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Some good news ............
The Emirates Western Force will continue to enjoy the benefits of rising star Ben McCalman after the Wallabies loose forward agreed to a new two year contract with the West Australian side and the ARU.
McCalman burst onto the provincial scene last season to play all 13 matches for the Emirates Western Force in a scintillating debut season.
Such was his remarkable rise up the ranks he began 2010 as a club player and finished as the incumbent Wallabies number 8. He is the 10th, and most recent player to earn Australian International honours directly through the Emirates Western Force programme.
“Perth is where I was given an opportunity and I have really enjoyed my time in the state and at the club over the last two years,” McCalman said.
“Having guys the calibre of Nathan Sharpe, Sam Wykes and Ben Whittaker sign-on to stay gives a strong indication of where we want to head with this squad and I wanted to be a part of that.
“Perth is a great place, I think coming from a smaller country town the transition in living here wasn’t that difficult because there is a relaxed environment in terms of lifestyle while still having all the rugby opportunities you could hope for.”
His star has continued to shine in 2011 with McCalman’s versatility allowing coaching staff to deploy him in the tight five or at the back of the scrum.
Rather than shy away from the stiff competition for places in the backrow provided by Wallabies team mates David Pocock, Richard Brown and Matt Hodgson, McCalman believes the high class competition has helped him achieve so much in a short space of time.
“The backrow is really competitive but I think that just makes you a better player because you have to work that much harder to secure your place,” said McCalman.
“While it is competitive, everyone also wants to work together to get better. We all do what we can for each other and the team. That is great to know when you turn up to training or step out to play.
“We’ve got Sharpie who is such a great leader plus young leaders coming through like Poey. It provides an environment where you can learn straight away but also know that you’ll be able to play alongside some of these guys for many years to come.”
Coach Richard Graham said McCalman’s commitment to the programme in Perth was further evidence of the strong camaraderie within the group and a common desire to make the Emirates Western Force a powerhouse in rugby.
“Ben is an uncomplicated character who goes about his business in a quiet and committed way. He has a no nonsense approach and has shown through his dedication in becoming a professional footballer what you can achieve when offered an opportunity,” Graham said.
“When you look at what someone like Ben can offer a club there is so much to like. He is a young man with a long career ahead. He has great strength of character and coupled with his obvious ability as a rugby player you have all the qualities that are really important in taking the Emirates Western Force forward.”
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Originally Posted by BeeJay
