Prince Harry and Meghan to make surprise appearance at Sydney rugby match

It’s arguably the toughest sell of the Super Rugby season – but the Waratahs still managed to pull off the coup of the year. Here’s how they grabbed the attention of Prince Harry and wife Meghan.

Jamie Pandaram

@JamiePandaram

3 min read

April 16, 2026 - 4:01PM

Super Rugby

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Across the road from Allianz Stadium on Friday night, the Sydney Swans will host the GWS Giants in a huge AFL rivalry match that will likely draw three times the crowd as the Waratahs versus Moana Pasifika game.

But nobody in the SCG stands will quite have the gravitas as the world’s highest profile couple, Prince Harry and Meghan, who will be guests in Rugby Australia’s corporate box.

RA boss Phil Waugh, Wallabies superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, World Cup-winning captain John Eales, and former governor general Sir Peter Gosgrove will entertain the royals while the Tahs do their best to draw eyes back to the on-field action.

It’s absolutely random and yet absolutely rugby.

The draw of a truly global game.

Fancy a game of rugby? Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his wife Meghan will head to watch the Waratahs this weekend. Picture: AFP

RA’s marketing pigeon resisted the temptation to announce that the Tahs vs Moana blockbuster has been on Meghan’s bucket list for years.

Let’s be honest; it is a tough sell to the average sports fan.

The Waratahs had already pencilled this match in pre-season as the toughest home game to sell.

Then comes the bombshell news this week that Moana are to be axed from Super Rugby Pacific next year, after their owners pulled the pin due to financial peril.

The bottom-placed team, with a points differential of -207 and on a seven-game losing streak, now with its future doomed, is hardly going to encourage a barrage of late ticket sales.

And yet, with their only free night in Sydney on this tour, Prince Harry and Meghan will resist the lure of Sydney harbour and Bondi Beach, for the serene views of Jake Gordon’s box-kicking and Miracle Faiilagi’s breakdown toil.

Jake Gordon will have the full attention of the world’s most high-profile couple on Friday night. Picture: Getty

The highly connected Waugh reached out to Prince Harry’s people when word hit that the couple would be jetting into Australia.

“The interactions with their officers have been very pleasant, and humble and generous, just a delight to deal with,” Waugh said.

“I guess it’s on us now to ensure that they have a great time, they really enjoy the experience.

“We’ll have John Eales in with us. And obviously John was handed the Rugby World Cup by Prince Harry’s grandmother in 1999. And then obviously Harry was here in 2003 when John Howard gave it to Martin Johnson.

“There’s certainly a long history with rugby and for us, it’s going to be just ensuring that they really enjoy themselves in a relaxed environment.”

Britain's Prince Harry (right) celebrates with coach Sir Clive Woodward in England’s dressing room after their 2003 World Cup triumph. Picture: AAP

Having broken away from official royal family duties, Prince Harry and Meghan no longer enjoy the protection of the weighty royal security team.

They employ their own, and a handful of their guards, along with a couple of NSW Police officers, will be the only security presence at the ground.

Not that there’s expected to be too much commotion from the RM Williams set, unless Moana somehow defeat the eighth-placed Tahs, who are desperately chasing a top six finals finish.

Rugby-mad Prince Harry celebrated long and hard with the English squad after they won the World Cup in Sydney in 2003, in a team that included current Waratahs attacking coach Mike Catt.

“I’ve known Harry for a long time, he was involved with the England set-up when Clive Woodward was there, so from really early doors,” Catt said.

Mike Catt (R) with Jonny Wilkinson after winning the 2003 World Cup. Picture: AAP

“I think I met him first as a five-year-old or something like that. And he was always involved with all of Clive Woodward’s era. When we won the World Cup, he was out with us in 2007.

“It’s great somebody like him wants to come across, and he loves his rugby. Genuinely loves his rugby.

“I’m not sure about Megan, but I know Harry definitely loves his rugby. Good guy and it’s great for the game for us to have people like him.

“I think some of the boys are pretty excited to meet him. Or meet Meghan, one of the two.”

The Prince and his wife will visit both teams’ dressing rooms after the game.

Prince Harry celebrates during the 2003 World Cup semi-final win over France. Picture: Craig Greenhill.

While rugby in Australia struggles to match the feverish tribal support of NRL or AFL in its domestic scene, the 15-man game has an unmatched global appeal among contact sport.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s attendance on Friday is a precursor to the magnitude of next year’s World Cup on these shores.

“The interest and the competitiveness of the international game continues to grow,” Waugh said.

“You look at international people around the world and the attractiveness of rugby, it’s just pleasing to see.

“And then if you think about the broader Commonwealth, it’s a great opportunity when you’ve got representation from Cook Islands, Tonga and Samoa (in the Moana team) against the oldest domestic province in Australia, playing a game in what’s arguably one of the best 40,000 seat stadiums in the world.”