The Western Force has moved to bolster the Club’s outside back stocks ahead of the 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s season with the signing of Ella Pietsch and retention of Halley Derera.
Pietsch, formerly Fountaine, has previously been part of Australia’s Next Gen Sevens set-up while Derera – who spent time previously with the Melbourne Rebels and ACT Brumbies – debuted for the Force in last season’s semi-final loss the NSW Waratahs.
The additions take the Force’s 2026 Super W squad to 24 members, with the side’s campaign commences in under two months, starting on Saturday 13 June away to Fijian Drua.
Pietsch is a 25-year-old who can play full-back and wing, showcasing her speed and athletic capacity last season during the North vs South Women’s Series after relocating to Perth last year.
Originally coming out of Burraneer in Sydney, Pietsch spent time within Australia’s Sevens program, playing in the Next Gen Sevens in 2024.
Pietsch, who earlier this year married Force men’s player Dylan Pietsch, has switched to the 15-a-side game, playing for Cottesloe in last season’s Fortescue Premier Grade season and linking up with the Force for the North vs South Series last October, training with the squad since.
Force Super W head coach Dylan Parsons said: “Ella has come out of the Australian Sevens pathway. She had a number of years in that system and you can see those athletic attributes pretty quickly. She has speed, endurance and professionalism.
“She came here to give herself a shot at the 15s game and try something new. She stood out in the North vs South Series and played some good rugby as a full-back.
“She’s learning the game of 15s. She’s done a lot of hard work with us during the KTG (Kaizen training group) block. Through that hard work and her athletic strengths, we see big potential in her. We’re excited to see how she develops this year.”
The re-signing of 28-year-old Derera, who can play anywhere across the back three, follows on from her Force debut in last season’s semi-finals after joining the Club ahead of the 2025 season.
Derera previously played Super W with the ACT Brumbies (2022-2023) and Melbourne Rebels (2024), while she has overseas experience with Exeter Chiefs and won NSW’s Jack Scott Cup title with Sydney University in 2025.
The hard-working outside back linked up with the Force for the 2024 Japan Tour and was a key part of the Wests Scarborough side that reached the 2025 Fortescue Premier Grade Grand Final.
Parsons said: “Halley is a committed individual that we’ve been able to see develop her game further over the last 18 months with us. Her signing is fantastic for the continuity within our outside backs.
“She worked really hard last season and got her opportunity in the semi final. She’s had a really good KTG block with us, which translated into a really good finals series with Wests Scarborough last year. Halley then took that form into a strong North vs South series.
“I know Halley is really focused on showing what strengths she can bring to the wing and we are excited to see how she brings those strengths into the 2026 season.”
Ella Pietsch
DOB: 1/6/2000
Position: Outside back
Halley Derera
DOB: 16/1/1998
Position: Outside back
2026 Western Force Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s squad
Katalina Amosa, Halley Derera, Ai Dickson, Nami Dickson, Zoe Elliott, Grace Freeman, Nicole Ledington, Michaela Leonard, Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Ngamihi Monk, Sera Naiqama, Alapeta Ngauamo, Hannah Palelei, Ella Pietsch, Allana Sikimeti, Cecilia Smith, Anneka Stephens, Sofaia Talemaira, Pia Tapsell, Brooklyn Teki-Joyce, Kylah-Rey Tuheke Kupa, Braxton Walker, Taylor Waterson, Sammy Wood
