The NSW Waratahs are proud to announce Dave Porecki has signed a two-year extension to his current deal that will see him remain at Daceyville and Rugby Australia until at least the end of the 2024 season.
The Manly Marlin – who made had previously made one appearance for the NSW Waratahs in 2015 before re-joining the team – spent five seasons playing in the English Premiership with Saracens (2016) and London Irish (2016 – 2020).
Since returning to Australia from London Irish, Porecki has been a mainstay of the Waratahs starting side with his set-piece prowess and leadership a key asset to the team.
Porecki’s strong form in the 2021 Super Rugby AU season was rewarded with selection in Dave Rennie’s mid-season Wallabies squad but a calf injury suffered against the Highlanders in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman cruelled his chances in the national team with a long layoff.
Despite the injury, Porecki has bounced back to his impressive form from 2021 and was again rewarded with selection in this year’s mid-season Wallabies squad.
The chance for higher honours and to play a part in the Waratahs’ resurgence was a key factor in Porecki’s decision to remain in NSW.
“It was a pretty easy decision for me to stay at the Waratahs, especially because of the direction we’re headed. I never really considered moving overseas because I wanted to continue to play with this special group,” Porecki said.
“To be a part of such an exciting project and to help build something from the ground up, is the type of stuff that I value as a player.
“When you look at last year, we were rock bottom, and to see how we're building this year and the improvements the team’s made is incredibly special.
“There is also a lot of excitement around the Wallabies, with the World Cup and the Lions tour on the horizon. Getting a taste of that setup in the camps I’ve been involved in was awesome, but I’ve got to play well and earn my spot first.”
Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman was delighted to lock in the services of the highly sought-after hooker.
“We’re really happy to have Dave re-commit to the Waratahs for a further two years, particularly as he is well regarded and was chased both domestically and abroad,” Coleman said.
“Dave is our resident scrum doctor and is a real technical and knowledgeable problem solver in and around our set piece work. He’s a big part of our leadership group and has a real stabling influence on our younger team members.
“We’re really excited to help him continue his progression and push his case for Wallabies selection.”
