Dylan Pietsch

Dylan Pietsch, a very proud Wiradjuri man, stands on the cusp of becoming just the second player, after Samu Kerevi, to both represent the Australian Men’s 7s team at an Olympic Games and play Test rugby.

Born at Narrandera in the Riverina region of southern New South Wales, Pietsch played his first rugby at halfback for the mighty Leeton Phantoms U6s. A scholarship saw Pietsch move to Sydney where he completed his secondary education at The King’s School. Although Pietsch “didn't start talking rugby serious until I was 16” he enjoyed two years in the backrow of the 1st XV (2015-16) and from there won selection in the 2016 Australian Schools Barbarians squad - essentially Australian Schools II - alongside Nick Frost, Tate McDermott, Jordan Petaia, Matt Faessler and Harry Wilson.

After graduation, Pietsch made his name on the HSBC Sevens circuit where he debuted in the 2016/17 Wellington tournament. Aged 19, Pietsch seemingly had the world at his feet in the jet-setting lifestyle of Sevens. While that was partly true, that truth masked an underlying darkness that engulfed Pietsch to the point that he tried to take his own life. The experience gave Pietsch some much-needed clarity and perspective, one that led him to re-connect with both his culture and his family, especially dad Troy.

A greater sense of belonging and connection was evident when Pietsch returned to rugby and he was rewarded with selection, alongside Kerevi, in the Australian squad for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Upon his return home, Pietsch signed with the Waratahs after he impressed coach Darren Coleman with the combination of speed, skilful ball running and experience in pressure matches.

Pietsch made his Super Rugby debut in the 2022, 40-10 opening round win over the Fijian Drua however it was his man-of-the-match performance in the Tahs’ 24-21 upset of twelve-time champions the Crusaders that truly announced his arrival in 15-man rugby. In 2023, Pietsch was surprised to be selected as a utility for The Rugby Championship. Initially his reaction was 'I don't really know what utility is', but that was immediately overshadowed by the fact that he had made the 34-man team.

If Pietsch does win his first Test cap he will become the 15th known Indigenous Wallaby, and the first since Anthony Fainga’a in 2010. “Being the 15th Indigenous Wallaby would be pretty cool,” he said. “It’s something that I really want to do and hopefully [I] can grow the game to becoming a lot more than just 15 Indigenous Wallabies.”

Highlights

2016/17

Pietsch became Australian Men’s Sevens #365 when he debuted in the Wellington tournament of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

2017/18

Represented Australian Men’s Sevens

2018/19

Represented Australian Men’s Sevens

2019/20

Represented Australian Men’s Sevens

2021

Represented Australian Men’s Sevens at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.