Emily Chancellor is back in the Waratahs Women starting side and straight back into the captaincy chair for Sunday’s Super Rugby Women’s meeting with the Queensland Reds.
The Waratahs confirmed Chancellor’s return on Wednesday, naming the Wallaroos back-rower as one of four starting changes for the Round 5 clash at Leichhardt Oval. The match kicks off at 4.05pm AEST and arrives with immediate edge after NSW were beaten by the Western Force in Perth.
Chancellor gives Waratahs their on-field reference point
Chancellor missed that Force defeat after leading the Barbarians against Wales at Twickenham last weekend. Her return is not just a selection lift; it restores the most authoritative voice in a side still trying to protect its title standards while absorbing pressure from the chasing pack.
Bridie O’Gorman, Ruby Anderson and Martha Harvey have also been brought into the starting line-up, giving head coach Michael Ruthven a different balance after last week’s setback. Ruthven said the changes were designed to add “real punch and physicality” late in the contest.
That matters against a Reds side with enough familiarity to turn small momentum swings into a full arm wrestle. Chancellor’s presence should sharpen the Waratahs at the breakdown, but the bigger value may be tempo control: the calm reset after Perth, the set-piece voice, the standard-setter when the game starts to tighten.
The Waratahs confirmed Chancellor’s return on Wednesday. For background on her captaincy appointment, read the Waratahs’ original captaincy announcement. ReadRugbyUnion has also covered the wider Australian coaching picture after the Waratahs’ Dan McKellar exit.
