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The Emirates Western Force has secured the services of three of Australian rugby’s outstanding prospects, with Mitchell Inman joining Ben McCalman and Mark Swanepoel in committing to the club.
Inman and McCalman have both signed two year deals, while Swanepoel has a one-year rookie contract.
Inman, who represented Australia at Under 19’s level in 2007, has recently been plying his trade with the Sydney University club after two years in the Australian Sevens program.
He also represented the Waratahs in their 2009 trial game against the Reds, in which he scored a try, and on their development tour of Fiji in October 2008.
After leaving his country of birth, South Africa, Swanepoel became a New Zealand citizen during the five years his family spent in the Shakey Isles before moving to the Gold Coast at the age of 11.
Swanepoel travelled to Japan with the Australian Under 20’s squad which ultimately finished fourth.
He joined the club in February of 2009 on a short-term contract after injury scares to Josh Valentine and Justin Turner, and recently made the move more permanent.
McCalman represented Australia from Schoolboys to Under 20’s level over the last four years, and has had his talents compared to current Wallabies Number 8, Richard Brown. The 21-year-old was a member of the Waratahs Academy in 2009.
McCalman and Inman are already well-acquainted, having been AIS Rugby Scholarship holders in 2007 and playing in a Premiership side together at Sydney University in 2008.
RugbyWA General Manager, Rugby, Mitch Hardy said the three recruits would compliment the existing members of the senior squad.
“We see Ben as a similar type to Browny and Tamaiti Horua. He’s an aggressive, abrasive type of backrower which suits our game,” Hardy said.
“Mark and Mitch both have plenty of potential, and we expect to see them press their claims for selection during the 2010 season.”
“We will have competition for places in the squad across the board next season, which is exactly what we want,” he said.
Inman, an outside centre, said the decision to come to WA was not a difficult one.
“I watched the club’s first game in Super 14 (against the Brumbies in 2006) when I was in Year 12 at school, and I thought the Force were a pretty good side,” Inman said.
“If I had a choice of Super 14 sides, it was always the Force I wanted to play for since I was at school. I really liked the way they played, and thought it would be a good challenge.”
Inman said the idea of teaming with Ryan Cross was also a factor in his decision.
“My brothers Luke and Dane went to Waverly College with Ryan, and I have spoken to him a few times about making the move. They spoke very highly of him; he was a star player at school. He’s a strong player and I’m looking forward to playing alongside him.”
FACT FILES
Mitchell Inman
Position: Centre
Physical: 191cm, 102kg
Age: 20 (Born 24/10/1988, Sydney, NSW)
Super Caps: 0
Representative Honours: Australian Under 19’s (2007), Australian Sevens (2007-08)
Ben McCalman
Position: Number 8/Flanker
Physical: 192cm, 105kg
Age: 21 (Born 18/3/1988, Dubbo, NSW)
Super Caps: 0
Representative Honours: Australian Schoolboys (2005-06), Australian Under 19’s (2007), Australian Under 20’s (2008)
Mark Swanepoel
Position: Scrumhalf
Physical: 181cm, 93kg
Age: 18 (Born 26/10/1990, Johannesburg, South Africa)
Super Caps: 0
Representative Honours: Australian Schoolboys (2007-08), Australian Under 20’s (2009)
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