Academy Duo First To Make The Grade
Kieran Longbottom and James Stannard have become the first Firepower RugbyWA Academy players to have been offered a training opportunity with the Emirates Western Force squad.
Longbottom, a born and bred West Australian, was an inaugural member of the Academy in 2005 and joined the Emirates Western Force on tour to New Zealand in April 2006 as part of a development opportunity provided by Woodside.
The 21 year old Rockingham prop made his State debut with Perth Gold in 2005 and was a regular member of the ET Perth Spirit squad in the inaugural Mazda Australian Rugby Championship (MARC).
Stannard moved to Perth from Queensland in 2006 and joined the Academy shortly after winning the local competition’s PG Hampshire Award for best and fairest, playing at flyhalf for Palmyra.
The 24 year old scrumhalf played for the Emirates Western Force in the 2006 Australian Provincial Championship and the ET Perth Spirit in the MARC.
Emirates Western Force Head Coach John Mitchell said both players were rewarded with an opportunity to train with the squad after solid performances in the MARC and because of positional requirements.
He said their work ethic had also been an important factor.
“They’re both resilient competitors and self motivated. They fit in well with the group,” Mitchell said.
