SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC Round 5 /// SUPER W Round 3
Fijian Drua FORCE
2022
VS
Fijian & Fijiana Drua VS WESTERN FORCE Sat 19 March Leichhardt Oval, SYDNEY
F
COMING UP...
BYE MEN’S TEAM
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
FRI 25 MAR 7PM
1-2 APR
FRI 8 APR 5.45PM
BYE WOMEN’S TEAM
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
25-27 MAR
SUN 3 APR 1PM
FRI 8 APR 7.45PM
A W A Y
H O M E
H O M E
$
G A M E
G A M E
G A M E
WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME $9 pints of Spinifex
with the presentation of your membership card
$9 pints of Spinifex
with the presentation of your membership card
For those members lucky enough to live in Perth, the Force has secured three venues where we can guarantee that every Western Force Super Rugby Pacific away game will be on the big screen. Choose the location that best suits you — the Brisbane Hotel (central), the Berrigan Bar and Bistro (south) and the Woodvale Tavern (north). In addition to being surrounded by the Sea of Blue, show your membership card at the bar to purchase a $9 pint of Spinifex. Spinifex Brewing Co is an Aboriginal and Veteran-owned Australian company. It has developed a high-quality, uniquely Australian beer that excites the palette. The Spinifex range includes Myrtle Summer Ale, Ginger Beer, Honey Myrtle Ale, WA Pale Ale, F88 Lager, Lighthorse Lager and the brand-new Cable Beach Sunset Ale.
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LETTER
FROM THE CEO Dear Western Force Members, Supporters, and Family, The Western Force Super Rugby Pacific team are at a crucial point of the season. There is no other choice but to win. I know that Head Coach Tim Sampson, with General Manager of Rugby Matt Hodgson and the coaches have worked incredibly hard with the High Performance team, the leadership group and the players to prepare for this week’s historic clash with Fijian Drua. It’s been fantastic to see Drua’s impact on the competition so far and we can’t wait to play them for the very first time in Super Rugby. It would be remiss of me not to mention the Western Force Super W team on their outstanding performance against the reigning champion Waratahs. Their endeavour, passion, guts, toughness and skill should be bottled. Congratulations on moving in the right direction. We are so proud to have the team part of the Tattarang group, and we’re looking forward to seeing you all develop further as the season progresses.
We have six out of the remaining ten matches back in WA at our fortress, HBF Park! With some blockbuster Australian derbies followed by our Trans-Tasman rivals still to come, we’ll see you all soon! We are the Leading Force!
Anthony J Lewis CEO, Western Force 3
HEAD
HEAD
MANASA 2 SELESTINO MATAELE RAVUTAUMADA
40
5
CARRIES
CLEAN BREAKS
WINGER POSITION
16
Defenders Beaten 4
10
2
CARRIES
CLEAN BREAKS
WINGER POSITION
4
Defenders Beaten
HEAD
HEAD
Kendra 2 Rejieli Fell Uluinayau
27
30
Scrum-half
Scrum-half
176cm
163cm
Age
POSITION Height
Age
POSITION Height
5
MATCH PREVIEW
The Rugby Wrap podcast, hosted by Mitch Hardy, Heath Tessmann and Mick Colliss This weekend it’s back-to-back at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney for the Force against the exciting Fijians. This match promises to be an entertaining affair with lots of ball movement, and it will be great to see the Force’s own flying Fijian Kendra Fell up against his countrymen. The Force men were great in the opening exchanges last week against the Waratahs and finished strongly to reduce the margin and come away with a bonus point in the Round 4 loss. The Force pack has been going really well in recent weeks and will once again look to lay a solid foundation at set piece time. Playing to structure will be the order of the day for the Force to stop the Drua from playing their fast-flowing game.
What a brutal affair it was last week for the Super W Force team, and what a great performance from our women in taking it to the competition favourites for the full 80 minutes. It was a blend of youth, experience and out and out hard work last week. They’ll take plenty from the match as they go up against a Fijian outfit coming off two impressive wins. But, they’ll need to expect the unexpected!
The Force bench was able to steady things last weekend and again will be called upon to get the win for the men from the West this week. For the Drua, Teti Tela has been a pointscoring machine. It will look to guide his team around Leichhardt Oval, unleashing his outside backs in Vinaya Habosi, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Rejieli Uluinayau.
Debutant Keira MaCaskill, who was impressive last week, along with skipper Trilleen Pomare and the experienced Rebecca Clough will be key players.
A big W this week for the men from the West. Score Predictor: Force 31 /// Fiji 26 6
The Force is looking improved every game, but the Fijiana are red hot right now. Score Prediction: Fijiana 24 /// Force 18
Vinaya Habosi of the Fijian Drua breaks away from the Rebels during Round 3
Merewalesi Rokouono
Vika Matarugu
The Force’s Manasa Mataelle will be up against his Fijian countrymen
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P L AY E R PROFILE
Ian Prior
WHICH JUNIOR CLUB DID YOU PLAY FOR?
Redlands Rugby Club (Birkdale, Queensland).
WHAT IS YOUR FIRST RUGBY MEMORY? Playing barefoot in Zimbabwe as a lock in Year 3. 8
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RUGBY MEMORY?
Running out for the first game back in Super Rugby for the Force at the SCG.
WHICH PREMIER GRADE CLUB ARE YOU AFFILIATED WITH?
Associates.
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Lived in Zimbabwe for eight years as a child.
PrincipAL Partner
P L AY E R PROFILE
Aiysha
P Wig L A Y E R ley PROFILE WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Surrey, England
WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING? Sonography.
WHICH JUNIOR CLUB DID YOU PLAY FOR? Wests Scarborough, who I am still affiliated with.
WHAT IS YOUR FIRST RUGBY MEMORY?
I would go and watch the Western Force games with my dad when I was 5 and I would only go because he let me eat lots of chocolate during the game.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RUGBY MEMORY?
My favourite rugby memory was the U18s State 7s tours in 2018 and 2019.
WHO DO YOU ADMIRE MOST IN THE RUGBY COMMUNITY AND WHY? I admire Bec Clough most in the rugby community. She is an amazing player and I look up to her leadership a lot. She has achieved so much throughout her career and has so much knowledge of the game. She has recently become a mother and still playing this campaign which I think is incredible. 9
WESTERN FORCE HARRISON LLOYD
1
feleti Kaitu’u (c)
2
Greg Holmes
3
jeremy thrush 4 izack rodda
5
fergus lee-warner
6
ollie callan
7
Brynard Stander
8
Ian Prior
9
Jake Mcintyre 10 manasa mataele 11 Bayley Kuenzle 12 Richard Kahui 13 Byron Ralston 14 jake strachan 15 Andrew Ready Bo Abra Santiago Medrano jackson pugh
10
Tim Anstee Issak Fines-Leleiwasa Reesjan Pasitoa Grason Makara
Fujian Drua 1
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa
2
Mesulame Dolokoto
3
Samuela Tawake
4
Sorovakatini Tuifagalele
5
Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta
6
Jovesa Tamani
7
Vilive Miramira
8
Nemani Nagusa (C)
9
Frank Lomani
10 Teti Tela 11
Kalaveti Ravouvou
12
Apisalome Vota
13
Vinaya Habosi
14 Selestino Ravutaumada 15
Jona Mataiciwa
Zuriel Togiatama Jone Koroiduadua Manasa Saulo Chris Minimbi
Kitione Salawa Peni Matawalu Napolioni Bolaca Onisi Ratave
Follow the gAme Live on social media for further Updates and highlight as they happen!
11
WESTERN FORCE Raewyn TUHEKE
1
Hera-Barb MALCOLM HEKE
2
Sera AH-SAM
3
Rebecca CLOUGH 4 Libya TEEPA
5
Keira MACASKILL 6 Anneka STEPHENS
7
Tamika JONES
8
Kendra FELL 9 Nicole LEDINGTON 10 Zakiya KEREOPA 11 Trilleen POMARE (C) 12 Ariana HIRA-HERANGI 13 Aiysha WIGLEY 14 Turiti GALIKI 15 Grace GAYTON Tessah ROACHE Mercedes PUTZ Valuese TIAKIA
12
Tui Cope Huia SWANNELL PAIHAU POMARE Madeline PUTZ
FIJIANA DRUA 1
Joma Rubuti
2
Vika Matarugu
3
Bitila Tawake (c)
4
Jade Coates
5
Merevesi Ofakimalino
6
Karalaini Naisewa
7
Teresia Tinanivalu
8
Sereima Leweniqila
9
Rejieli Uluinayau
10 Merewalesi Rokouono 11
Kolora Lomani
12
Vani Arei
13
Raijieli Laqeretabua
14 Vitalina Naikore 15
Timaima Ravisa
Keleni Marawa Mereoni Naositava Ro Silo Togotogorua Torika Vakalala
Akosita Ravato Livia Naidei Temalesi Sigarara Leonie Burnes
Follow the gAme Live on social media for further Updates and highlight as they happen!
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14
THE LEGENDS Sam Wykes
With 87 Western Force appearances between 2008 and 2015, Sam “Wykesy” Wykes is undoubtedly a Western Force legend. After making his debut for the club in 2008 against the Cheetahs in a nailbiting 16-15 win at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Wykes would go on to establish himself as a key figure for the Force. Born in Sydney, the towering lock, who had the ability to play in the second or back row, endeared himself to the Sea of Blue. His passion, work ethic and enthusiasm proved a combination Force fans couldn’t help but love. Wykes, who guided the Force during the 2015 season as interim captain with Matt Hodgson sidelined through injury, was a player who always led by example. Described by his teammates as a great team man who worked hard, Wykes was a player who bought into the familyfocused team culture at the Force.
Following eight seasons with the Force, Wykes made the move to Japan in 2015, where he went on to play for Coca-Cola Red Sparks, Panasonic Wild Knights and the Shimizu Blue Sharks over six years in the Japan Top League. Wykes also spent two seasons with the Sunwolves back in Super Rugby in 2017 and 2018. With 109 Super Rugby caps to his name, Wykes would end his career back home in Sydney with the NSW Waratahs in front of family and friends to cap off a wonderful career.
MacAskill juggling schoolwork and Super W Juggling schoolwork and scrummaging paid off for teenage Western Force back-rower Keira MacAskill when she became one of the youngest players to debut in the Super W competition. The 17-year-old Aranmore College student, who has been playing for Wests Scarborough for five years, debuted in the starting side that gave reigning champions Waratahs a huge scare last Sunday. Four-time premiers Waratahs, unbeaten in four years, needed two late tries to see off the Force 31-14 at Leichhardt Oval with the match tied at 14-14 until the 63rd minute. MacAskill will be taking schoolwork with her when she flies back to NSW to face Fijiana Drua on Saturday. It is her second season with the squad but she didn’t get a chance to play last year when the competition was cut short by the COVID pandemic.
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“I was so nervous before the game,” she said. “It is such a big step up from club rugby, so different, but I loved it. “We really stepped up. We had a good mix of older (players) and youth and we really gave it a crack.
“I can’t wait to pLay the Fijian side It will be a whole new experience.” Written by Nick Taylor of The West Australian.
The driving force the team behind the team
Anthony Cutrupi
Head of Athletic Performance Anthony coordinates an elite team of sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, and medical staff who are tasked with getting the players fit, strong and injury-free. He is in charge of ensuring the players are able to perform at their best on the field week in and week out. Anthony relishes the opportunity to make history with the Western Force with the high performance team.
Marlene Kornides
Business Operations Manager Marlene oversees and manages the Membership Service Team, the Events Team and the Marketing and Communications Team. Marlene’s role is multifaceted and crucial to shaping the products and content the Force produce. Marlene loves working with an enthusiastic and dedicated staff who continually work to deliver the best experience for Force Members and fans.
Rhys Delamere
Commercial Operations Coordinator Rhys is in charge of delivering commercial assets for Western Force partners, hospitality sales and merchandise. Rhys holds a key role in ensuring corporate supporters enjoy a unique experience at game day and Force fans have the chance to adorn themselves in Force gear. Rhys enjoys being part of the process that brings match day together, working with partners to deliver great content and bounce off the same enthusiasm for the game as he holds.
Maali vs Perth Gold
Last Sunday, Maali* (Western Force A) took on Perth Gold in a hit-out at UWA Sports Park. Maali played out a competitive 31-7 win over a state select side. The Maali team was comprised of Western Force players who had not travelled east with the Super Rugby Pacific squad and Fortescue Academy players. The contest ensured Force players gained valuable game time to develop their game, as they work towards joining the senior squad. Daniel Ala and recent Force debutant Grason Makara were influential throughout the match in the backline. Experienced lock Ryan McCauley and Fortescue Academy duo Ned SlackSmith (lock) and Dante Tatafu (hooker) also impressed on Sunday afternoon in the forward pack. Overall, it was a great opportunity for the club to engage with the WA rugby community with the Fortescue Premier Grade competition starting on Saturday, 2 April. 18
The Force is aiming to host a series each year between Maali and the Perth Gold state team to guarantee continued engagement.
*The Maali team is named after the Noongar word for Black Swan, a symbol synonymous with Western Australian rugby. For more info and to sign up to play, please contact Jason.Marrable@rubgywa.com.au
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REGISTER TO PLAY JUNIOR RUGBY IN 2022!
Last year, 5,018 Junior Players registered with RugbyWA. It was thrilling to have a record 674 females amongst the group as the game continues to grow in WA. With 19 official junior clubs, the competitions could not be possible without the help of over 1,000 volunteers. From coaches, managers, administrators to those who pitch in and help around their local club with various tasks. They all play a crucial role in ensuring the next generation of Western Australian rugby talent enjoy the game we love with their friends while developing their skills each and every week throughout the season. Rugby helps growing kids gain confidence, make friends and improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Being part of the rugby community also means being part of an extended family. This is because we all work towards the common goal of bettering ourselves through the game of rugby union. 20
Every weekend our community comes together to celebrate the tries, conversions, scrums, lineouts and tackles. From tackle tech on Tuesday to lineouts at Thursday training, there is always something new to learn together. The 2022 season is on the horizon, with the juniors campaign kicking off on the 30th of April. You can register to play rugby for your community rugby club by heading to the RugbyWA website wa.rugby/participate/play
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