Homegrown Hoskins given dream retirement with unique one-game Force contract

Mon, Jun 16, 2025, 11:00 PM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Perth-born prop Ollie Hoskins will finish his career with the Western Force on a unique one-game loan deal. Photo: Getty Images
Perth-born prop Ollie Hoskins will finish his career with the Western Force on a unique one-game loan deal. Photo: Getty Images

Perth-born prop Ollie Hoskins will finish his career with the Western Force on a unique one-game loan deal for the British & Irish Lions tour game on June 28.

Hoskins announced his retirement last month but his club side Saracens has permitted him to join the Force for the one-off game at Optus Stadium.

Watch every match of the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour live and on-demand via Stan Sport.

The 32-year-old started his career with the Force in 2014, playing 26 games before heading overseas with London Irish.

Hoskins would record over 150 caps in the Premiership, eventually handed a lone Wallabies appearance in 2021.

“It’s such a poetic way to round it all up,” Hoskins said in a statement. “It just seems full circle to be able to come home and hopefully play my last game in front of my home crowd with my family there. I’m chomping at the bit, I can’t wait.

“A couple of weeks ago, when the Force got in touch with my agent, I was dumb founded. It was the quickest yes of all time.

“I’m really grateful Saracens were really accommodating to get the loan done. I feel really lucky to get this opportunity to play one last game for my hometown club, because I still love the Force.

Ollie Hoskins has been called into the Wallabies squad. Photo: Andrew Phan/Wallabies Media.

“I was a fan before I was a player as a kid. I managed to play for them and to be back at Force HQ for the first time in 10 years, it’s very nostalgic. It’s still the same but also very different. To have one last game to finish it up is so poetic. I’m so grateful.”

The deal works perfectly for the Force, which has had front-row issues since the start of the year.

New recruit Harry Johnson-Holmes and Australia A prop Harry Hoopert have not featured all year due to injury, while regular tight-head Tom Robertson is set to play loosehead against the Lions.

“Ollie brings a wealth of experience and is such an open and positive person. He’ll help mentor the younger tightheads as well as add important big-game experience to the front row," coach Simon Cron said.

“It is no secret that we lost two props before the season started and then a number of our lads carried injuries throughout. The Wallabies coaches also requested to see Tom Robertson at loosehead, so therefore we needed a tighthead and Ollie was a natural target given his experience and background.

“He’s had a really good career, starting out here at the Force coming through the Club’s Academy into Super Rugby ranks, so this is a great story for WA rugby and for him personally.”

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