Ed Kasprowicz is one to watch in this Saturday’s home clash against the Queensland Reds. After completing high school last year in Queensland and previously playing for the Reds, second-rower Ed Kasprowicz made the significant decision to move south across the border to New South Wales and join the Waratahs Academies and NSW system. Now, Ed proudly represents the Tahs U18’s while balancing his athletic pursuits with his studies and wider aspirations.
Ed studies at the International Sport College Australia (ISCA), a strong partner of the Waratah Academies. This week, Ed and his teammates are preparing to host the Reds for a rematch at Daceyville, aiming to secure a second consecutive victory against their northern rivals and Ed’s previous teammates. In their recent clash at Ballymore, the Waratahs emerged victorious with a 50-33 win. Ed recounted the physicality and intensity of that match: "The first half was definitely a grind. Both teams came out to start the game firing and ready to go."
"Our game plan was just to win the collisions. At the breakdown, we secured some really good turnover balls," Ed added, reflecting on the strategies that contributed to their victory. Despite moments of scrappiness, Ed described the overall performance as "pretty convincing especially in the second half."
Ed's commitment extends beyond the rugby field. Within his ISCA program, he integrates training, coaching, and academic learning. The program allows him to meet and study with young athletes from various sports in a high-performance environment. "I really enjoy it, it’s great to pull my head away from the footy field for a short while and concentrate on other activities," he said. "The option to switch between on campus and online is also great and lets me keep up with my work."
As the team gears up for the upcoming match, Ed is determined to focus on specific elements of his game: "I’m concentrating on keeping our lineouts in check, making sure we win our own ball, and hopefully gaining a bit of purchase on theirs." Ed is also working on improving his performance in central play and enhancing his ball-carrying skills.
The prospect of playing his first home game brings added excitement for Ed: "Playing in front of a home crowd means no travel day—just being there on match day. It’s going to be pretty awesome." This sentiment of excitement is shared among his teammates as they anticipate the match.
The camaraderie within the team has been a cornerstone of their recent success. Ed highlighted the positive environment that he has been welcomed into: "All the boys are really funny—we all love each other’s company and enjoy our training sessions." "For many of us, that was our first game. You can only build match fitness by playing games," Ed noted, emphasizing the importance of experience in competitive play.
However, the Queensland Reds will be flying down seeking redemption, so the Tahs must remain focused and clear-headed going into this weekend's fixture. The coaching staff have put out clear messaging centered on the discipline of set-pieces and maintaining aggression in the breakdown.
The NSW Waratahs U18s will play the Queensland Reds U18s at UNSW David Phillips Field in Daceyville on Sunday at 12.20pm (AEDT). The game will be streamed live on nswrugbytv.com.au, offering fans a chance to watch the action unfold.
