2025 Squad - Speculation Thread

[Burgs]

Force farewell five players after parting ways

Sun, Sep 8, 2024, 5:45 PM
Ben Somerford

https://westernforce.rugby/news/forc...arewell-202498

The Western Force thanks Angus Wagner, Ollie Callan, Siosifa Amone, Charlie Hancock and Henry O’Donnell for their service after parting ways with the Club.

Front-rower Wagner joined the Club in 2020, playing 32 times for the Force, including 31 Super Rugby appearances and one in Global Rapid Rugby, with one try.

Wanneroo product Callan debuted for the Force in 2020 out of the Club’s Fortescue Academy. Callan won the Force’s 2021 Rising Star and made 36 Super Rugby appearances for the Club, scoring two tries.

Force general manager of rugby Chris Goodman thanked Wagner and Callan having served long terms with the Club.

“Angus and Ollie both made really strong contributions during their time with the Club and will be missed,” Goodman said.

“Angus provided great service to the Club starting out in Global Rapid Rugby and really finding his feet at Super Rugby level.

“Ollie is a homegrown product who was always loyal to the Force and embodied our values as a hard-working player with a hard edge. He’s a great character and we thank him for his service.”

Wagner added: “I’m thankful for the opportunity that the Western Force gave me and am grateful for my five years with the Club.

“There were plenty of special memories at the Force, including debuting in Super Rugby and making the AU finals in 2021. I’m also grateful towards the fans for their support. I really felt like they embraced me and I’m sad to leave Perth.”

Front-rower Amone was another Academy graduate, debuting at Super Rugby level in 2023 and going on to play 13 times for the Force.

Prop Hancock played five times for the Force across 2023 and 2024, while utility back O’Donnell made five appearances after debuting in Round 7 last season.

Goodman added: “We thank Sifa, Charlie and Henry for their service and wish them all the best in the next steps of their careers.”

[Burgs]

Bit of a concern now five players breaking/leaving 2025 contracts.
Even if mutually agreed, would then indicate a misread by the Franchise of which players to offer the longer contracts.

[todd4]

Pretty sure Henry O'Donnell was only a 12 month contract.

[Kernow]

Force farewell five players after parting ways

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This makes no sense to the humble outsider, local talent and stalwarts alike. Either the purse is shrinking, or they are building a war chest for a couple of massive signings.

[Garry Owen]

Starting to lose confidence in this group now, we can’t continue this mass turnover every year. O’Donnell is going to be future wallaby, can’t understand why they kept playing poolman ahead of him this year. If they can bring in better players than they ones that are leaving fair enough but it doesn’t look promising

[WFDom]

This makes no sense to the humble outsider, local talent and stalwarts alike. Either the purse is shrinking, or they are building a war chest for a couple of massive signings.

I really hope so. Six departures in a week isn’t good.

[James]

The only two we need of that group are Amone and O'Donnell. Wagner and Hancock aren't particularly good looseheads. I don't entirely know why Hancock got a contract to begin with.

Callan is a good local product, but we have Tizzano and some others behind that. Sawers looked great in the U20s.

I'm not convinced about Amone, but we are short on tightheads. Thin depth at 13, too.

[Burgs]

Getting pretty urgent around Tighthead.
I would think the plan would be (of current signings)

1. Hoopert
3. Johnson-Holmes
17. Pearce
18. Robertson

However, a long time since Robertson has played big minutes at TH.
Fa'amausili and Eloff are both still in play from the Rebels dispersal from what I can see.
I'd "take" them both!

[chiraag]

Very surprised and disappointing to see Amone not being retained. Thought he looked like an excellent THP in the making. Was very solid at scrum time and around the field for us in 2023, before unfortunately being injured for most of this season.
Wagner was also pretty serviceable and I would've thought worth retaining for squad depth, especially after our experience this year with injuries. Perhaps these guys are seen as long term injury worries, or hopefully we're getting Pone and/or Eloff