A trio of Wallabies, a pair of new signings and several Fortescue Premier Grade stars are among the Western Force squad named for the upcoming Swyftx Super Rugby AUS competition.
The Force coaching staff have selected a 28-player squad for the month-long tournament that starts away to the Queensland Reds at Ballymore on Saturday 12 September.
New signings Trevor Hosea and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips are among the group, along with Wallace Charlie, who has returned to the Force following time on the Aussie 7s circuit.
Be part of the Sea of Blue - register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
The group includes Wallabies representatives in Tom Robertson, Nick Champion de Crespigny and Kurtley Beale, along with internationally-capped hooker Nic Dolly.
A large cohort of the core Force Super Rugby squad are also among the squad, including Mac Grealy, Will Harris and Nathan Hastie. Zac Lomax is working his way back from a groin injury and could face the Reds in Round 1.
Nedlands openside flanker and Force favourite Kane Koteka is back in the mix for the tournament, as one of numerous Premier Grade players selected in the squad.
Associates hooker Sam Faoagali, Nedlands prop Anthony Passi, UWA back-rower Jackson Iose and Cottesloe back-rower Tim Sail are selected after strong seasons in the local WA competition and impressing during this month’s training block.
Several members of the Force Academy are also included, including Wanneroo duo Jasper Asi and Tamarangi Tunui and Cottesloe pair Regin Pratt and Nate Gallagher who all competed in Saturday’s Premier Grade Grand Final won by the Seagulls with Pratt among the try scorers.
Numerous players have returned to the Force fold following productive club stints in NSW’s Shute Shield and Queensland’s Hospital Cup. Kalamunda product and Academy prop Max Sawers enjoyed the benefits of a full season at Wildfires, while McLaughlin-Phillips and Boston Fakafanua both were standouts with Wests Bulldogs and Sydney University respectively.
Damian Steele, who’ll lead the Force as head coach during Super Rugby AUS, said the group was shaping up nicely for the competition.
Steele said: “We’ve got an exciting group who are raring to play in a series of meaningful games during the Super Rugby AUS competition following a really good block of training.
“Our group contains plenty of our core Super Rugby squad, mixed with some talented Premier Grade players who’ve really impressed this club season and in our training block.
“We’ll also welcome new recruits to the fold, providing an opportunity to build cohesion and provide development opportunities which is important to develop the depth of our talent pool.”
All Super Rugby AUS games will be broadcast live on the rugby.com.au YouTube channel.
The Force's Round 2 home game against the ACT Brumbies at North Coast Sharks in Butler is free entry. More info here.
Be part of the Sea of Blue - register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
Western Force
Front-rowers
Albert Alcock, Jasper Asi (Academy/Wanneroo), Nic Dolly, Misinale Epenisa, Sam Faoagali (Associates), Bradley Kuhn (Academy/Joondalup), Anthony Passi (Nedlands), Regin Pratt (Academy/Cottesloe), Tom Robertson, Max Sawers (Academy/Kalamunda)
Second/back rowers
Nick Champion de Crespigny, Jack Daly, Nate Gallagher (Academy/Cottesloe), Will Harris, Trevor Hosea, Jackson Iose (UWA), Kane Koteka (Nedlands), Tim Sail (Cottesloe)
Backs
Luke Aiken, Kurtley Beale, Wallace Charlie, Boston Fakafanua, Mac Grealy, Nathan Hastie, Ronan Leahy, Zac Lomax, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tamarangi Tunui (Academy/Wanneroo)
2026 SWYFTX SUPER RUGBY AUS SCHEDULE
*All times WST*
Round 1
Queensland Reds v Western Force - Saturday 12 September 11:30am - Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Round 2
Western Force v ACT Brumbies - Sunday 20 September 1:30pm - North Coast Rugby Club, Perth
Round 3
NSW Waratahs v Western Force - Sunday 27 September 10:45am - Pittwater Rugby Park, Sydney
Grand Final
1 v 2 - Saturday 3 October – TBC
Be part of the Sea of Blue - register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
