Round 3 Fijian Drua v Western Force W

Pomare set for milestone as Force lose duo ahead of Drua test

Wed, Mar 27, 2024, 10:57 AM
Ben Somerford

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

1. Alapeta Ngauamo
2. Sara Cline
3. Natsuki Kashiwagi
4. Michaela Leonard (VC)
5. Rosie Ebbage
6. Brooklyn Teki-Joyce
7. Anneka Stephens
8. Tamika Jones
9. Samantha Wood
10. Nicole Ledington
11. Saelua Leaula
12. Trilleen Pomare (C)
13. Sheree Hume
14. Haylee Hifo
15. Aiysha Wigley

16. Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke
17. Hinata Komaki
18. Harono Te Iringa
19. Keira MacAskill
20. Alanis Toia
21. Lucy Dinnen
22. Renae Nona
23. Siutiti Ma'ake

Drua: TBC