The Western Force will welcome back Haylee Hifo and former Rising Star winner Keira MacAskill for Saturday’s Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s game away to Fijian Drua in Round 3.
The Force, who are 2-0 following two strong wins to open the season, will celebrate captain Trilleen Pomare’s historic 25-game milestone away to the reigning Super W champions.
Pomare hasn’t missed a Force game since Super W’s inception and becomes the first Force player to reach the mark.
Outside back Hifo, who scored a double in her Round 1 debut, returns after missing Round 2 in head injury protocols. Former Debby Hodgkinson Rising Star winner MacAskill comes into the Force team as a reserve too.
The pair’s return comes following season-ending injuries to teenage winger Rosie McGehan (significant knee injury) and Black Ferns import Pia Tapsell (elbow dislocation).
Hifo will return at right wing with Manusina Samoa international Saelua Laeula reverting to left wing in place of McGehan.
Saturday’s game, which kicks off after the Force-Drua Super Rugby Pacific game at 9:05am WST, looms as a major test for the visitors.
The Force have started the season with impressive wins, triumphing 36-12 over the Melbourne Rebels in Round 1, followed by last weekend’s 24-14 victory over the Queensland Reds to sit second on the Super W ladder.
The Drua are reigning back-to-back Super W champions but were beaten at home 62-21 last weekend by the NSW Waratahs.
The game will be live on Stan Sport, while there will be regular updates @WesternForce on social media.
Game details
Fijian Drua v Western Force
Churchill Park, Lautoka, 11:35am WST
Live on Stan Sport
Force team list
Starting XV: Alapeta Ngauamo, Sara Cline, Natsuki Kashiwagi, Michaela Leonard (vc), Rosie Ebbage, Brooklyn Teki-Joyce, Anneka Stephens, Tamika Jones, Samantha Wood, Nicole Ledington, Saelua Leaula, Trilleen Pomare (c), Sheree Hume, Haylee Hifo, Aiysha Wigley
Reserves: Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Hinata Komaki, Harono Te Iringa, Keira MacAskill, Alanis Toia, Lucy Dinnen, Renae Nona, Siutiti Ma'ake
