SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC ROUND 4 /// SUPER W ROUND 2
WARATAHS FORCE
2022
VS
NSW WARATAHS VS WESTERN FORCE SUN 13 MARCH Leichhardt Oval, SYDNEY
F
COMING UP...
BYE MEN’S TEAM
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
SAT 19 MAR 11.35AM
FRI 25 MAR 7PM
1-2 APR
BYE WOMEN’S TEAM
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
SAT 19 MAR 9AM
25-27 MAR
SUN 3 APR 1PM
A W A Y
G A M E
H O M E
G A M E
A W A Y
G A M E
Be there in 2022 With six Super Rugby Pacific home games and a Super W clash still to come at HBF Park this season, it’s not too late to become a Western Force Member and enjoy all the benefits! With a bye in Round 7, the Force host three consecutive Australian derbies against the ACT Brumbies (Round 6 - Friday, 25 March), the Melbourne Rebels (Round 8 - Friday, 8 April - Super W DoubleHeader!) and the NSW Waratahs (Round 9 - Saturday, 16 April).
Following the derbies comes a trio of blockbuster clashes with Trans Tasman rivals the Blues (Round 11 - Friday, 29 April), the Crusaders (Round 12 Saturday, 7 May) and the Hurricanes (Round 15 - Saturday, 28 May). Visit memberships.westernforce.com. au to become a Member today.
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LETTER
FROM THE CEO Dear Western Force Members, Supporters, and Family, The performance of the Western Force team last Friday night was frustrating. It was a game we had to win and should have won. Everyone within the organisation had been looking forward to our homecoming at HBF Park since the start of the season when the borders were not re-opened on February 5. However, we were no we were not disappointed by your incredible support. We, with assistance from the Waratahs, Brumbies and Rugby Australia were able to change the home and away draw to enable us to have our seven home games in Perth. Our focus for the last seven weeks was to work with David Templeman, the Minister of Sport, the Department of Sport, WA Government departments, WA Police, and Chief Health Officers to ensure the Reds game was played in Perth. We finally managed clearance last Wednesday!
The next two weeks will define our season. We as a group must quickly learn the lessons of last week. We are determined as a club to position ourselves in the WA sporting landscape as a prominent and successful organisation. This is only achievable by winning, playing at 120% each week and winning every key moment in the game. I speak on behalf of everyone at the club when I say we can’t wait to see you all back home on Friday, 25 March when we take on the the Brumbies in Round 6. We are the Leading Force!
Anthony J Lewis CEO, Western Force
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HEAD
HEAD
Bayley 2 Lalakai Kuenzle Foketi
23 Age
186cM Height
Centre POSITION
21
SUPER RUGBY Caps 4
27 Age
185cM Height
Centre POSITION
48
SUPER RUGBY Caps
HEAD
HEAD
Trilleen 2 Katrina Pomare Barker
28 Age
164cM Height
Centre/ Scrum-Half Position
11
WALLAROOS CAPS
29
166cM
Age
Height
Centre/ Scrum-Half Position
9
WALLAROOS CAPS 5
Jake Gordon and Jeremy Thrush
MATCH PREVIEW
The Rugby Wrap podcast, hosted by Mitch Hardy, Heath Tessmann and Mick Colliss The Force hit the road again this week to take on a Waratahs outfit that has now recorded two narrow defeats in a row. The Force had their opportunities last week against the Reds but must convert position and possession into points in order to move up the table. The Force pack will be up against a strong tight five containing a blend of youth and experience, with the likes of Angus Bell, Max Douglas, and Jed Holloway hungry for victory and ready to keep it tight in the wet. The Waratahs back row will be another difficult challenge for the men from the West, with young Will Harris finding some form. Getting on top of the NSW halves will be a major hurdle for the Force with Jake Gordon and Ben Donaldson combining well in recent weeks. The Waratahs centre pairing of Lalakai Foketi and Izaia Perese are as good as any in the competition and will need to be contained.
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The Western Force have done everything to win all their games so far in the competition. They fell away at the end of the match against the Reds and could feel a little disappointed they didn’t put themselves in a winning position.
Our hearts say the Force could win this one, but the mind says they are the underdog this week and will have to step up and find another gear to get the W.
Jeremy Thrush crosses the try line
Ian Prior in action
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P L AY E R PROFILE
Richard Kahui WHICH JUNIOR CLUB DID YOU PLAY FOR?
Tokoroa Rugby Club (Waikato, New Zealand).
WHAT IS YOUR FIRST RUGBY MEMORY?
Angus Wagner. I’ve only roomed next to him but the roar of his snoring comes through the concrete walls.
DO YOU HAVE A SECRET TALENT?
Playing in frost with bare feet.
I can count cards like Rain Man!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RUGBY MEMORY?
We have Dash and he’s a golden retriever.
Playing my first game for the All Blacks. 8
WHO IS THE WORST TEAMM ATE TO ROOM WITH?
DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?
P L AY E R PROFILE
Anneka
P Ste L A Y E R phens PROFILE WHICH HIGH SCHOOL DID YOU ATTEND? Southland Girls High School (Invercargill, New Zealand).
WHAT IS YOUR FIRST RUGBY MEMORY?
Playing for my club back home, Colliegate. I was always the baby in the team running around in the long thick grass and icy fields tackling all the country girls.
IF YOU WERE REINCARNATED AS AN ANIMAL , WHAT WOULD IT BE?
An otter because they are a cool little animal that’s very chill and swims all day.
WHO IS SOMEONE LIVING OR DEAD THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH AND WHY? WHICH PREMIER My Dad because he is the one to GRADE CLUB ARE YOU introduced me to rugby. I used to go to AFFILIATED WITH? training with him when I was little, running the waters for the boys and being the tee girl. ever since then, I’ve absolutely loved the game.
Wanneroo.
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WESTERN FORCE tom robertson
1
feleti Kaitu’u (c)
2
santiago medrano
3
jeremy thrush 4 izack rodda
5
fergus lee-warner
6
ollie callan
7
tim anstee
8
issak fines-leleiwasa
9
reesjan pasitoa 10 manasa mataele 11 Bayley Kuenzle 12 kyle godwin 13 toni pulu 14 jake strachan 15 16 Andrew Ready 17 harrison lloyd 18 Greg holmes 19 jackson pugh 20 brynard stander 21 Ian prior 22 jake mcintyre 23 richard kahui
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WARATAHS 1
Angus Bell
2
Dave Porecki
3
Harry Johnson-Holmes
4
Jed Holloway
5
Max Douglas
6
Hugh Sinclair
7
Charlie Gamble
8
Will Harris
9
Jake Gordon (c)
10 Ben Donaldson 11
Alex Newsome
12
Lalakai Foketi
13
Izaia Perese
14 Dylan Pietsch 15
Will Harrison
16 Tom Horton 17 TeTera Faulkner 18 Ruan Smith 19 Geoff Cridge 20 Langi Gleeson 21 Carlo Tizzano 22 Jack Grant 23 Mark Nawaqanitawase
Follow the gAme Live on social media for further Updates and highlight as they happen!
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WESTERN FORCE Grace GAYTON
1
Hera-Barb MALCOLM HEKE
2
Raewyn TUHEKE
3
Rebecca CLOUGH 4 Libya TEEPA
5
Mahalia ELLIS
6
Anneka STEPHENS
7
Tamika JONES
8
Kendra FELL 9 Nicole LEDINGTON 10 Zakiya KEREOPA 11 Trilleen POMARE (C) 12 Ariana HIRA 13 Aiysha WIGLEY 14 Turiti GALIKI 15 16 Shiane KANI 17 Mercedes PUTZ 18 Naomi-Joyce KAMIZONA-HEKE 19 Mahinaarangi CLAIR 20 Huia SWANNELL 21 Keira MACASKILL 22 Paihau POMARE 23 Langley SESEGA
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Reds 1
Emily Robinson
2
Penelope Leiataua
3
Bridie O'Gorman
4
Atasi lafai
5
Ana-Lise Sio
6
Anita Faimasui Brown
7
Emily Chancellor
8
Grace Hamilton (c)
9
Tatum Bird
10 Pauline Piliae 11
Margot Vella
12
Katrina Barker
13
Nicole Nathan
14 Mahalia Murphy 15
Lori Cramer
16 Chantelle Nettleton 17 Adiana Talakai 18 Faliki Pohiva 19 Faliki Pohiva 20 Sabine Blakeman 21 Ella Koster 22 Illseva Batibasaga 23 Georgina Friedrichs 24 Georgina Tuipulotu
Follow the gAme Live on social media for further Updates and highlight as they happen!
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KICK AND WIN!
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THE LEGENDS Pek Cowan
Pekahou ‘Pek’ Cowan is a Force legend through and through. The skilful front rower is the second most-capped player for the club, with 137 appearances to his name. He remains a firm fan favourite amongst the Sea of Blue. Cowan’s influence expanded beyond the Force, with fond memories of the prop plying his trade with the Wests Scarborough throughout his time in Western Australia. At the age of 23, Cowan made his Wallabies Test debut against Italy in Melbourne. The memorable occasion was fittingly marked with a 34-12 win and Cowan would go on to earn 10 caps for Australia, having progressed through the Force development pathway and the Australian Schoolboys system. From 2006 to 2017, Cowan was an integral member of the Force unit and always wore the jersey with pride and passion. Never afraid of a contest or hard work, Cowan was an exemplary professional who embodied and help form the foundations of what it means to be part of the Force family representing WA.
After over a decade with the club, Cowan made the move to Japan for a successful two seasons with the Shimizu Blue Sharks in 2019 and 2020. Cowan heeded the call when the Force returned to the Super Rugby competition in 2020. As a foundation member of the Western Force, it was special to see a player of Pek’s significance to the club return in such a formative and historic moment. Cowan, as the fierce competitor he is, continues to play the game we love in his hometown for the Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championships in New Zealand.
Dream come true for homegrown duo Born and raised in Western Australia, Grason Makara and Jackson Pugh made their Super Rugby debuts for the Western Force in front of family and friends during the Round 3 clash with the Queensland Reds. The pair grew up together attending Aranmore Catholic College playing school rugby. Now, as roommates, they are living as Western Force players alongside one another. Makara and Pugh developed their craft in the academy system and gained invaluable experience playing in the Fortescue Premier Grade at Wanneroo and Palmyra respectively, as part of the Force pathway. They were joined on the pitch by fellow academy graduate and local Wanneroo talent Ollie Callan (Western Force player #197). Callan made his second Super Rugby start of his career in Round 3 after making his starting debut against the Crusaders in Christchurch during last year’s campaign.
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The driving force the team behind the team Scott Hancock
Player Development Manager Scott provides education, support, and guidance to every player at the Western Force, with a focus on assisting the individuals to become better people, better players, and to live better lives. Scott relishes working closely with the players and says they are a fantastic group to work with, especially due to their drive to succeed in all aspects of their lives.
Tony Lewis
Chief Executive Officer Tony’s primary role as CEO is to oversee the leadership, strategic direction and innovation within the club. He works to align this direction with the community game in WA. Tony is very passionate about rugby and states it’s a privilege to work in the sport and to have the opportunity to work by the values of chairpersons Dr Andrew Forrest AO and Nicola Forrest AO.
Huw Lock
Business Development Manager Huw’s main focus is securing sponsorship of the Western Force through mutually beneficial partnerships to ensure a commercial revenue stream for the club. Huw is an active member of the WA rugby family and admires the way the sport brings people of all backgrounds together through a shared love of the game.
MATCH Officials SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC Referee Damon Murphy
Assistant Ref 1 Graham Cooper
Assistant Ref 2 Matt Kellahan
TMO James Leckie
rugby IN OUR STATE
Spreadingf rugby throughout WA
Rugby WA has recently been working in tandem with the Geraldton Sporting Aboriginal Corporation (GSAC) in the Mid-West and Mullewa. GSAC are an important Rugby WA partner in helping to build rugby capacity in the regional Mid-West region, particularly, but not limited to, the Indigenous community. Running introductory in-school delivery rugby programs for Year 1 to Year 12 students and assisting with the establishment of the Mullewa Festival of Rugby held in conjunction with the Mid-West Rugby Schools Cup. Participation in sport and recreation plays a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of all people including those in Indigenous communities. It provides a range of benefits including an increase in self-esteem, social cohesion, health, and overall wellbeing. This partnership expands the Indigenous Lifestyle Development Project by increasing physical activity in the community through sport and active recreation. Rugby WA is committed to creating continuous sustainable pathway opportunities for Indigenous boys and girls by growing capacity and expanding the rugby union footprint across country regional WA. Rugby WA Participation Manager Damian Wainohu said: “We are extremely excited that we have the opportunity to introduce rugby union, a game we love, to so many young Indigenous students in the wider country regional community.” 18
“We are also grateful for the help and assistance we have been offered in conjunction with Adrian Bartlett from Geraldton Sporting Aboriginal Corporation (GSAC), Tom Gorman and all our sponsors in turning these projects into reality.”
For more info and to sign up to play, please contact Jason.Marrable@rubgywa.com.au
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