Force squad named for opening trial match

[travelling_gerry]

The Western Force has named a 34-man squad to tackle Samoa A in their opening pre-season fixture at Lark Hill Sports Complex in Rockingham this Friday (7 February).

Matt Hodgson will lead the side that features both of the club’s Wallaby representatives from last year’s Spring Tour in winger Nick Cummins and No.8 Ben McCalman.

The match will provide the Sea of Blue with their first opportunity to see a number of the Western Force’s new recruits in action, including returning local product Zack Holmes, former Brumbies scrumhalf Ian Prior, Wallabies and Australian Sevens flyer Luke Morahan, Cottesloe scrumhalf Ryan Louwrens, former Northland rake Robbie Abel, and the South African trio of outside back Marcel Brache, back-rower Brynard Stander and lock Wilhelm Steenkamp.

Home-grown prop Ollie Hoskins and the former University of Cape Town pairing of Dillyn Leyds and Dylan Sage, all new members of the Force’s Wider Training Squad, have been named, as has the UWA and RugbyWA Academy duo of Richard Hardwick and Corey Thomas.

The match will also signal the return of Nathan Charles and Kyle Godwin, who both missed the end of the 2013 Super Rugby season due to knee and shoulder surgeries respectively.

Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley says the pre-season fixtures continue the team’s climb towards the opening match of the Super Rugby season against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Sunday, 23 February.

“This is an important time for the team as we have the opportunity to put four months of training into practice,” he said.
“The squad has worked extremely hard throughout this pre-season training block and there is a determination amongst the group to achieve more this year.

“The playing group, under Matt’s leadership, has placed an emphasis on higher standards in all we do, and we’re looking forward to taking the next step in front of our people in Rockingham on Friday night.”

Tickets to Friday’s match are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com.au) with tickets (subject to availability) also available at the venue on match day.

2014 Super Rugby – Pre-Season
Western Force v Samoa A
Lark Hill Sports Complex, Rockingham
Friday, 7 February 2014
Kick-off: 7.30pm

Robbie Abel, Chris Alcock, Phoenix Battye, Marcel Brache, Nathan Charles, Angus Cottrell, Pek Cowan, Nick Cummins, Patrick Dellit, Sias Ebersohn, Tetera Faulkner, Kyle Godwin, Richard Hardwick (RugbyWA Academy), Jayden Hayward, Matt Hodgson (c), Zack Holmes, Ollie Hoskins, Dillyn Leyds, Kieran Longbottom, Ryan Louwrens, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Luke Morahan, Ian Prior, Junior Rasolea, Dylan Sage, Brynard Stander, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Ed Stubbs, Heath Tessmann, Corey Thomas (RugbyWA Academy), Chris Tuatara-Morrison, Rory Walton, Sam Wykes.
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[jargan83]

Can't wait!

(Unless the Scorchers beat the Sixers in which case I will be at the WACA instead)

[GAFFA]

So the Squad memebers not playing are:

1 Hugh McMeniman
2 Dane Haylett-Petty
3 Chris Heiberg
4 Salesi Manu

And EPS

1 Luke Burton
2 Adam Coleman

With Local boys Corey Thomas and Richard Hardwick joining Ollie Hoskins Dillyn Leyds and Dylan Sage from the WTS..

[Alison]

MMM is still not back from injury & won't be available for selection for a few weeks yet.

Am surprised Chris Heiberg isn't in. I guess they are wanting to give Cheese maximum game time pre season, which would make sense.

[GAFFA]

MMM is still not back from injury & won't be available for selection for a few weeks yet.

Am surprised Chris Heiberg isn't in. I guess they are wanting to give Cheese maximum game time pre season, which would make sense.

Heiberg is a prop not a hooker

[jono]

Time is now for CTM to live upto expectations.

[GAFFA]

Time is now for CTM to live upto expectations.

Totally agree all the hype around him last year to not get on the park was a disappointment and then the game against the Lions he had a shocker.

Someone mentioned that he has beefed up quite a bit so let’s hope he learnt how to tackle as well.

[travelling_gerry]

Interesting to see the Wallabies in so early.

The hype about CTM last year was quickly seen by those in Darwin for the trial where 2 quick tries were scored by Brumbies running around him. If it wasn't for that we would have won the game.

[The InnFORCEr]

A few years ago when we played the Hurricanes in Wellington, apparently CTM uncle or old man went to our change rooms and hit up our management saying he wanted CTM to play for the Western Force, and that is how he actually got to the Force.

[Pitythefool]

Good to see Foley rewarding those that put in during the preseason. Nice mix of experience and youth.

[GAFFA]

To befair to CTM his shute shield form was great prob one of if not the best 12 in the comp but i guess it goes to show how big the step up really is.

[Alison]

Ooops! Thought Heiberg was a hooker! D'oh!

I think they've all been given the message this year that there will be no automatic selections this season - every man will have to earn his spot. At least, that's the sense I got from talking to various people at the fan day.

[UNCLE BOOG]

goddamned I cant wait for rugby to be back!

[WFDom]

So who's coming down for the game then?

[GAFFA]

Ill be there!