The Western Force is thrilled to announce the 2026 Force Academy 23-player squad ahead of an exciting year for the Club’s pathways group.
The group includes 11 homegrown Western Australian products alongside elite emerging talent from the east coast and overseas.
The squad will once again be coached by a trio of former Force players, Jeremy Thrush, Jono Lance, and Chris Heiberg.
The announcement of the 2026 Academy squad comes following Thursday’s confirmation of the new Super Rugby Next Gen series for February 2026 with the Force side likely to draw upon a large cohort of Academy members.
Academy general manager Damian Steele said: “We’re rapt to announce our Academy squad ahead of an exciting year, including the introduction of Super Rugby Next Gen which will run alongside Super Rugby Pacific.
“It’s a highly talented group of players who we want to one day see in the Force jersey at Super Rugby level, which is our primary objective.
“We’re thrilled to welcome five new members into our Academy out of the RugbyWA pathway, which speaks to the quality of the RWA Academy Program, and the benefits of the Super Under-16s and Under-19s concepts.”
Those five WA products are Associates pair Felix Cooper and Chase Bunce plus Nedlands trio Michael Turukawa, Fatani Fatanitavake and Iziah Lolohea.
Only last week, WA trio Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage, Leeson Tiakia and Kaiawha Heke played for the Australia U16s after participating for the Force in the Super Rugby Men’s U16s two months ago, in another endorsement of the WA pathway.
Numerous players from the east coast have headed west to link up with the Force, including Luke Aiken, Chlayton Frans, Bradley Kuhn and Max Johnson.
The Academy pathway has been fruitful in recent seasons, with Boston Fakafanua and Albert Alcock the latest graduates into the Super Rugby Pacific squad, following on from Marley Pearce, Ronan Leahy and Doug Philipson.
2026 Force Academy squad
Forwards
Jasper Asi, Ollie Barrett, Riley Brewis, Felix Cooper (Associates), Misinale Epensia, Chlayton Frans, Nate Gallagher, Luke Holt-Brown (Perth Bayswater), Max Johnson, Bradley Kuhn, Ollie McGinnity, Luke Megson (Associates), Max Sawers (Kalamunda), Berakah Tuifaasisina
Backs
Luke Aiken, Chase Bunce (Associates), Fatani Fatanitavake (Nedlands), Iziah Lolohea (Nedlands), Brodie Mainwaring (Wanneroo), Peni Naqau (Southern Lions), Tamarangi Tunui (Wanneroo), Michael Turukawa (Nedlands), Mack Wrigley
