Tate McDermott (born 18 September 1998) is an Australian rugby union player who plays for the Australian national rugby union team internationally and the Reds in the Super Rugby competition.[1] His position of choice is scrum-half.

Tate McDermott
Date of birth (1998-09-18) 18 September 1998 (age 25)
Place of birthBundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Height179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight82 kg (181 lb; 12 st 13 lb)
SchoolSunshine Coast Grammar School[citation needed]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Reds
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2019 Queensland Country 20 (40)
2018– Reds 81 (120)
Correct as of 5 March 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 Australia U20 5 (10)
2020– Australia 29 (10)
Correct as of 5 March 2024
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2017 Australia 4
Correct as of 16 July 2022

In 2017, McDermott made his Australian Men's Seven debut at the Wellington Sevens.[1] He also debuted in 2017 in the NRC Championship for Queensland Country. In round 2 of the 2018 Super Rugby season, McDermott made his debut off the bench for the Queensland Reds. McDermott has since had a stellar 2020 campaign with the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby AU starting all nine matches played and scoring 10 points.

McDermott used to surf competitively but quit to focus on rugby when his childhood friend drowned at the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships on the Gold Coast.[2]

Professional career edit

In late 2020, McDermott was called up to the Wallabies as scrum-half under Dave Rennie, which was an extended 44-man squad. He was rewarded due to an excellent season with the Reds.[3] He made his debut against the New Zealand national rugby union team in a record 43–5 loss. He played all games in the 2021 France rugby union tour of Australia, starting in one game and coming off the bench for the rest, and scoring his maiden try in the deciding test, won 33-30 and confirming the Trophee des Bicentenaries would remain with Australia. McDermott also appeared in the 2021 Bledisloe Cup series, where the Wallabies lost both games at Eden Park in Auckland.

McDermott played a pivotal role in the Wallabies' wins against the Springboks and the Pumas[when?], but was replaced by fellow halfback Nic White in a test against Argentina, forcing him to be benched, and dropped all-together in the final test against Los Pumas, being replaced by Jake Gordon.

In September 2023, McDermott was named vice-captain of the Wallabies prior to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Tate McDermott". www.redsrugby.com.au. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  2. ^ Emma Greenwood (12 April 2019). "How losing a mate helped shape Tate McDermott's rugby journey". rugby.co.au. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  3. ^ "BREAKING: 16 uncapped players named for Wallabies as new dawn starts under Rennie ahead of Bledisloe Tests". www.rugby.com.au. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  4. ^ Worthington, Sam (20 September 2023). "'Not quite sure': Captaincy saga raises eyebrows as Wallabies prepare for must-win Rugby World Cup Test". Nine.com.au. Retrieved 15 January 2024.

External links edit