^^Scratch that the squad will be announced in the next hour!
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
PERTH SPIRIT MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 31 July 2014
The Perth Spirit has named an extended 40-man squad ahead of next month’s kick off for the 2014 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC).
The Spirit presents an exciting opportunity for the best of the Pindan Premier Grade to regularly play alongside quality Asteron Life Super Rugby players from the Western Force.
Twenty players from the local Pindan Premier Grade will join 20 members from the Western Force to represent Western Australia in the inaugural third-tier competition. The Spirit’s four Wallaby representatives – Nathan Charles, Pek Cowan, Mat Hodgson and Ben McCalman – have also been included.
All nine Pindan Premier Grade clubs are represented in the squad, with Cottesloe providing the greatest contribution with eight players. Minor premiers, Nedlands, will feature six players, while UWA, Wests Scarborough and Associates will each provide five. Palmyra (four), Perth Bayswater (three), Kalamunda and Wanneroo (both two) are also represented.
Local players have been monitored throughout the Pindan Premier Grade season with local club coaches consulted regarding the selection of squad.
Western Australia’s quartet of Australian Under 20 players – Ross Haylett-Petty (Cottesloe), Luke Burton (UWA), Brad Lacey (Wests Scarborough) and Harry Scoble (UWA) – will all figure throughout the tournament, as will reigning PG Hampshire Award winner, Joe Savage (Palmyra).
Western Force head coach Michael Foley says the Perth Spirit will be an extension of the Western Force program and will provide playing opportunities for both his Asteron Life Super Rugby squad members and local Pindan Premier Grade players alike.
“This time last year we undertook an intensive development period which targeted three key areas,” he said. “Firstly, achieving elite levels of fitness and strength; secondly, strengthening our involvement with our local clubs; and finally, ensuring every player had begun planning for life after rugby. The 2014 NRC competition provides us with another forum to target further development.
“While a number of our front line Super Rugby players will target improvement in speed, power and skill, the Perth Spirit match program will present a great opportunity for a number of the Force’s younger players to experience competition at one level up from club rugby. To complement our younger professional players, we have identified a number of aspiring local players that will be given the chance to stake a claim for squad positions into the future.
“Our program will continue to remain focused on the development of our players on and off the field, but as part of that, the NRC competition will allow us to broaden the base of players with experience that are available to the Western Force. To that end, it’s important we’re providing those opportunities as a priority to players within the RugbyWA family.”
The Spirit will play home matches in Perth at McGillivray Oval (Sunday, 31 August), Joondalup Arena (Sunday, 28 September) and Rockingham Rugby Union Club (Saturday, 4 October).
The Perth-based side will kick off its NRC campaign against the Canberra Vikings in Canberra on Saturday, 23 August.
2014 Perth Spirit Squad (Extended)
Name Position Club
Robbie Abel Hooker Cottesloe/Western Force
Marcel Brache Centre/wing Perth Bayswater/Western Force
Luke Burton Flyhalf/centre UWA/Western Force
Nathan Charles Hooker Palmyra/Western Force
Pek Cowan Prop Wests Scarborough/Western Force
Tetera Faulkner Prop Wanneroo/Western Force
Nili Fielea Wing Cottesloe
Kyle Godwin Centre Associates/Western Force
Richard Hardwick Flanker UWA
Dane Haylett-Petty Fullback/wing Cottesloe/Western Force
Ross Haylett-Petty No.8 Cottesloe
Chris Heiberg Prop Perth Bayswater/Western Force
Alec Hepburn Prop Cottesloe
Matt Hodgson Flanker Wanneroo/Western Force
Zack Holmes Flyhalf Associates/Western Force
Oliver Hoskins Prop Cottesloe/Western Force
Kane Koteka Flanker Wests Scarborough
Brad Lacey Wing Wests Scarborough
Dillyn Leyds Fullback/flyhalf Palmyra
Va'a Mailei Wing Palmyra
Ammon Matuauto Centre Associates
Ben McCalman No.8 Kalamunda/Western Force
Luke Morahan Wing/fullback Kalamunda/Western Force
Brent Murphy Lock Perth Bayswater
Ian Prior Scrumhalf Nedlands/Western Force
Junior Rasolea Centre Cottesloe/Western Force
Alex Rovira No.8 Associates
Michael Ruru Scrumhalf Nedlands
Joe Savage Prop Palmyra
Harry Scoble Hooker UWA
Brynard Stander Flanker Nedlands/Western Force
Scott Stevens Lock Nedlands
Kieran Stringer Lock Cottesloe
Davis Tavita Flyhalf Nedlands
Heath Tessmann Hooker Nedlands/Western Force
Corey Thomas Flanker UWA
Justin Turner Scrumhalf Associates
Rory Walton Lock Wests Scarborough/Western Force
Francois van Wyk Prop UWA
Sam Wykes Lock Wests Scarborough/Western Force
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
I thought Dillyn Leyds had gone back to South Africa ?
thought Pek was going to play for one of the Sydney teams?
Keep up Gunny!
Things move pretty fast around here! (a brownie point to anyone who can name the film that line comes from!)
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. "
Bueller, Bueller
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Well done guys!! Love that movie!!
Also looks like that answers the question of whether overseas players will play in the NRC - neither Alby nor Steenkamp are listed in the squad.
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
Is that because it is the NRC and not an IRC
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
O, I COriginally Posted by The InnFORCEr
Is that because it is the NRC and not an IRC
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Please don't let this be he playing jersey. Wtf is with the blue collar.
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
My old Force away top (the yellow one) might get a few airings, though
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
Found my original Perth Spirit jersey last weekend
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