‘I thought the dream was over’: Patience saved Declan Meredith’s career – and made him a Wallaby

Patience is a virtue. And if you need a case study, look no further than Declan Meredith.

The Brumbies five-eighth last week received a call up to his first Wallabies squad, earned via a season of composed and confident playmaking in Canberra. And that unflappability makes sense, given Meredith’s coach at the Brumbies is Wallabies legend Stephen Larkham, who was so chilled in his playing days he was dubbed “Bernie”, after the dead movie character from Weekend at Bernie’s.

But Meredith’s patience extends well beyond his on-field temperament.

The Wallabies call up came at the ripe old age of 26, and was effectively the first major representative squad he’d ever made after taking a longer – and far bumpier – route to the top than most of his peers.

“I definitely took a different route compared to a lot of the other boys,” Meredith said.

Hailing from Cairns in North Queensland, Meredith grew up playing for the Barron Trinity Rugby Club. He didn’t make Queensland or Australian schoolboys teams, but was so talented he chose to leave home at 18 and move to Canberra to play club rugby and have a crack at making the Brumbies.

Meredith played for Wests in the ACT’s John I Dent Cup, but despite being on their radar, years rolled by without a nibble from the Brumbies.

“At the start I had a timeline, thinking it might be too late if I didn’t get to a certain point within a certain number of years,” Meredith said. “I remember getting to that point and talking to my dad and my uncle, who was in Canberra at the time. I thought about coming home.”

Meredith’s father, Wayne, remembers the call.

“There’d been many a night on the phone convincing him he’s doing the right thing, saying, ‘Stick it out, stick it out, and good things will come’,” Wayne said.

“But yeah, I remember that call. He was down in the dumps, he might have even been injured. You heard all these stories and whispers [about a contract], but nothing was eventuating.

“He rang and said he was thinking about coming home. He was concerned about what he was going to do with his life.”

Meredith was studying teaching at uni, and Wayne said an apprenticeship in his electrician business was always an option, too. But he convinced his son to keep going for another year – and it paid off.

Meredith was invited join the Brumbies academy soon after, played for the Aussie sevens team in an Oceania tournament, and in 2022, went full-time with the Brumbies. In 2023, Meredith finally made his Super Rugby debut.

“There were definitely times when I thought the dream was over and it was time to go back home, but I’m glad I stuck with it. I am so happy to be here now,” he said.

Meredith’s patience developed into something of a superpower. Sitting behind Noah Lolesio and Jack Debreczeni in the pecking order, Meredith played off the bench nine times for the Brumbies in 2024, and then started in four of his 12 Super Rugby games in 2025.

This year, Meredith was trusted to replace the departed Lolesio, starting in the No.10 in all but one game, while recruit and Wallabies five-eighth Tane Edmed was on the bench.

“I learned a lot of patience through all those years,” Meredith said. “It did take some time, but I felt like I learned a lot. You see a lot of young 10s get rushed into those starting roles or positions these days, and sometimes the pressure gets the better of them.

“If that had been a younger me, that would definitely have been the case. Those years on the bench learning under ‘Debs’, Noah and Tane allowed me to take my time and learn from them. Looking back now, it has definitely paid off. It allowed me to understand my own game and myself.”

Meredith’s form was so eye-catching early in the season he was widely touted as a Wallabies bolter. The pressure appeared to take a toll, however, and along with a Brumbies late-season slide, Meredith’s hot hand also cooled. But his claim for a Wallabies spot had already been made and after being invited to a training camp, Meredith got an email with news of his selection last week.

“We’ve all shed a few tears – very, very proud,” Wayne said. “Even his younger brother [Connor], who shows very little emotion, he just said he couldn’t stop crying.”

Meredith is excited to get down to work in Wallabies camp and says he won’t be daunted if selected for a Test debut in July. But he is also proud of the example he has already set.

“Every road is different, and I would like to show that there is a pathway for anyone who wants to have a crack at getting into the Wallabies squad, no matter where they come from,” he said.

“I hope I can set that example for younger kids out there. I take a lot of pride in that. It is a hard, rocky road, but it builds a lot of character. It is important for younger kids to know that there is a path, no matter which way you take.”