The New South Wales Waratahs ( /ˈwɒrətɑːz/ or /ˌwɒrəˈtɑːz/; referred to as HSBC Waratahs for sponsorship reasons, the Waratahs, the 'Tahs or the florists) are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 (formerly Super 14) Super Rugby competition. The Riverina and other southern parts of the state, are represented by the Brumbies, who are based in Canberra and owned by the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union.

The Waratahs has historically been the name for the New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU) representative team, and became the name for the New South Wales team when it entered the Super Six, Super 10 and Super 12 competitions. The name and emblem comes from the waratah, the state flower for New South Wales. Their home ground is Sydney Football Stadium at Moore Park in Sydney. The Waratahs are the equal third most successful Australian Super Rugby franchise (having never won a championship, along with the Rebels and Force), behind the Brumbies (2 championships - 2001, 2004) and the Reds (4 championships - 1992, 1994, 1995, 2011).

Israel Folau (Tongan: Isileli Folau; born 3 April 1989) is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing for the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played Rugby league for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL) from 2007 to 2008 where he broke the record for most tries in a debut year. He then played with the Brisbane Broncos from 2009 to 2010. Playing as either a wing or centre, Folau has also represented the Australian rugby league team and Queensland in State Origin matches, becoming the youngest player to play for both teams.

Folau was born in Minto, New South Wales to parents of Tongan descent. He attended Lurnea Public School and Westfield Sports High School before his family moved to Brisbane. In Brisbane Folau attended Marsden State High School from where he was selected for the Queensland Schoolboys squad in the Australian Under-15 Championships.

At the Australian championships, Folau was spotted by a Melbourne Storm scout and was invited to play his junior football with the Storm's feeder club at the time, Queensland Cup team, the Norths Devils. He won a premiership while playing with Norths and became the first player to represent Queensland Under-19's while still only 16 years old. From playing with the Queensland Schoolboys and the Devils, in 2006, while in year 12 at Marsden State High School where his classmates were Chris Sandow and Antonio Winterstein, Folau was selected to play in the Australian Schoolboys squad that toured Wales, England and France. Folau was strong representing Australia and at the end of the tour was awarded the Australian Secondary School Rugby Leagues (ASSRL) Award for the best back of the tournament. Playing years above his age gave Melbourne the confidence to give Folau an opportunity in the NRL.

Kurtley Beale (born 6 January 1989) is an Australian representative rugby union player of Aboriginal descent. His primary position is fullback.

Beale signed with the Waratahs while still only a 16-year-old at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill. Before leaving school, Beale captained the Australian Schoolboys and regularly attended training sessions with the NSW Waratahs from the age of 15. At 17, he attended his first Wallabies training camp, on the invitation of coach John Connolly.

Western Sydney Rams

Beale initiated the inaugural season of the Australian Rugby Championship by starting five-eighth for the Rams in every game. Beale was one of the season's leading try scorers and try-assists in the competition. The Rams went on to become minor premiers in 2007 thanks to the contribution of Beale and other established rugby talents such as Tatafu Polota-Nau, Chris Siale and rising star Lachlan Turner. Beale was awarded player of the tournament (2007) in the ARC.

New South Wales & Waratahs

Beale made his Senior NSW debut against ACT in January 2007 in a trial game in Wollongong. He scored the first of his many memorable tries by chipping around the winger and outpacing the fullback to score after coming on from the bench. The game was one by NSW 12–0. Two weeks later, after again coming off the bench, Beale made a late break to assist in the winning try against the Crusaders. Coach Ewen McKenzie had stated that Beale would not be rushed into the starting line up and would instead play second fiddle in his debut year behind Daniel Halangahu. However, it was no more than two weeks later that he made his starting debut against the Sharks at ABSA stadium, South Africa, only to lose 22–9. The following week in only his second start as fly-half, Beale scored one of the most memorable tries of the season by chipping over the first line of defence and stealing the ball out of the fullback's hands to score his first five-pointer in Super 14.^{[citation needed]}