Western Force head coach Dylan Parsons says there’s a healthy mix of excitement and anticipation ahead of their Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s season opener on Friday.
After an off-season full of positivity with the Club’s investment in the women’s program, the Force will host the Super W season opener against the Melbourne Rebels from 4:30pm Friday at HBF Park.
The club made history in the off-season with Parsons appointed as Super W’s first-ever full-time head coach, while captain Trilleen Pomare and vice-captain Michaela Leonard became the first Super W players to sign multi-year contracts.
The Force have recruited strongly with internationals like Natsuki Kashiwagi, Sara Cline, Pia Tapsell, Harono Te Iringa and Sheree Hume, along with Renae Nona, Alapeta Ngauamo, Rosie Ebbage and ex-Super W Player of the Year Lucy Dinnen from other clubs lifting expectations of a maiden finals campaign.
“A lot of excitement,” Parsons told reporters when asked about the mood. “At the end of a big pre-season, a lot of work has gone into it, the girls now get to run out and play the games that matter. We’re really excited to get out there.”
“There’s a bit of the unknown as well. There’s a good buzz. There’s been a lot of work and competition for spots. Once that squad went out, the whole team got behind and we trained really well this week.”
Parsons said the group felt a debt of gratitude to the Club for their investment in the women’s program, that has included additional dedicated resources in physiotherapy, nutrition, leadership, strength and conditioning.
“All that stuff behind the scenes is great,” Parsons said. “The girls have felt supported. That’s really important as through that support they feel like they can be themselves and go out and play rugby without all the other stuff they’ve had to worry about in the past.
“With that comes expectation as well. It goes back to the mindset, balancing expectations and not getting too far ahead of ourselves.
“It is something there and we do highlight that the club has invested a lot and we do want to pay back that faith as well.”
The Force will have 11 club debutants on Friday, including a raft of internationals and players from other clubs, but Parsons was excited to see local talent Rosie McGehan get her chance.
“Rosie is a proud moment for us as a club,” he said. “She’s a Kalamunda local, still only 19, straight out of school.
“Through her pre-season performance, she’s been able to get selected to start. It’s a massive testament to her and the Academy program she was part of as well.
“It’s not just about the quality of recruits but also the locals that are here and showing them that there’s a pathway.”
Dinnen’s injury cover addition from the extended squad comes following a season-ending ACL injury to Emilya Byrne sustained in the Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix trial game three weeks ago.
Parsons said the recruitment of Dinnen, who won the 2022 Super W Player of the Year with the Queensland Reds, was another endorsement for the club with the backrower seeking out a move.
“To bring that caliber of player to replace the injured Emilya is massive around what this program is doing,” he said. “It shows players are now wanting to come here. It’s a positive step.”
Kick-off against the Rebels is 4:30pm, with tickets available via Ticketmaster. View our GameDay Hub for more info about what's on. Gate 1 opens 4:15pm.
The game is part of a double-header with the Force hosting Moana Pasifika from 7pm in Super Rugby Pacific. Both games are live on Stan Sport.
