Week three of pre-season has seen the Emirates Western Force players continue their tough conditioning regime but there was one part of the schedule that stood out from previous weeks. This weekend the players have been given a break from the gym and will instead take on community and charity duties of their choosing.

Coaching staff have built the community time into the pre-season programme and the players have enthusiastically jumped on board. Starting on Friday afternoon and going into Sunday evening, Emirates Western Force players will be out and about proactively contributing to the West Australian community.

Last weekend the entire squad took part in McHappy Day celebrations around Perth where more than $3 million was raised nationally for Ronald McDonald House. Training sessions have also taken place at a variety of schools to enable students and supporters to see preparations first hand.

Players will be at the following locations;

YMCA Thornlie – Rugby Clinic
Friday, 18 November. 1pm – 2.30pm

Gene Fairbanks, Brett Sheehan, James Stannard, Oliver Hoskins and Jake Ball will head to the YMCA, Thornlie to run rugby skills sessions and encourage children to get active in a safe and fun environment.

The players will join RugbyWA Development Officers in teaching the kids passing drills, tackling drills and promoting the fun sport of rugby.

“Rugby is a great sport for kids to enjoy so it’s really important for us to get out into the community to promote the game,” Fairbanks said.

“It’s all co-ordinated in a fun and safe environment so the parents can feel at ease as well.

“We’re really looking forward to it and I’m always blown away with the skills the kids show at these clinics. It wouldn’t surprise me that one day one of the kids might even be an Emirates Western Force star,” added Fairbanks.

Great Strides Walkathon – Lake Monger
Sunday, 20 November. 11.30am – 2.00pm

Nathan Charles and eleven of his Emirates Western Force teammates will attend the Great Strides Walkathon at Lake Monger to raise much needed funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Western Australia.

Charles, the National Ambassador for the CF Foundation, will be helping out at the registration desk and will join the participants in the leisurely 3.8km walk which commences at 11.00am.

“It’s looking like some great weather for Sunday so it should be a fantastic event and I know the boys are looking forward to it,” Charles said.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to do something together as a team out in the community.”

Cameron Shepherd, Elvis Taione, Salesi Manu, Patrick Dellit, Kieran Longbottom and Richard Brown will be cheering everyone on at the finish line and taking part in the fun activities between 11.30am – 12.30pm.

Will Tupou, Ben Whittaker, Nick Cummins, Jordan Rapana, Rory Sidey and Alfie Mafi will be joining in the fun of the carnival from 12.30pm - 2pm.

There is still plenty of time to register for the walk to raise money for this great cause and meet some of your favourite Emirates Western Force players.

Click here for more information on the Great Strides Walkathon.

Floreat SLSC Nippers - Floreat
Sunday, 20 November. 8.30am – 10.30am

It will be an early start for Lachlan McCaffrey, Ben Seymour, Angus Cottrell when they head to the Floreat Surf Lifesaving Club to join in the little nippers events on Sunday morning.

The boys will be encouraging fun and safety in the water and making sure everyone slip slop slaps before they start.

While McCaffrey grew up enjoying the beaches on the east coast he has been particularly impressed with what’s on offer since moving west and wanted to help reinforce the importance of safety around the water, especially for children.

“Perth has some amazing beaches and with summer on the way there will be plenty of kids cooling off down there,” McCaffrey said.

“Surf Lifesaving does such a fantastic job around the country and through their nippers programme they’re educating kids in a fun way to be safe at the beach. It’s an important message and myself and the boys are really keen to be able to help out and get that across to the kids.”

St Brigids College School Fair
Sunday, 20 November. 10.00am – 11.30am

Justin Turner and Samu Wara will be attending the St Brigids College school community fair on Sunday morning where they will be meeting fans and signing autographs.

The players will be in attendance from 10.00am – 11.30am so make sure you head to St Brigids to support the school community and meet your favourite Emirates Western Force players.

Mo’s and Bows

Sunday, 20 November. 6pm – 8pm

Sam Wykes, Toby Lynn, Winston Stanley and Willie Ripia will be sporting some serious facial hair on their upper lips when they attend the Mo’s and Bows social event at ELBA Restaurant in Cottesloe. The event is all about raising money for men’s health issues and the players will be showing off their moustaches and encouraging the guests to donate.

Tickets to Mo’s and Bows are still available and can be purchased by clicking here.

http://www.rugbywa.com.au/NewsEvents...8/Default.aspx