Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 19, 2026

Max Burey

Max Burey is an Australian rugby union player who plays for the Waratahs in the Super Rugby. Burey's primary position is fly-half, although he frequently plays fullback.

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Jul 19, 2026
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Max Burey
Born (1999-02-25) 25 February 1999
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia1
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)1
Weight90 kg (198 lb; 14 st 2 lb)
SchoolHoly Cross College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half, Fullback
Current team Waratahs
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021–2023 Northern Suburbs 26 (18)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023–2026 Force 33 (75)
2027– Waratahs 0 (0)
Correct as of 1 July 2026
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2022–2023 Australia 4
Correct as of 4 February 2026

Max Burey (born 25 February 1999)1 is an Australian rugby union player who plays for the Waratahs in the Super Rugby. Burey's primary position is fly-half, although he frequently plays fullback.

Career

Youth and sevens

Burey has represented Northern Suburbs club in Sydney's Shute Shield competition since he was a teenager.1 He had previously trained with the Western Force, but didn't earn a contract, and instead represented the Australian sevens team.23 He had previously played rugby league before converting to union.4

Force

Burey was called into the Force side for their eleventh round match against the Crusaders of the 2023 season.56 Kicking one conversion and two penalty goals, the Force lost 13–48 in Christchurch.7 Burey went on to start in every remaining Force fixture of the season, scoring a try in their final round match against the Chiefs, his first senior try.8 In June 2023, he re-signed for the side until 2025.9

Burey was named as the Force's secondary playmaker in their inaugural Super Rugby AUS squad, announced in August 2025.10 Burey started every match of the four-game campaign,11 scoring three tries and contributing 30 points overall as the side secured a runners-up finish.12 Burey was later named Player of the Tournament, the first in the competition's history.13

Waratahs

In April and May 2026, Burey was cited in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian as having transferred to Australian rival club of the Force, the Sydney-based Waratahs.1415 The Force confirmed in June that Burey had departed the club, although no official confirmation was made public.16

At the time of Burey's signing, the Waratahs had experienced significant turnover at fly-half, with multiple players moving through the role.1718 The side had also faced challenges with player availability, squad depth, establishing a consistent first-choice No. 10, and developing continuity in the playmaking partnership with the scrum-half.1718 Burey became the third fly-half to sign with the Waratahs in as many years (following Lawson Creighton and Jack Debreczeni), with exits of various players, including Ben Donaldson and Tane Edmed.19 Such were the issues at the team, in February 2026 The Sydney Morning Herald wrote: "The Waratahs No.10 jersey is one of the most scrutinised in Australian rugby, and the wearer has become like a referee: if they come off after a game and no one is talking about them, then it was a job well done."20

In June 2026, with one year still left on his contract, Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar resigned, effective immediately.2122 Earlier in the season, McKellar confirmed that all three Waratahs contracted fly-halves were to prove their right to stay at the team beyond 2026.23

Career statistics

Club

As of 23 June 2026.2425
Appearances and tries by club, season and competition
Club Season League Other Total
Division Apps Tries Apps Tries Apps Tries
Force 2023 Super Rugby 5 1 — 5 1
2024 9 1 — 9 1
2025 11 0 5a 3 16 3
2026 8 1 — 8 1
Total 33 3 5 3 38 6

Awards and honours

Individual

Notes

Notes

  1. Includes matches in the 2025 Lions tour and 2025 Super Rugby AUS.
References

References

  1. "Max Burey | Player Profile | Western Force". westernforce.rugby. Western Force. Archived from the original on 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  2. "'Put a shoulder through someone': Debutant's wild ride from Shute Shield to No.10 vs Crusaders". The Roar. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  3. "Burey to debut as Men's side is confirmed for Toulouse". Rugby.com.au. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  4. "Max Burey: the league convert going from strength to strength since 'seeing the light'". Rugby News. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  5. "Nasarani back in blue and Burey on debut for Crusaders Clash" (Press release). Western Force. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  6. "Force turn to Sevens playmaker Burey against Crusaders". The West Australian. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  7. "Western Force feel the sting in the Crusaders' tail". super.rugby. Super Rugby. 6 May 2023.
  8. Smith, Ben (3 June 2023). "Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force miss out on finals after thrashing by the Chiefs at HBF Park". The West Australian. Seven West Media.
  9. "Force secure rising stars Poolman and Burey". westernforce.rugby. Western Force. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  10. Somerford, Ben (13 August 2025). "Stannard to lead Force in Super Rugby AUS as coaching staff revealed". westernforce.rugby. Western Force. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025.
  11. "2025 Super Rugby AUS". Wikipedia.
  12. Williamson, Nathan (5 October 2025). "Five things we learnt from Western Force - NSW Waratahs Super Rugby AUS Final". Rugby.com.au.
  13. Wasiliev, Nick (7 October 2025). "Super Rugby AUS 2025 Team of the Season". Rugby.com.au.
  14. Payten, Iain; Decent, Tom (29 April 2026). "Wallabies veterans eyeing Super swansong in World Cup year". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. The Waratahs have spoken recently about the value of having a senior statesman at No.10, where they can mentor a stable of younger playmakers. The Tahs are talking with veteran No.10 Jack Debreczeni about extending his one-season deal, and also have Joey Fowler and the recently signed Max Burey. The future of Jack Bowen, who is off contract and has only played once this season, is uncertain.
  15. Pandaram, Jamie (13 May 2026). "Waratahs playmakers given three games to win contract for 2027". The Australian. News Corp Australia. NSW did sign Western Force utility Max Burey earlier this season, and he could fill in at five-eighth, but it's hardly shouting premiership ambitions for 2027.
  16. Somerford, Ben (5 June 2026). "Force farewells six players following conclusion of 2026 season". westernforce.rugby. Western Force.
  17. Payten, Iain (9 June 2025). "The Waratahs missed the finals. Now a Wallaby of theirs is off to the Brumbies". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  18. Payten, Iain (12 May 2026). "Better late than never: Bowen ready to take his shot with third start in four seasons". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  19. "Brumbies sign Wallabies fly half Edmed on two-year deal". brumbies.rugby. ACT Brumbies. 15 July 2025. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025.
  20. Cully, Paul (20 February 2026). "The missing piece for the Waratahs to challenge the Kiwis". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. The Waratahs No.10 jersey is one of the most scrutinised in Australian rugby, and the wearer has become like a referee: if they come off after a game and no one is talking about them, then it was a job well done.
  21. Williamson, Nathan (29 June 2026). "Dan McKellar steps down as NSW Waratahs coach, effective immediately". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  22. Pandaram, Jamie (29 June 2026). "NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar quits role with a year on his contract". Code Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  23. Pandaram, Jamie (13 May 2026). "Waratahs playmakers given three games to win contract for 2027". Code Sports. News Corp Australia.
  24. "Max Burey: Stats – All Rugby". All Rugby.
  25. "Max Burey Career Stats | Rugbydatabase.co.nz". Rugby Database.
External links