10
Letter from the Coach
Dear Force Family,
With the 2018 season coming to a close, and our 2019 pre-season about to commence, I thought it was a good time to get in touch with you all.
As a playing and staff group, we discussed at the start of the year that we were in a position to be role models for Western Australian rugby. I could not be any prouder of the players in how they conducted themselves throughout the community and it was satisfying to receive many compliments from sponsors, schools and rugby clubs highlighting how the players were always approachable and engaging.
There were many highlights throughout the year. Most notable was “that” moment on the 4th May when the players were welcomed back on to the field in front of a packed house at NIB stadium for the first time in 2018. It was emotional for the players, staff, sponsors and of course our amazing supporters, The Sea of Blue. The players performed extraordinarily well considering we had only been together as a squad for a short amount of time in preparation for the fixture.
Other highlights throughout the season were -
- We won all fixtures against international oppositions in Fiji, Tonga, Western Samoa and Hong Kong.
- Winning the final fixture against the Panasonic Wild Knights who travelled with 13 capped international Japanese players, along with two former Wallabies, winning 50 – 45.
- Playing against arguably the most successful club throughout World Rugby in the past decade, the Canterbury Crusaders and;
- “Filling the Hill” at our home NRC fixtures.
Individual players were rewarded for outstanding performances in World Series Rugby where we had Marcel Brache represent the USA, Rodney Iona represent Western Samoa while Andrew Deegan and Tevin Ferris were selected in the Super Rugby All-Stars squad playing against the Australian Wallabies. Henry Taefu was also recently selected in the Western Samoan squad for their Northern Hemisphere tour and Marcel again selected for the USA’s November Test’s.
To the supporters who have believed in and supported the Force, it has been a pleasure to play in front of you. We are so grateful and extremely appreciative of your dedication and without doubt we have the most loyal and passionate members.
With 2019 just around the corner, we look forward to seeing you all next year. One thing is for certain; it is an exciting time to be part of the Western Force!
Thankyou,
Tim Sampson