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2/14/2014
By RugbyWA Media Unit
The Western Force has unveiled its ground-breaking ‘Future Force’ program that will provide rugby opportunities in Western Australia for talented young players from both Australia and abroad with a view to broadening and strengthening the local rugby player base.
The Future Force will identify outstanding local players and relocate talented young athletes to Perth, and fast-track their rugby development through a full-time program that addresses the players’ physical, rugby and vocational requirements. Through the program, players will be integrated into the local rugby and broader communities.
The injection of gifted players from outside Western Australia will assist to continue to raise the level of club rugby in the state, with a view to seeing more local players progress to the Western Force.
The program will be overseen by former South African and Australian international cricket team coach Mickey Arthur, who will act in a mentoring role and coordinate the three aspects of the program.
Arthur, who has made his home in Perth, says he’s keen to contribute to the growth of rugby in Western Australia through the Future Force.
“Having had an interest in rugby over a long period of time, it’s very exciting to be involved with a program like this,” he said.
“Perth is a dynamic, wonderful place to live with a growing appetite for rugby, and this opportunity will excite a lot of young players not only in Perth and Australia but around the world.
“For the players, this is about providing a holistic program – rugby, education and careers advice as well as social introductions – for those hungry for an opportunity and wishing to live their rugby dreams.
“Perth is now home for a large number of people with a rugby background and we’ve already had a lot of interest and support for this program in Perth.”
Players will receive holistic support for their rugby and athletic development through elite coaching in the RugbyWA and Western Force pathway programs; assistance with education and careers aspirations through partnerships with a number of Western Australia’s leading educational and vocational institutions; and social integration into through Western Australia’s strong club rugby network.
The Future Force continues the Western Force’s focus on promoting local talent with the 2014 extended squad featuring a record eight players, including Kieran Longbottom (Rockingham), Kyle Godwin (Associates), Zack Holmes (Associates), Dane Haylett-Petty (Cottesloe), Luke Burton (UWA), Ryan Louwrens (Cottesloe), Ollie Hoskins (Cottesloe) and Brad Lacey (Wests Scarborough).
This has been complemented by the Western Force’s recruitment of New Zealand and South African players following player concessions from the Australian Rugby Union. This innovative recruitment strategy has enabled the Force to move away from a reliance on the east coast-based Australian player pool.
RugbyWA CEO Mark Sinderberry says it was important to think outside the square with regard to the club’s recruitment strategies.
“Our first priority is growing the game in Western Australia and the primary objective of the Future Force program is to broaden our rugby base here in the state,” he said.
“We’re certainly a state that’s faced with a number of unique challenges predominantly by virtue of our isolation, and that requires us to take a different approach with regard to a number of our operations, including recruitment.
“This program is about accelerating the number of home-grown or home nurtured products through to the elite level and we believe we can do this by identifying outstanding young players early and weaving them into the fabric of our club rugby and local communities.
“We envisage that we’d receive between five and 10 players into the program in the first 12 months and between 10 and 15 after that. These players would be evenly distributed amongst our local clubs with a view to seeing them progress into the Force ranks after a few years.
The Future Force program will now begin a process of talent identification with the first induction of players to take place in 2014.
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This is absolutely brilliant!
The cynic in me wonders how long it will take the local club scene's infighting to fuck it up
Brilliant idea.
As I mentioned in another post Mark Sinderberry has really brought a new dimension to Rugby in this state.
He does not appear to standstill but thinks outside the square.
This state's rugby will only be better off for having him been here.
This gives us hope that in the future we will have a Force.
"Future Force" absolutely Brilliant!!!![]()
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
so,my question for the whole force awards night asking if rugby WA had an interest in Mickey Arthur,has been answered!
Just imagine were we would be with this thinking eight years ago!
May the FORCE be with you!
Maybe the problem with 8 years ago was the "expert" panel that was tasked with setting up our structure appointing a coach etc. It was loaded to the gunnels with NSWmen. Including, unbelievably looking back now, Phil Kearns. The more automomously WA Rugby can progress away from that clusterfuck the better.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
I think Mickey Arthur is a great boost to the Force and his knowledge and experience will be very handy. I endorse this product or event..but I can't help having a bit of a dig
1) Who would have thought that the Force would have been the sixth South African side?
2) Make sure the new "gifted players from outside western australia" are told to do their homework.
coz Stone Cold says so
3) Rotation system - let's give it one more go
I hope that Rugby WA remembers that this is WA and not SA and yes get our young Talent coming in... Also I see a similar stratergy to the scourchers Cricket team "We can do it without the big names "
The teams looks more like 2 players per position and make them scrap for the run on start
Hey Gigs you might be called in to help with Homework LOL
The problem is we do not have a program to retain our local players we have at least 10 local players that can qualify for this program that is currently playing somewhere else we also have more than that number of players that are currently in Perth that does not even get a look at........
Lets hope the players do their home work!
Honestly since Mickey Arthur got the sack from the Aussie top job he has been like everywhere like sh*t in a field
I think youre pushing that barrow a bit hard Pieter. We have more local talent in the squad than ever before and the program has only been running two years.
There is an obvious mandate to improve in certain areas, and one of those areas is the number of local players, but whilst they are looking at improving on-field performances taking a gamble on a Perth club player who might be awesome but hasn't been tested (even in the Shute shield) is a huge risk, they'll only hit that well once or twice a contracting season.
The players in other provinces and countries might be under contract or might be unsuitable for our needs at this time.
I think the program to get local boys into the team is going quite nicely thank you.
C'mon the![]()
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“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
All sounds good & positive - This attachment is taken from the RWA webpage of our National Gold Squad participants. It hasn't been updated for a couple of years now, however does anyone know what these kids are currently doing, are they still in the game, are they candidates for this new program?
5 on the list are part of WA Under 20's squad and progressing through.