The NSW Waratahs have added to their impressive stable of young talent, signing Carlo Tizzano and Michael McDonald for the 2020 Vodafone Super Rugby season.
The signing of the Perth duo takes the NSW Waratahs count to 13 Junior Wallabies from the squad that made their way to the Final of the U20 Championships in Argentina this year.
McDonald – originally from Carlingford, Ireland – emigrated to Australia with his family in 2013, where he has been a member of the Rugby WA’s Academy.
The 19-year-old scrumhalf represented Western Australian in the U19 Rugby Championship in 2018, as well as appearances for Perth Spirit and now Sydney in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) – he joins the NSW Waratahs on a three-year deal.
Another Rugby WA Academy product and Australian U20, Tizzano joins the NSW Waratahs on a two-year deal.
An energetic loose forward, Tizzano picked up the Fortescue Premier Grade’s P.G.
Hampshire Award as the competition’s best and fairest player.
Representing the Australian Schoolboys in both 2017 and 2018, Tizzano will join a NSW forward pack featuring Australian U20 teammates Pat Tafa, Will Harris and Angus Bell.
NSW Waratahs Head Coach, Rob Penney said the addition of Tizzano and McDonald would further strengthen his squads next generation of players.
“We’ve [coaching staff] been busy looking into what is a wealth of talented, young players on the books here at the [NSW] Waratahs,” Penney said.
“NSW has a proud history of player development and the current crop of Junior Wallabies are testimony to that, adding Michael and Carlo represents an astute piece of recruitment from Tim Rapp [GM of Rugby].
“We’re always wanting to look within our own system when bringing players though, but being able to provide external players an opportunity to be involved with the [NSW] Waratahs is also important.
“Michael and Carlo are excellent young players looking for an opportunity in Super Rugby, they were part of what was a very successful Australian U20 squad this year and I’m excited about their potential amongst a young group of players.”
McDonald who has been playing under Chris Whitaker for Sydney in the 2019 NRC said the prospect of playing Super Rugby was an exciting one.
“It’s one of the premier rugby competitions in the world, to be involved in the squad here at the [NSW] Waratahs ahead of next season has been enjoyable so far,” McDonald said.
“Playing in the NRC [for Sydney] has been a great experience, working with a guy like Whits [Chris Whitaker] day-in-day-out has already been really beneficial.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to come across and play for the [NSW] Waratahs and get started for next season.”
Tizzano was looking forward to beginning life in a Super Rugby set up.
“It’s exciting to be coming across to the [NSW] Waratahs,” Tizzano said.
“I know a lot of the guys from the [Australian] U20s and Schoolboy squads, playing and training alongside them is something that appealed to me.
“There’s a strong group of coaches and a lot of experienced players that I’ll have the opportunity to learn from and compete with over the next two seasons – I’m really looking forward to it.”
Tizzano will see out the remainder of the NRC with the Western Force before linking up with the NSW Waratahs for 2020 pre-season in late-November.
