, including the Shute Shield, NRC, NSW Under-20s, Australian U20s, NSW Schools, Australian Schoolboys and Waratahs Gen Blue development side.
The Waratahs kick-off their 2016 Super Rugby season on Saturday, February 27 against the Reds at Allianz Stadium.
Waratahs squad:
Forwards: Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan, Jeremy Tilse, Angus Ta'avao, Matt Sandell, Tom Robertson, Cameron Orr, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tolu Latu, Hugh Roach, Will Skelton, Dean Mumm, Sam Lousi, Senio Toleafoa, Ryan McCauley, David Dennis, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper, Jed Holloway, Wycliff Palu, Brad Wilkin, Ned Hanigan.
Backs: Nick Phipps, Matt Lucas, Jake Gordon, Bernard Foley, Andrew Deegan, Kurtley Beale, David Horwitz, Jim Stewart, Matt Carraro, Rob Horne, Zac Guildford, Andrew Kellaway, Reece Robinson, Henry Clunies-Ross, Harry Jones, Israel Folau.
