2012 Western Force Fixtures

[Engage!]

Check out this link

http://twf.com.au/view.php?pg=2012_super_rugby_fixtures

[WF1964]

Check out this link

http://twf.com.au/view.php?pg=2012_super_rugby_fixtures

So 2012, Force not playing Highlanders or Bulls

[The InnFORCEr]

Possible InnFORCEers Tours

Week 1 & 2 (24 Feb & 3 March)
Brumbies in Canberra and Reds in Queensland

Week 4 & 5 (17 & 23 March)
Tahs in Sydney (St Patricks Day!) and Rebels in Melbourne

Week 11 & 12 (5 & 12 May)
Cheetahs in Blom and Sharks in Durban

Week 20 & 21 (7 & 14 July)
Blues in Auckland and Crusaders T.B.A.

[brokendown gunfighter]

Hmm,perhaps a trip to Durban in May?

[WF1964]

To see just Force fixtures:
http://l.yimg.com/ea/doc/-/110902/20...e3-1760peb.pdf

[Darren]

You can also see all 2012 Super Rugby fixtures here in Perth Time...

You can even start tipping

[Sheikh]

All away games in Australia completed by week 5?

Then four homes games and a bye in five weeks.

Seems odd, but I suppose better than the AFL model of having the Eagles and Dockers make a 6000km round trip every other week!

[Tonkar]

Not a bad draw in the first half of the draw we get to play teams that have been away for 2 to 3 weeks in our home games and some teams that have been away and come home to play us for their homes games good first homie against the hurricanes after they play 2 games in SA..
we should benefit from well timed Byes for recovery and I am hoping this can be a force finals yr everything crossed
Can not wait to pay my membership

[slomo]

3 friday games, v's hurricannes, cheifs, tahs, 4 saturday games, reds, stormers, lions, brumbies , 1 sunday game, rebels.... not bad at all...

[Hoolly Doolly]

Double post

[Hoolly Doolly]

Possible InnFORCEers Tours

Week 1 & 2 (24 Feb & 3 March)
Brumbies in Canberra and Reds in Queensland

Week 4 & 5 (17 & 23 March)
Tahs in Sydney (St Patricks Day!) and Rebels in Melbourne

Week 11 & 12 (5 & 12 May)
Cheetahs in Blom and Sharks in Durban

Week 20 & 21 (7 & 14 July)
Blues in Auckland and Crusaders T.B.A.

Im down for the tahds and rabble tour. Wouldnt mind the reds tour but my missus will hate Canberra. Melb and Sydney would please her more....happy wife happy life....apparantly

[blueandblack]

Might do the Reds away game

[Elf1]

I iwll only be doing the Rebels part of the tour

[jargan83]

Reckon I will be up for the Sydney/Melbourne double

[travelling_gerry]

By RugbyWA Media

Emirates Western Force members and supporters will be able to enjoy top level rugby throughout the weekend next season with a great mix of Friday, Saturday and even a Sunday fixture at home to appeal across the board.

The club worked closely with SANZAR to add some variety to days and times for the benefit of West Australian supporters and have been handed a draw that will see the side play three times on a Friday night, four times on Saturday, including two early twilight matches, and a Sunday afternoon clash for just the second time in Emirates Western Force history.

All Super Rugby matches played in Perth in 2011 were on a Saturday night and RugbyWA CEO Vern Reid believes the variety in the 2012 draw will enable more families and other patrons to experience rugby at its best.

“We’re really pleased with the schedule and a variety of kick-off days and times. It definitely better caters to our members and supporters and will enable them to enjoy more rugby in 2012,” said RugbyWA CEO Vern Reid.

“This draw will allow families to take advantage of earlier kick-off times especially in those twilight games on Saturday evenings and also on the Sunday afternoon. I expect it’ll be a real picnic atmosphere which will be great.

“The addition of Friday night games adds another dimension to the mix for people coming straight after work and leaves the weekend free for other activities as well.”

Mr Reid said timing of local KWIK Premier Grade fixtures, which are traditionally played on Saturday afternoons, will be taken into consideration when the Emirates Western Force twilight kick-offs, scheduled for 5.40pm AWST, are played so to allow as many local players to attend Super Rugby.

The draw however has thrown the Emirates Western Force players and coaches a tough start with four of the club’s opening five games away from WA.

They kick-off on opening night against the Brumbies in Canberra before backing up against the Reds in Brisbane a week later. A home game against the Hurricanes breaks the run before clashes with the Waratahs in Sydney and Rebels in Melbourne over the next fortnight.

The tough opening month however is softened with a run of five weeks in Perth, including a bye.

“As a rugby department are happy with the draw overall,” said Emirates Western Force Coach Richard Graham.

“While having four of our first five games away isn’t an ideal situation it means the team will spend a lot of time together and will give us a really good opportunity to find out about ourselves in the early part of the season.

“After that initial spell we have a five week period at home which will be good for both the squad and our supporters. A successful start will set us up nicely for that middle leg of the season in Perth.”

Super Rugby Champions, the Queensland Reds, head to WA in week 6 meaning the Emirates Western Force will tackle the 2011 competition yardstick twice in the opening month and a half.

“There is a strong rivalry between the Emirates Western Force and the Reds, playing the reigning champions twice in the first six weeks of the competition will be a benchmark for us,” Graham said.

While all Australian conference teams will again head to nib Stadium across the season they’ll be backed up by additional international blockbusters on home soil against the Chiefs and Hurricanes from New Zealand and South African sides the Stormers and Lions.

The week 14 game against the Lions will see inaugural Emirates Western Force coach John Mitchell guide his new side for the first time in WA.

The draw also has a three week buffer built in between week 16 and 18 to allow in-bound tours to be played across all the SANZAR nations.

Graham said while this was new in Super Rugby it was common practice in the UK and European leagues and planning had already started into making best use of that time.

“It’s something that happens in the northern hemisphere competitions and I think we can put a really good programme together to make a strong finish to the competition,” said Graham.

“Following the break we have a game at home and then round out the season with a couple of matches on tour against two standout sides from New Zealand, the Blues and Crusaders, so we will be well prepared for that.”

While the Emirates Western Force will again be the most travelled team in Super Rugby, travelling some 20,000km more than their rivals, Graham said longer stints at home before international tours is a positive.

“There are no easy games in this competition and while we’ll still have a significant travel load the longer periods at home will be able to assist in both performance and also recovery.”

Click here to view the 2012 Emirates Western Force fixtures

Click here to view the entire 2012 Super Rugby fixtures