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Western Force set sights on more big names after securing Will Genia for 2013 Super Rugby season
By Justin Chadwick AAP April 29, 2012 12:56PM
After lining up Wallabies halfback Will Genia for next season, Western Force have set their sights on recruiting more big names to rebuild the struggling Super Rugby team.
Languishing in last place in the Australian conference, the Force pulled off the rugby coup of the year by luring Genia from Queensland Reds, with the 24-year-old set to put pen to paper once his Australian Rugby Union contract is sorted.
Genia is rumoured to have turned down an offer in the vicinity of $400,000 at the Reds in order to take up a deal worth upwards of $500,000 at the Force.
The Perth-based franchise has also been in close talks with their captain and Wallabies star flanker David Pocock, who is almost certain to re-sign with the Force.
And, in a further major boost, veteran Wallabies lock and former Force skipper Nathan Sharpe is expected to consider reversing his decision to retire at season's end.
Genia's arrival plus the expected retention of Pocock could help attract a host of other high-calibre players to the Force.
Luring a world-class five-eighth is high on the Force's agenda, but more game-breaking players in the backline are also badly needed.
And of course, a new coach to replace the departed Richard Graham is also in the works.
The Force are yet to make the finals since their inception in 2006, and are desperate to build a squad capable of reaching the business end of the season.
Interim Force coach Phil Blake confirmed the club were already in talks with top-line players from around the world.
"I know the club's been very proactive throughout Australia and offshore in regards to acquiring certain players that we feel will benefit the club moving forward," Blake said.
"That will never change.
"We are on the front foot.
"We're speaking to numerous players in various positions to make sure this club reunites and gets stronger moving forward.
"So everyone else be warned that we are looking."
Pocock was saying little about his own contract situation, but Force chief executive Vern Reid said he was "increasingly confident" the 40-Test veteran would stay.
"You could call it poor form the way information's leaked and all the rest but, at the end of the day, that's how it works," Pocock said of the rumours he was about to re-sign.
The Force's finals hopes for 2012 were all but dashed on Saturday night in a 17-3 loss to the high-flying Stormers.
The Force take on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein next Saturday, before facing the Sharks in Durban a week later.
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