Force 2018
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2018 Nathan Sharpe Medal Dinner – Award Winners
Nathan Sharpe Medal: Brynard Stander
NRC Player of the Year: Brynard Stander
Members’ MVP: Ian Prior
Rising Star: Tevin Ferris
Geoffrey Stooke Force Man Award: Marcel Brache
All 4 winners part of the play-on squad from 2017.
Tevin Ferris - fantastic recognition of a local WA player.
Fantastic evening in the Grand Ballroom at Crown Casino, Perth.
https://www.westernforce.com.au/stander-crowned-nathan-sharpe-medal-winner/
Nathan Sharpe Medal: Brynard Stander
NRC Player of the Year: Brynard Stander
Members’ MVP: Ian Prior
Rising Star: Tevin Ferris
Geoffrey Stooke Force Man Award: Marcel Brache
All 4 winners part of the play-on squad from 2017.
Tevin Ferris - fantastic recognition of a local WA player.
Fantastic evening in the Grand Ballroom at Crown Casino, Perth.
https://www.westernforce.com.au/stander-crowned-nathan-sharpe-medal-winner/
B
Bobby Sands
Guest
Brynard Stander... whats the go? Saffa eligible?
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
It will be interesting to see the WF boost the squad prior to GRR.
Nick Jooste is evidently back in the fold.
Western Force coach Tim Sampson among trio to re-sign for 2019
Nick Taylor - Perth Now - November 22, 2018
Western Force coach Tim Sampson has begun re-shaping his squad for Global Rapid Rugby’s 2019 debut season after re-signing for another year in charge.
Forwards coach Van Humphries and captain Ian Prior will also return with Sampson looking for a new defence assistant after Jaque Fourie joined the USA Eagles ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Sampson needs to replace second-rower Josh Furno, centre George Pisi, former Future Force academy and Super Rugby hooker Harry Scoble and ex-Melbourne Rebels scrum-half Elliot Turner who have not been re-signed after World Series Rugby.
He hinted that the club was on the verge of bringing back local products and former Force Super Rugby players.
A number of players who have missed out on 2019 Super Rugby contracts, including from the Rebels, are also keen to move west.
“There has been a little bit of dialogue with some players,” Sampson said.
“They are quality players, guys that have played at a high level, guys that we might get back to Perth.
“We want more of the type of guys we have here….a bloody good rugby player but a bloody good person.
“I’m looking forward to the continued growth of the club and I’m comfortable with rolling out very much the same squad.”
Sampson is also working on a restructured system with up to five players in an extended group sitting below the GRR squad and likely to include current academy players.
“Our under-19s were very good at the national championships. The Future Force guys have been training with us for the past month to give us a good look at them in a professional environment,” Sampson said.
“There are some quality guys that we are impressed with.
“Having seven guys in the initial Aussie under-20 squad is a good sign of where things are at for succession planning for the next, two, three, four years. We are in a really healthy spot.
“Obviously we’ll need a replacement for Jaque. That was not an easy decision for him.
“If it wasn’t about the World Cup he would have stayed but the position is not one he could refuse.”
Prior returned to Perth after a brief spell with English heavyweight Harlequins when the Force was axed from Super Rugby.
“Staying was a pretty easy decision to make and I’m very excited to be on board,” Prior said.
I’ve really enjoyed the captaincy I think it has helped my game and given me a new lease on life on rugby.
“A lot of guys took a leap of faith coming over here and it’s an exciting time to be a player, to be a pioneer and be in the forefront of a new competition.
“This year there was a huge emotional attachment with the Force being back and giving West Australian rugby hope.
“There’s always nervousness from people who are outside the bubble but being part of it seeing the plans, seeing what has happened is very exciting.
“Any time there’s change there’s hesitation and people want to jump on it. We proved people wrong this year who said it wouldn’t work.”
https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/we...ng-b881029621z
Nick Jooste is evidently back in the fold.
Western Force coach Tim Sampson among trio to re-sign for 2019
Nick Taylor - Perth Now - November 22, 2018
Western Force coach Tim Sampson has begun re-shaping his squad for Global Rapid Rugby’s 2019 debut season after re-signing for another year in charge.
Forwards coach Van Humphries and captain Ian Prior will also return with Sampson looking for a new defence assistant after Jaque Fourie joined the USA Eagles ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Sampson needs to replace second-rower Josh Furno, centre George Pisi, former Future Force academy and Super Rugby hooker Harry Scoble and ex-Melbourne Rebels scrum-half Elliot Turner who have not been re-signed after World Series Rugby.
He hinted that the club was on the verge of bringing back local products and former Force Super Rugby players.
A number of players who have missed out on 2019 Super Rugby contracts, including from the Rebels, are also keen to move west.
“There has been a little bit of dialogue with some players,” Sampson said.
“They are quality players, guys that have played at a high level, guys that we might get back to Perth.
“We want more of the type of guys we have here….a bloody good rugby player but a bloody good person.
“I’m looking forward to the continued growth of the club and I’m comfortable with rolling out very much the same squad.”
Sampson is also working on a restructured system with up to five players in an extended group sitting below the GRR squad and likely to include current academy players.
“Our under-19s were very good at the national championships. The Future Force guys have been training with us for the past month to give us a good look at them in a professional environment,” Sampson said.
“There are some quality guys that we are impressed with.
“Having seven guys in the initial Aussie under-20 squad is a good sign of where things are at for succession planning for the next, two, three, four years. We are in a really healthy spot.
“Obviously we’ll need a replacement for Jaque. That was not an easy decision for him.
“If it wasn’t about the World Cup he would have stayed but the position is not one he could refuse.”
Prior returned to Perth after a brief spell with English heavyweight Harlequins when the Force was axed from Super Rugby.
“Staying was a pretty easy decision to make and I’m very excited to be on board,” Prior said.
I’ve really enjoyed the captaincy I think it has helped my game and given me a new lease on life on rugby.
“A lot of guys took a leap of faith coming over here and it’s an exciting time to be a player, to be a pioneer and be in the forefront of a new competition.
“This year there was a huge emotional attachment with the Force being back and giving West Australian rugby hope.
“There’s always nervousness from people who are outside the bubble but being part of it seeing the plans, seeing what has happened is very exciting.
“Any time there’s change there’s hesitation and people want to jump on it. We proved people wrong this year who said it wouldn’t work.”
https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/we...ng-b881029621z
It seems that many have forgotten the impact on players and families of the axing of the Western Force.
It's ONLY been a little more than 12 months ago....
I'm sure that Pekahou Cowan still maintains many of these feelings.....
https://www.playersvoice.com.au/pek...noekB5UzD9efiSIOn5vST0Bsk#eCjPFgOJXW1wt6ek.97
It's ONLY been a little more than 12 months ago....
I'm sure that Pekahou Cowan still maintains many of these feelings.....
https://www.playersvoice.com.au/pek...noekB5UzD9efiSIOn5vST0Bsk#eCjPFgOJXW1wt6ek.97
LearningCurve
Bill Watson (15)
Why have those players (second-rower Josh Furno, centre George Pisi, former Future Force academy and Super Rugby hooker Harry Scoble and ex-Melbourne Rebels scrum-half Elliot Turner) not been re-signed?
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