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Akihito Yamada will join the squad this week. He joins the Force following Panasonic’s 30-12 win over Yamaha in their Top League grand final on the weekend. Akihito crossed for one try in the Wild Knights’ victory and set up another for Berrick Barnes. He was named the post-season Most Valuable Player.
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
With yet another outside back signed the Force is going to have the strongest 7's squad ever assembled. I would be pretty pissed if I was someone like Brad Lacey amongst others who has trained his arse off 7 days a week for the last 6 months only to have some foreigner who is ineligible for higher honours come in over the top of me.
The powers that be don't have the funds to select junior rep sides with a meaningful tour but will spend plenty on a player where we have real depth with our own homegrown.
Just because everyone else does it doesn't make it right.
Little wonder we are bleeding potential future Wallabies overseas at a younger rapid rate.
Wests Scarborough 1st Grade juggernaut has played finals rugby each and every year since its inception and continues this remarkable feat yet again this season and unbelievably it's still rolling on and as an added little circle jerk for the masses Wests actually hold the record for the current longest unbroken finals record.
The Japanese player for each club is listed as a concession, outside the 35 man squad.
Does this mean we a) don't count in the salary cap, b) don't pay him? (I remember hearing that they are paid elsewhere, but can't find a reliable source.)
If given a free Japanese player for a year, where would you concentrate on positionwise instead, westies?
Which I believe the Rebels just did?![]()
The Western Force should/will be trying to get the best team on the field every week without being driven in any way by parochialism.
We finally have options in most positions such that even players like the HB is going to have to prove himself before he earns a position.
There is no guarantee that Yamada will even get a game with the likes of Brache, Morahan, Lacey, HB, Nikoro and Scott.
If having Yamada here helps sell the game to a new big audience which makes the next RWC even better then hooray!!!
It is always good to appeal to a new market and picking up a few Japanese fans would do the Force no harm at all.
Brad Lacey only turned 20 last year. He very likely isn't ready for Super Rugby. I would not call that depth. I would call that a development prospect.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
It can only be a positive for everyone involved in rugby in WA.
Wests Scarborough 1st Grade juggernaut has played finals rugby each and every year since its inception and continues this remarkable feat yet again this season and unbelievably it's still rolling on and as an added little circle jerk for the masses Wests actually hold the record for the current longest unbroken finals record.
Hey, Westie, the rumour is the new Force Japanese guy is playing for your club this season.
Why the sad face?