Nic Dolly will lead the Western Force with the 25-player team confirmed for the side’s opening Swyftx Super Rugby AUS clash away to the Queensland Reds on Saturday from 11:30am WST.
Starting hooker Dolly will captain the side, with full-back Mac Grealy and forward Will Harris to support as his vice-captains for the month-long tournament running through September and October among the four Australian Super Rugby sides.
The starting XV features new signing Harry McLaughlin-Phillips who arrived in Perth last week after an excellent campaign with Wests Bulldogs whom he led to the Queensland Hospital Cup Grand Final.
Be part of the Sea of Blue - register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
McLaughlin-Phillips will partner with scrum-half Nathan Hastie, with young gun Boston Fakafanua to start at inside-centre after an excellent Shute Shield with Sydney University alongside Zac Lomax in the midfield.
Aussie 7s speedster Wallace Charlie returns to the Force to start on the wing, while Harris will run on at lock fresh from helping Eastern Suburbs win the Shute Shield last Saturday.
There’s a strong flavour of Fortescue Premier Grade talent with forwards Zak Healey (Cottesloe), Kane Koteka (Nedlands) and Jackson Iose (UWA) both in the run-on side. Koteka’s return in Force blue for Super Rugby AUS extends a long association with his hometown club from 2015 including 44 appearances.
There’s more Premier Grade talent among the reserves with Nedlands prop Junior Passi, Cottesloe prop Regin Pratt (Force Academy), UWA lock Wil Taylor, Wests Scarborough back-rower Seta Baker, Nedlands’ utility back Tama Anderson, Associates hooker Sam Faoagali and Cottesloe forward Tim Sail.
Veteran Wallaby Kurtley Beale adds plenty of experience and craft as one of 10 replacements, offering versatility off the bench to a talented starting backline.
In the run-on side, Kalamunda and Academy prop Max Sawers returns from a stint with Wildfires to start alongside skipper Dolly and Academy tighthead Brad Kuhn.
Shute Shield winner Harris will link up with recent Cottesloe Premier Grade champion Healey in the second row.
In the starting back row are Force favourite Koteka at blindside flanker, Irish openside flanker Jack Daly and UWA’s number 8 Jackson Iose.
Wanneroo junior Nathan Hastie and McLaughlin-Phillips, who signed with the Force from the Reds in the off-season, will partner at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.
Fakafanua - who made his Super Rugby debut in Round 15 in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season - will start in the midfield alongside Zac Lomax who’ll revert to outside-centre.
Former Australia U20s tyro Ronan Leahy and Charlie will start on the wings, with Grealy rounding out the back three at full-back.
The reserves are Force hooker Albert Alcock, Passi, Pratt, Taylor, Baker, scrum-half Luke Aiken, veteran Kurtley Beale, Anderson, Faoagali and Sail.
Saturday’s game at Ballymore Stadium starts at 11:30am WST, live on Stan Sport and rugby.com.au’s Youtube channel. Follow Force social media channels for updates.
Be part of the Sea of Blue - register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
Match details
Queensland Reds v Western Force
Saturday 12 September, 11:30am WST
Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Live on Stan Sport & rugby.com.au’s Youtube channel
Western Force 25-player team list
Starting XV
1 Max Sawers
2 Nic Dolly (c)
3 Brad Kuhn
4 Will Harris (vc)
5 Zak Healey
6 Kane Koteka
7 Jack Daly
8 Jackson Iose
9 Nathan Hastie
10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
11 Wallace Charlie
12 Boston Fakafanua
13 Zac Lomax
14 Ronan Leahy
15 Mac Grealy (vc)
Replacements
16 Albert Alcock, 17 Junior Passi, 18 Regin Pratt, 19 Wil Taylor, 20 Seta Baker, 21 Tama Anderson, 22 Luke Aiken, 23 Tim Sail, 24 Kurtley Beale, 25 Sam Faoagali
Be part of the Sea of Blue - register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
