The NSW Waratahs have signed Australian Sevens star Dylan Pietsch on a two-year deal, locking in the promising outside back in Sky-Blue for their 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
Pietsch born and bred in Wiradjuri country NSW, grew up playing rugby for his hometown team the Leeton Phantoms, before attending The Kings School and representing GPS 1’s and NSW 1’s as a backrower in 2016.
The talented junior was selected in the Australian 7’s program straight out of High School and has been a mainstay on the sevens tour, culminating in Australia’s recent Olympics campaign in Tokyo where he featured in every match and scoring one try.
Despite spending most of his time in the seven-man game, in between series events Pietsch has plenty of experience in the Shute Shield playing for Randwick where he made his 1st Grade debut as a 19-year-old.
Pietsch was excited for the next chapter in his career and the possibility of wearing the famous sky-blue in Super Rugby.
“For me I’ve always wanted to play Super Rugby, it’s always been a big goal of mine,” Pietsch said.
“To be able to do it where I live and have a lot of mates currently playing was a major factor in me signing here and hopefully, I’ll get to fulfill a childhood dream of playing Super Rugby in a Waratahs jersey.”
Pietsch is looking forward to the change of pace of the traditional form of the game and despite playing his junior football as a backrower has his eye on a wing spot in the team.
“The challenge for me is being quicker in my decision making, in sevens you have a lot more time to read options in attack and defence, whereas in the 15-man game the field is more compressed, and you have to adjust quicker to limited space and smaller opportunities,” Pietsch said.
“I think wing is probably where I want to start off, I only moved to the backs last year so I want to knuckle down on the wing position and then hopefully I can move around after that.”
Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman has firsthand knowledge of what Pietsch can bring to the Waratahs after coaching against the winger in the Shute Shield.
“I’ve been really impressed with his performances and the impact he made in the Shute Shield for Randwick in between his seven’s events,” Coleman said
“He’s a fast, skilful ball runner with experience playing in big pressure matches and is a great addition to the team.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to know and work with Dylan.”
The NSW Waratahs officially begin their pre-season on 27 September.
