 | |||
| Union | Rugby Australia (Western Australia) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | ||
| Location | Perth, Western Australia | ||
| Region | Western Australia, Australia | ||
| Ground(s) | HBF Park (Capacity: 20,500) | ||
| Chairman | Anthony Flannery | ||
| CEO | Niamh O'Connor | ||
| Director of Rugby | Matt Hodgson | ||
| Coach(es) | Simon Cron | ||
| Captain(s) | Jeremy Williams | ||
| Most caps | Matt Hodgson (140) | ||
| Top scorer | Cameron Shepherd (370) | ||
| League(s) | Super Rugby Pacific | ||
| 2024 | 10th overall | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| westernforce | |||
The Western Force is an Australian professional rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia, currently competing in Super Rugby Pacific. They previously played in Super Rugby from 2006 until they were axed from the competition in 2017.[1] Following their axing they played in the National Rugby Championship in 2018 and 2019, replacing the Perth Spirit, and Global Rapid Rugby from 2018 to 2020, an Indo-Pacific competition organised by Andrew Forrest.
Following the cancellation of both the 2020 Super Rugby season and 2020 Global Rapid Rugby season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Western Force were invited to compete in the 2020 Super Rugby AU season, a domestic competition organised by Rugby Australia to replace the cancelled Super Rugby season.[2] The Force competed in the 2021 Super Rugby AU season[3] and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman,[4] before being confirmed that their return to Super Rugby will be permanent in the revamped 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.[5]
- ^ "It is a ludicrous and unfair legal initiative by the ARU". PerthNow. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ Decent, Georgina Robinson, Roy Ward, Tom (20 March 2020). "Western Force back in the fold as RA confirm new domestic competition". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Revamped Super Rugby unveiled with 2021 draw". wwos.nine.com.au. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ Polson, James (13 December 2020). "Waratahs to host Hurricanes in trans-Tasman Super Rugby opener". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ "Reports: Agreement reached for 12-team Super Rugby from 2022". sarugbymag.co.za. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.