Help support the Future of the Force
The Future Force identifies local, national and internationally-based rugby talent and weaves them into the fabric of rugby in Western Australia. This is achieved by recruiting outstanding young players between the ages of 18 and 21 to assist in fulfilling their dreams of playing professional rugby and further strengthen the standard of rugby in Western Australia.
Show your support for the future of rugby in WA by donating today.
Back and ready to take on the world’s best!
The Force are back in 2018 to tackle Rugby like you have never seen it before. It’s going to be a fast, entertaining experience as the Force players face-off against high-quality international opponents.
The 2018 World Series will see the re-energised Force take on some of the best national representative teams from around the Asia Pacific region and return to the field against a number of Super Rugby rivals.
“The focus for 2018 is to reintroduce and reinforce professional rugby in Western Australia for the benefits of our grassroots community, our players and our fans.
“In 2019 the World Series Rugby will evolve into a high-calibre, international competition with the goal of making rugby the community-building sport of Asia”.
– Andrew Forrest, Western Force Chairman
History of the Western Force
Like the sun rises in the east, pride rises in the west.
Rugby, ‘the game they play in heaven’, has been played in Western Australia for more than 120 years. RugbyWA, the governing body of rugby union in Western Australia, was founded in 1893.
Many years later in 2002, Western Australia began its bid for entry into the international Super 12 competition.
The bid was backed by the WA Government, which loaned more than $1 million to RugbyWA.
On 10 December 2004 there were euphoric scenes when RugbyWA was announced as having beaten Victoria for inclusion in the 2006 Super 14 competition.
Power to the people
When membership was officially launched in July, more than 13,000 were already registered, with around 400 companies expressing interest in hospitality packages.
Soon the Force had the largest membership base of any of the Australian Super 14 teams. By the start of the pre-season, the Force had 16,000 members.
Australian Rugby Union CEO Gary Flowers was quoted as claiming “people power” was a key factor in Western Australia being awarded the licence ahead of Victoria.
On April 19, RugbyWA unveiled the franchise team name – the Western Force – as well as the black swan logo in Perth.
By the end of the first season, the Force finished with the highest crowd average out of all the Australian teams, despite finishing in last place on the Super Rugby ladder.
The early years
When the Western Force first entered the Super Rugby tournament, they played their home games at the AFL ground Subiaco Oval.
While wins and losses came and went, early seasons saw the Force hover around the middle of the Super Rugby ladder.
Spurred on by the strongest and most parochial crowd in Super Rugby, the fans continued support their side featuring their Wallaby stars such as Nathan Sharpe, Matt Giteau, Scott Staniforth, Tai McIsaac, James O’Connor, David Pocock, Digby Ioane, Ryan Cross and Drew Mitchell.
In 2010 Western Force relocated to its new home at the rectangular, 18,000-capacity nib Stadium.
The rise of the club
After a poor finish in the 2012 Super Rugby season, the RugbyWA Board initiated significant change to turn around the fortunes of the club.
Former World Cup-winning Wallaby Michael Foley was appointed Head Coach from the Waratahs for the 2013 season, and substantial investment was made in recruitment to begin to shape a team that would begin the rise up the Super Rugby ranks.
With a new strategic direction, a new recruitment model targeting home-grown talent and a decisive shift away from the limited east coast player pool, the Western Force recorded the club’s most successful season in Super Rugby in 2014.
The team finished just two points shy of the club’s maiden finals appearance.
The season also featured Matt Hodgson, who won the club’s Nathan Sharpe Medal, become the first player to reach 100 matches for the club.
Donation Requests
The Western Force are pleased to support local community charities and not-for-profits through fundraising and donation activities.
Offices
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(08) 6280 0168
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9:00am - 5:00pm Mon to Fri
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203 Underwood Ave, Floreat
PO Box 146, Floreat WA 6014
Corporate Hospitality
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(08) 6280 0168
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8:30am - 5:00pm Mon to Fri
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Corporate Hospitality, Western Force
PO Box 146, Floreat WA 6014
Memberships
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(08) 6280 0168
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8:30am - 5:00pm Mon to Fri
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Memberships Team, Western Force
PO Box 146, Floreat WA 6014