Tate McDermott

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Tate McDermott
Autumn Nations Series '22- Italia vs Australia-442 (52499905696) (cropped).jpg
McDermott with Australia in the 2022 Autumn Internationals
Date of birth (1998-09-18) 18 September 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight82 kg (181 lb; 12 st 13 lb)
School Sunshine Coast Grammar School [1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half, Wing [a]
Current team Queensland Reds
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2017–2019 Queensland Country 20 (40)
2016– Queensland Reds 105 (170)
Correct as of 6 June 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2018 Australia U20 5 (10)
2020– Australia 46 (25)
Correct as of 2 August 2025
National sevens team
YearsTeamComps
2017 Australia 4
Correct as of 12 March 2017

Tate McDermott (born 18 September 1998) is an Australian professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Super Rugby club Queensland Reds and the Australia national team. [2]

Contents

Club career

In 2017, McDermott made his Australian Men's Seven debut at the Wellington Sevens. 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. [3]

International career

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. [4] 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. He would play a pivotal role in the Wallabies' wins against the Springboks and the Pumas, 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. [5]

Personal life

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. [6]

NOtes

  1. In 2025, McDermott, playing off the bench, has bee used as a wing for Australia.

References

  1. "Former student named Wallabies Captain". Sunshine Coast Grammar School. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  2. "Tate McDermott". redsrugby.com.au. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  3. "Rugby Australia: Tate McDermott". Rugby Australia. 31 August 2019. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  4. "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.
  5. 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.
  6. Emma Greenwood (12 April 2019). "How losing a mate helped shape Tate McDermott's rugby journey". rugby.co.au. Retrieved 18 July 2021.