Waratahs recruit cleared to play after contract stoush is resolved

Common sense has prevailed in the contract stoush between the Waratahs and the Force over Max Burey, with the new Tahs recruit being cleared to play for his new club in Super Rugby AUS.

Tensions flared this week when NSW and the Force were locked in a standoff over Burey’s availability for the Waratahs in the SRA competition, which kicks off next week.

Sydney-raised Burey, 27, signed with the Waratahs for 2027-28 after four years at the Western Force but was still contracted with the WA through to November 1, as per the Rugby Australia standard playing contract.

Burey, who was player of the tournament in the inaugural SRA last year, was not included in the Force’s squad for this season, but he was also blocked from training and playing for the Tahs, given he was still under contract with the WA club.

Attempts to negotiate a release and early transfer of contract between the RA-owned Waratahs and the Force failed last week, with the WA club rejecting NSW’s offer of around $10,000; less than half of Burey’s last two months of wages.

After Burey was left off the Waratahs’ squad list in Tuesday’s SRA squad announcements, acting NSW coach Locky McCaffrey said it was “disappointing” to have Burey sitting on the sidelines and called for better co-operation between clubs.

Further negotiations between the Waratahs and the Force - led by Rugby Australia - saw a financial agreement finally reached on Wednesday, and Burey’s contract has now been transferred to NSW.

The details of the agreement have not been disclosed, but both sides were keen to resolve the impasse and get Burey playing, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the two clubs’ positions.

Burey will now be available to train with the Waratahs and play in round one for NSW. That will be a big boost for the Tahs given they started the week with none of their three contracted five-eighths for next season available for the opening game.

With Bernard Foley not returning until the start of pre-season in November, Burey blocked and Joey Fowler having suffered a concussion in club rugby, the Tahs were forced to call in Manly’s Joe Dillon. Dillon had been with the Brumbies for two seasons before returning to Manly in the Shute Shield this year.

The four-week competition, which runs through September, was created to provide more high-level rugby for contracted stars and aspiring club players.

“I’m not across all the contracting stuff between the Tahs and the Force,” Dillon said on Tuesday. “I probably won’t comment on the contractual stuff, but I think all four Super franchises should be really aligned in making sure that all rugby players are playing footy. Not just Max, but any player.

“It’s disappointing if we’ve got someone fit and available – a young, potentially high-level Super Rugby player – who isn’t playing rugby in Super AUS. If that’s for the Brumbies, the Reds, the Force or us, in my opinion, it’s disappointing.”

With 37 Super Rugby caps over four seasons at the Force, Burey shapes as the primary back-up to Foley as the Tahs’ five-eighth in 2027. Fowler, 21, played in SRA last year but is yet to debut in Super Rugby.