Force team confirmed for Swain's 100th away to Brumbies

Harry Johnson-Holmes and Vaiolini Ekuasi will both come into the Western Force starting line-up for Saturday night’s Round 13 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific clash with the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.

It will be a fitting return to Canberra for Darcy Swain who has been named at lock to bring up his 100^th Super Rugby cap, having previously notched 76 caps for the Brumbies.

Swain, who was born in North Queensland, moved to Canberra in 2016, spending eight years with the Brumbies, before heading west to the Force prior to the 2025 season.

Tickets are on sale now for the Force's next home game against the Queensland Reds on Saturday 16 May 5:35pm via Ticketmaster - the Club's zero2hero Charity Game. Book here.

Dylan Pietsch, whose re-signing with the Force on a two-year deal was confirmed earlier this week, will bring up his 50^th Super Rugby cap too.

Johnson-Holmes returns to the starting team after a strong run of form when playing large minutes off the bench.

Ekuasi is back in the XV after being a late withdrawal for last round’s 20-17 win over the NSW Waratahs for personal reasons.

Joondalup Brothers and Force Academy product Marley Pearce is added among the impacts.

Tighthead prop Misinale Epenisa is unavailable due to head injury protocols.

The Force are otherwise unchanged for Saturday’s game against the sixth-placed Brumbies, who are seven points ahead of the 10^th-placed Force on the Super Rugby ladder.

Saturday night’s game will be live on both Stan Sport and 9Gem, with kick off at 5:35pm WST.

In the run-on side, Tom Robertson and Johnson-Holmes are the props, with Wallaby Brandon Paenga-Amosa at hooker.

Captain Jeremy Williams reverts to the second row alongside 17-cap Wallaby Swain, with Ekuasi returning to the back row alongside Wallabies pair Nick Champion de Crespigny and Carlo Tizzano.

Henry Robertson will work alongside Ben Donaldson, with Hamish Stewart – who brought up his 50^th Force cap last round – and George Bridge in the midfield.

Milestone man Pietsch, who has scored four tries in four games, and Zac Lomax will start on the wings, with Mac Grealy at full-back.

The impacts are Nic Dolly, Pearce, Sef Fa’agase – for his 99^th Super Rugby cap, Franco Molina, Will Harris, Nathan Hastie, Bayley Kuenzle and Kurtley Beale.

If Beale plays, he'll bring up his 184th Super Rugby cap, closing within one of Aaron Smith (185) in joint third in competition history.

Tickets are on sale now for the Force's next home game against the Queensland Reds on Saturday 16 May 5:35pm via Ticketmaster - the Club's zero2hero Charity Game. Book here.

Game details

ACT Brumbies vs Western Force

Saturday 9 May, 5:35pm WST

GIO Stadium, Canberra

Live on Stan Sport (TV) & 9Gem (TV)

Western Force team list

1 Tom Robertson

2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa

3 Harry Johnson-Holmes

4 Jeremy Williams (c)

5 Darcy Swain

6 Nick Champion de Crespigny (vc)

7 Carlo Tizzano

8 Vaiolini Ekuasi

9 Henry Robertson

10 Ben Donaldson (vc)

11 Dylan Pietsch

12 Hamish Stewart

13 George Bridge

14 Zac Lomax

15 Mac Grealy

Reserves; 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Sef Fa'agase, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Kurtley Beale

SKG Radiology Unavailable List

Misinale Epenisa (head injury) – return to play protocols

Alex Harford (shoulder) - medium term

Darby Lancaster (ankle) - season