The NSW Waratahs have added a key player to their 2025 Super Rugby Pacific squad, signing Jamie Adamson, a Shute Shield Premiership winner.
Adamson, 25, was part of the Easts Rugby Club team that claimed the Shute Shield title last year. The flanker has been training with the Waratahs during their pre-season preparations at Daceyville, Sydney, which resumed on Monday after the Christmas break.
The Waratahs are gearing up for their first match of the season, set for February 14 against the Highlanders in Moore Park, Sydney.
Originally from Durham, England, Adamson is a former England Sevens representative. He moved to Australia last year to focus on the fifteens game with Easts Rugby Club.
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar praised Adamson’s performance, noting that his strength, speed, and acceleration made him a standout in the Shute Shield.
“Jamie is powerful, has good speed, good acceleration, and he was a standout player in the Shute Shield,” McKellar said.
McKellar highlighted that Adamson’s progression from club rugby to the Waratahs is proof of the Shute Shield’s role as a pathway for players.
“It sends a good message to any young player out there playing club rugby in New South Wales—that if you perform, you have a chance to get picked up,” McKellar added. “Jamie’s story is inspiring. He’s had to fight and work hard for his opportunity, and players like him truly appreciate it.”
When Adamson first joined Easts Rugby Club, playing for the Waratahs wasn’t part of his plans. After the Shute Shield Grand Final, he returned to England, considering a return to Sevens rugby. However, after McKellar reached out and invited him to train with the Waratahs, Adamson quickly accepted the offer.
“I was back in the UK, then back out six weeks later,” Adamson recalled. “I did the pre-season before Christmas and was offered the opportunity to stay on.”
Adamson expressed his excitement about securing a spot with the Waratahs for 2025 but acknowledged the challenge ahead.
“It’s a nice pressure release, to know that I’m here for 2025; but the next challenge is to get selected and contribute to the team’s success,” he said.
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