Western Force Rugby Supporters Site

History in the making at the Foreshore

Hansie — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:46:19 GMT

It's been 60 years in the making, finally on Saturday Neddies will formally open new clubrooms that brings us out of the dark ages. Finally hot showers in the changerooms and ladies toilets inside the club rooms.

In 8 months, a team of 5 guys managed the demolition of the old rooms saved an historic mural, built new changerooms - even an extra one dedicated for the Refs ( you reading this Ecky??) , new club rooms, within budget and in time for our first home game against respected opponents - Kallamunda.

www.nedlandsrugby.com.au

We look forward to sharing it with all of you at some time or another.

force vs Rabbles Team Named

benny — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:15:56 GMT

As from the Western Force FB page here is the team

Team to take on the Rebels on Sunday.

1.Pek Cowan,
2. Nathan Charles,
3. Salesi Ma’afu,
4. Toby Lynn,
5. Nathan Sharpe,
6. Matt Hodgson,
7. David Pocock,
8. Ben McCalman,
9. Brett Sheehan,
10. Ben Seymour,
11. Napolioni Nalaga,
12. Rory Sidey,
13. Will Tupou,
14. Sam Wara,
15. David Harvey

Reserves 16. Salesi Manu, 17. Elvis Taione, 18. Phoenix Battye, 19. Lachlan McCaffrey, 20. Josh Holmes, 21. Winston Stanley, 22. Alfie Mafi.

Full team story coming soon!

Get well soon Sam

PerthChicka — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:55:52 GMT

Wishing Sam Wykes all the best for his knee operation today. :flower:

Force wary of emerging Rebels

SinBin — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:11:41 GMT

WHEN Western Force outside-centre Nick Cummins looks at his struggling team's next opponent, the rapidly improving Melbourne Rebels, he sees several things - a dangerous back line guided by a superstar, big wingers who put the team on the front foot and also a "bit of backyard footy".
"They'll have a crack," Cummins said of the Rebels yesterday. "They're playing like a top-two team, they've got nothing to lose � they're going really well.
"They've got [Kurtley] Beale at [No.] 10 now and he takes the line on and they've got big wingers who run the ball well and hard, which puts them on the front foot, so they can play their razzle-dazzle and they play a bit of backyard footy too."

But Cummins said the Force had "sussed out areas to exploit'' against the Rebels, including adding some bigger bodies to the back line. ''We're going to have some more go-forward this week. I think there might be a couple of positions moved around a bit."
The Force still had plenty to play for and would not just meekly play out the season. "What's left for us is to show character and turn it around," he said. "Through adversity is usually the best time to see people's character, and we do have the right blokes to have a go at it."
Rebels coach Damien Hill said his team would not take the Force lightly when they meet at nib Stadium in Perth on Sunday.
''They've beaten the Reds and the Waratahs this year and that's two things that we're yet to achieve,'' he said.

Full article here

Higginbotham to quit Reds for Rebels

theforceguy — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:23:15 GMT

Another player leaving the Reds article

http://m.theaustralian.com.au/sport/...-1226357966071

GetUp pokie Ad

Happy — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:59:17 GMT

Pre and post game pub?

FiveStarStu — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:54:13 GMT

Hey guys,

Almost time for the big match! Just wanted to check if you guys have a particular pre-and-post-game pub you go to.

Understand you have the JB O'Reilly's sponsorship going, but seems a while away from NIB. Is that the go or do you hit somewhere closer?

FORCE ON TRACK TO FILL HEAD COACH ROLE

The InnFORCEr — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:30:05 GMT

EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 16 May 2012

RugbyWA is well advanced in its search for a Head Coach to replace Richard Graham who resigned the role last month.

In the period since this time strong interest from around the world has been received from prospective candidates and the club itself has also sought interest in the position from a few particular highly qualified senior coaches.

RugbyWA understands there will be continued media speculation around the Head Coach position but re-iterates its position that it will be finding the best possible candidate to fill the role. This process, which has already started, will continue over the next few weeks and the list of candidates has now been trimmed to a final list for interview.

�I can appreciate that there is great interest in our selection of a new Head Coach as it is a highly desirable role in world rugby� said Emirates Western Force CEO Vern Reid.

�However, we will continue the process of assessment and take the necessary amount of time to choose the best possible coach for our club.

�The Board has confidence that its initial decision to appoint Phil Blake as interim senior coach with input from Nick Stiles and Andrew Scotney together with leadership roles for Captain David Pocock and Emirates Western Force legend Nathan Sharpe, is the right one to see out the season as the coaching group until a decision is made on the head coaching position for 2013,� said Reid.

Although the list has been trimmed, as late as last Friday another highly credentialed coach threw his hat into the ring and there may still be others who put up their hands for consideration.

In this constantly changing environment the Club will continue to speak to appropriate candidates across the board and move forward in a timely manner to make the correct decision for this vital role for the next stage of the Club�s development.

In parallel with this process the ongoing recruitment of players is taking place and it is anticipated that a series of announcements will occur between now and the end of the season.

Pre Game Drinks and Bus to Nib on Super Hero Sunday

The InnFORCEr — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:42:24 GMT

A word of warning that :jbs: will full of West Crap Eagles supporters on Sunday so I hope to see everyone over the road at the bowlo for some pre game drinks, even a roll up for those interested, might even turn a few snags 12.30 - 1pm.

Bus will leave at about 1.40pm and we should beat the traffic back after the game.

See you there :approve:

Hewat joins Brumbies

The InnFORCEr — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:43:43 GMT

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1226353479375

Queensland Reds set to face Lions for the last time in Super Rugby at Suncorp Stadium

SinBin — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:21:12 GMT

SATURDAY night looms as the final time the Queensland Reds will clash with the Lions, as the lowly South African team is set to be axed at season's end.

The Lions culling will put their coach John Mitchell out of a job, six years after he pillaged the Reds' playing list to prop up a fledgling Western Force team.

Mitchell faces an enormous task to steer the Lions to a boilover at Suncorp Stadium this weekend, with his young team last placed after losing to the lowly Auckland Blues last Friday night.

If the Lions finish the year with a wooden spoon, the SA Rugby Union (SARU) will drop the Johannesburg team from Super Rugby in favour of the Southern Kings who will be based in the Eastern Cape. The Southern Kings are aimed at developing rugby in the football-mad Cape region.

The Lions' demotion comes as a result of the SARU prematurely guaranteeing the Kings a Super Rugby place before they had secured an extension to the number of teams.

SANZAR has denied the SARU's proposal to increase the competition to 16 teams because Super Rugby was sold to sponsors and broadcasters as a conference format with five teams in each.
The move has caused the South African Government to fret.

"It is important that SA Rugby urgently finds an amicable solution as the cloud of uncertainty and anxiety is weighing very heavily on the players and franchises which will be affected and impacted upon by their decision," South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said.

When Mitchell becomes jobless he could be touted as a replacement for sacked Force coach Richard Graham, who begins work with the Reds in September.

Another former All Black John Kirwan, who resigned as Japan's head coach following the Rugby World Cup, publicly revealed his interest in the vacant Force position yesterday.

However, the Force's main target Michael Cheika was confirmed as leaving his coaching post at Stade Francais yesterday, prompting reports he had already agreed to terms with the Force.

The Waratahs approached Craig Wing to play in a NSW Barbarians side against Scotland before pulling the pin on the fixture to avoid losing money.

Waratahs CEO Jason Allen yesterday confirmed a mooted game against the touring Scots on Sunday, June 10, at Allianz Stadium, had been cancelled due to a lack of financial viability, and the likelihood a non-Super Rugby strength side would have to be fielded

2015 RWC Dates Announced

The InnFORCEr — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:58:00 GMT

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1226357280726

IRISH DIESEL FITTER

Happy — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:40:23 GMT

Paddy and Mick were both laid off, so they went to the unemployment office. When asked his occupation, Paddy answered, 'Knicker Stitcher... I sew da elastic onto ladies' knickers and thongs.....

The clerk looked up Knicker Stitcher on his computer and, finding it classified as unskilled labour, he gave him 80 euros a week unemployment pay.

Mick was next in and when asked his occupation replied, 'Diesel Fitter.'

Since a diesel fitter was a skilled job, the clerk gave Mick 160 euros a week.

When Paddy found out he was furious. He stormed back into the office to find out why his friend and co-worker was collecting double his pay.

The clerk explained, 'Knicker Stitchers are unskilled labour and Diesel Fitters are skilled labour.'

'What skill?' yelled Paddy. 'I sew da elastic on da knickers and thongs, then Mick puts 'em over his head and says: 'Yep, diesel fitter.'

Happy Birthday to jono on 16-05-12

NewsBot — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:12:17 GMT

Here are today's birthdays!

jono - Age: 22

Have a great birthday!

Melrose keen on Force job

tdevil — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:46:57 GMT

Highly-rated Australian Brian Melrose believes an around-the-world coaching odyssey has readied him for a senior position in the Super Rugby competition.

Melrose is back in Sydney after completing stints at London Irish and Connacht and is among the shortlist of candidates for the vacant Western Force job.

The Perth club is heavily pursuing Stade Francais coach Michael Cheika and Sharks boss John Plumtree following the shock exit of Richard Graham, but Melrose enjoys strong support.

Interim coach Phil Blake is also hoping to land the job full-time but the team's run of three straight losses may count against him.

"After furthering my experiences in the northern hemisphere over the past two years, I feel confident of taking on a Super Rugby head coaching position in Australia if offered the opportunity," Melrose told Sportal.

"There are only five of those opportunities here so it's not like they come up every day of the week, but it does hold a lot of attraction."

Melrose, who was a member of the Waratahs coaching staff in 2005-06, has interest from a number of overseas clubs but his preference is to remain in Australia.

"It was a great experience working overseas and something I would do again, but my passion is to work in Australian rugby and be back with my family if possible after spending that time apart," he said.

"I would like to think my record suggests I have added value wherever I have been and can get the job done no matter the circumstances."

The Force sit bottom of the Australian conference after being belted 53-11 by the Sharks in Durban last weekend.

Cheika, who guided Irish club Leinster to the 2009 Heineken Cup, is the favoured candidate to land the Force job after being told he will not be in charge of Stade Francais next year.

Force captain and Wallabies star David Pocock is holding off on signing a new contract until the coaching situation is sorted out.