Western Force 2013

[TOCC]

Great news

 

[qwerty51]

Is it really? Currently in the Shute Shield there's several players who are leaving to take up offers in Japan, Italy, France etc. because they can't get Super rugby gigs and they feel they are good enough for professional rugby. We're losing a lot of talent overseas atm.. I guess this a third tier issue but how is getting more non-Australian eligible players good?

 

[RugbyReg]

Is it really? Currently in the Shute Shield there's several players who are leaving to take up offers in Japan, Italy, France etc. because they can't get Super rugby gigs and they feel they are good enough for professional rugby. We're losing a lot of talent overseas atm.. I guess this a third tier issue but how is getting more non-Australian eligible players good?

who?

 

[p.Tah]

who?

Tim Bennetts (Japan), Sione Piukala (France), John Grant (West Tigers) all from Eastwood, but I think this is more a 3rd tier issue. I don't think they would help the Force.

http://northern-district-times.wher...ves-eastwoods-premiership-chance-in-disarray/

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Is it really? Currently in the Shute Shield there's several players who are leaving to take up offers in Japan, Italy, France etc. because they can't get Super rugby gigs and they feel they are good enough for professional rugby. We're losing a lot of talent overseas atm.. I guess this a third tier issue but how is getting more non-Australian eligible players good?

I think the issue with that is that there is no real way to see if said players are upto the mark. If we give then a contract and they arnt then we are back to squar one. the Forces backline is full of these players. and they get ripped into everyweek when they lose.

 

[Moono75]

Shame it's taken the ARU so long to recognise that it may be of benefit in a non traditional rugby market to actually provide some additional support and have a strong Force team that is winning games. Winning tends to attract supporters.....increases revenue......generates media interest......raises the profile of the game.......improves junior participation levels. This could be seen to be 'growing the game'.

Makes you wonder where some of these administrators learnt their trade if it's taken them 7 years and an approach from the Force to understand that you can't plant a seed and expect it to grow without a bit of water and nutrition.

 

[qwerty51]

who?

I'm not sure if they're confirmed so I won't post names, sudrugby could tell us more about the boys heading to France though. Dewet Roos for one and Shaun Foley I think

 

[Bowside]

I think we should tread carefully with import players. I can only really think of 2 properly successful imported players in the recent era and they are Gareth Delve and Daniel Braid. For the force 3 is a reasonable amount in order to strength the squad but you wouldn't want too many more. I'd rather see the force and rebels try and lure talented young athletes away from other sports. It would be interesting to know if the force are sending scouts to the U16 rugby league and Aussie rules tournaments. Rugby can not offer the volume of contracts or the clear pathway that the other codes can, but the idea of travelling to play 7's and moving away from home is quite appealing to many school leavers. It is not a quick fix option and will be quite hit and miss at times, but at least it actually adds depth to the Australian playing pool.

 

[TOCC]

Is it really? Currently in the Shute Shield there's several players who are leaving to take up offers in Japan, Italy, France etc. because they can't get Super rugby gigs and they feel they are good enough for professional rugby. We're losing a lot of talent overseas atm.. I guess this a third tier issue but how is getting more non-Australian eligible players good?

What's the point in emphasizing that the Force are filled with Australians if they are never going to be considered for selection because they are playing in a losing team?

Also the force are requesting an increase in the developing player category.. I.e players who are going to become eligible for Australia

 

[TOCC]

Shame it's taken the ARU so long to recognise that it may be of benefit in a non traditional rugby market to actually provide some additional support and have a strong Force team that is winning games. Winning tends to attract supporters...increases revenue..generates media interest..raises the profile of the game...improves junior participation levels. This could be seen to be 'growing the game'.

Makes you wonder where some of these administrators learnt their trade if it's taken them 7 years and an approach from the Force to understand that you can't plant a seed and expect it to grow without a bit of water and nutrition.

RugbyWA are accountable for their own backyard, it's not purely up to the ARU to micromanage the provinces

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Tim Bennetts (Japan), Sione Piukala (France), John Grant (West Tigers) all from Eastwood, but I think this is more a 3rd tier issue. I don't think they would help the Force.

http://northern-district-times.wher...ves-eastwoods-premiership-chance-in-disarray/

Bennetts was trialled with the Force in the off season and didn't get offered a contract.

 

[Moono75]

I agree TOCC. I'm surprised it's take the Force this long to step up and put a submission into the ARU. You won't find out if you don't ask in the first place.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

YOUNG GUN EXTENDS WITH FORCE UNTIL 2014

EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 27 June 2012


The Emirates Western Force has secured lock Phoenix Battye for the 2013 and 2014 FxPro Super Rugby seasons.

Battye, who initially joined the Emirates Western Force on a rookie contract for the 2011 FxPro Super Rugby season, made his tournament debut against the against the Reds in March this year and has gone on to record a further eight caps.

The rising star represented the Australian Under 20 side for the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship, and was a member of the starting XV in the side’s loss to New Zealand in the final.

The towering 204cm second-rower has served his apprenticeship under Wallabies Test veteran Nathan Sharpe and says he’s ready to help fill the retiring lock’s shoes in 2013.

“Both the Emirates Western Force and Perth have embraced me and it was always my preference to stick around,” he said.

“I wanted to repay everyone for the trust they’ve put in me. Making my debut for the club this year meant a lot and I wanted to try to give back to the club as much as I can.

“I’ve been here for two years now and my development has been immense, particularly playing under Sharpie and Wykesy [Sam Wykes]. Wykesy has a lot of knowledge under his belt now and Sharpie is one of the stalwarts of Australian rugby so they’ve helped me develop in leaps and bounds and I’m looking forward to that continuing.

“I’ve learnt a lot from them in terms of lineout play and general movement about the field. Obviously I’ve got my own flavour and the way I like to play the game but they’ve definitely had an influence on that in terms of teaching me good habits.

“I’d like to be pushing that starting squad. I’ve been in the squad for all but two matches this season and that’s been a huge step for me. While there was never that expectation that it would happen, I’ve tried to take that opportunity with both hands.”

Emirates Western Force Forwards Coach Nick Stiles says Battye has helped to provide depth in the West Australian forward pack.

“Phoenix has been with us for a couple of years now; he’s shown good development in that time and it’s a great signing for us,” he said. “It’s been such a valuable learning tool for him to have Sharpie to train and play with. He’s now seen one of the greats of all time up close and seen his preparation on and off the field and that’s been a key part to Phoenix’s growth.

“We obviously lose Sharpie next season and so it’s time for Phoenix to step up, continue to develop and show that on-field.”


Profile
Name: Phoenix Battye
Born: 28/09/1990
Position: Lock
Height: 204cm
Weight: 115kg
Representative Rugby: 2010 Australian Under 20, 2007-2008 ACT Schoolboys

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I'd like to see Battye step up and be a starting lock next year. He's a massive unit and has all the physical attributes to be a very handy lock. Hopefully his development can continue.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Phoenix - what a cool name too. Hopefully the Force can rise from the ashes of 2012 just like one.

Agree with one of the posts a page back about Jack Lam. He is a very capable player & he would be handy back in Oz. What do the Force fans on here think about Jack Lam, would you want him? or is the current back row at the Force (which is pretty darn solid) good enough as it is without him?

 

[Lee Grant]

It is well that the ARU are looking at giving the Force a dispensation regarding the quota of foreigners they can use.

It is something yours truly and others have mentioned in the past.

My wrinkle was to disallow the use of foreigners to the Reds, Brumbies and Tahs and let the Force and Rebels (once their current dispensation ended) use 3 extra foreigners each to keep the total number of foreigners to 10 for the country.

Whether those extra 3 should be marquee or developing players was an unimportant detail.
.

 

[Forcefield]

Apparently the Force want to bring Mark Swanepoel back. He lost his eligibility for Australia when he left Aus to play in Christchurch. I certainly wouldn't see an issue in this. There are a few areas where there is little depth in Australian rugby and exceptions need to be made. Seasoned second rowers are hard to come by. There aren't a lot of experienced 9s knocking about either.

 

[Slim 293]

Phoenix - what a cool name too. Hopefully the Force can rise from the ashes of 2012 just like one.

Agree with one of the posts a page back about Jack Lam. He is a very capable player & he would be handy back in Oz. What do the Force fans on here think about Jack Lam, would you want him? or is the current back row at the Force (which is pretty darn solid) good enough as it is without him?

Battye....... Lam.......

We would have to call them the ACT Force.......

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Phoenix - what a cool name too. Hopefully the Force can rise from the ashes of 2012 just like one.

Agree with one of the posts a page back about Jack Lam. He is a very capable player & he would be handy back in Oz. What do the Force fans on here think about Jack Lam, would you want him? or is the current back row at the Force (which is pretty darn solid) good enough as it is without him?

Very capable player, but we hardly need any more back rowers.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Battye... Lam...

We would have to call them the ACT Force...

It would make a change from being called the QLD Force