A re-shuffled Western Force line up will be wearing unique painted boots against Kagifa Samoa on Friday night in Perth to acknowledge Indigenous culture and raise money for charity
The Force will take on the Samoan side in the latest round if the Global Rapid Rugby Showcase Series at HBF Park.
Clay Uyen will start on the wing in place of Brad Lacey, who suffered a potentially serious knee injury in the FOrce’s win over the Fijian Latui last weekend.
Tevin Ferris will start in the back row and two new props - Harrison Lloyd and Tom Sheminant have been called into the run-on team.
The team will wear a gold and black jersey to celebrate WA Day but many in the side will also be wearing specially painted boots, which they created in partnership with students at Guildford Grammar School’s Indigenous Program.
Players from the Force attended the school and hand-painted their boots with the students, and they’ll be auctioned off after the game to raise money for the Earbus Foundation -
The Earbus Foundation is a WA based children’s charity that works to reduce the incidence of middle ear disease in Aboriginal and at-risk children in the state.
“Throughout my rugby journey, I have had the great pleasure to have teammates from many Indigenous cultures from across the globe, as well as at home here in Australia. As a club we are proud to be able to recognise and support the contributions of Indigenous peoples, including Western Australia’s Aboriginal people,” Force captain Ian Prior said on the Force’s website.
“The students at Guildford were so passionate and wonderfully talented which you can see in the fantastic artwork they created using our boots. The end results are almost too good to wear again, but they will make an amazing statement on the field when we play on Friday night, and ultimately, I hope, raise plenty of funds to support the incredible work of the Earbus Foundation.”
The Western Force takes on Kagifa Samoa on Friday, at HBF Park. Kick-off at 7.45pm AWST.
FORCE TEAM:
1. Harrison Lloyd
2. Heath Tessmann
3. Tom Sheminant
4. Johan Bardoul
5. Fergus Lee-Warner
6. Henry Stowers
7. Chris Alcock
8. Tevin Ferris
9. Issak Fines
10. AJ Alatimu
11. Clay Uyen
12. Henry Taefu
13. Marcel Brache
14. Masivesi Dakuwaqa
15. Jack McGregor
16. Feleti Kaitu'u
17. Markus Vanzati
18. Kieran Longbottom
19. Leon Power
20. Brynard Stander
21. Rory O'Sullivan
22. Andrew Deegan
23. Rod Davies
