Western Force 2020
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Front-rower comes full circle for Force
Nick Taylor - The West Australian - Tuesday, 10 March 2020
Front-rower Kieran Longbottom’s career will come full circle when he packs down for Western Force in Saturday’s $1 million Global Rapid Rugby clash with Malaysia Valke at HBF Park.
The 118kg prop entered Force folklore in 2008 against the Chiefs at Subiaco Oval when he became the first WA player to go through local ranks to make his Super Rugby debut.
He is one of 12 players that have progressed through RugbyWA pathways to be fully contracted in this season’s Force squad.
“To come from the academy and now being a senior player, I want to give something back,” Longbottom said.
“I want to help bring the next generation of players through. I had a good experience, lets see how good I can make it for them.”
GRR, in its first home-and-away season is bankrolled by mining magnate Andrew Forrest who was angered by Rugby Australia’s refusal of his $70 million offer to keep the Force alive when they axed them from Super Rugby. It has evolved from World Series Rugby and the GRR Showcase Series in the past two years.
“You want to do right by Andrew Forrest, he’s obviously invested a lot in us, but we want to make everyone proud, make WA proud,” Longbottom said.
“We’ve always had pride but the excitement is there now. I feel that little bit of nervousness. We want to show that rugby is alive in WA.”
Longbottom, 33, started his rugby at All Saints College, Bull Creek, and progressed through the Rockingham club, WA representative teams, the Force academy, Perth Gold, Perth Spirit and, ultimately, Super Rugby.
In 2014 he signed with English club Saracens for two seasons and had a year at Sale before moving back to Saracens.
Force play the South African-backed Malaysia side as part of a double-header with Manuma Samoa taking on South China Lions.
Nick Taylor - The West Australian - Tuesday, 10 March 2020
Front-rower Kieran Longbottom’s career will come full circle when he packs down for Western Force in Saturday’s $1 million Global Rapid Rugby clash with Malaysia Valke at HBF Park.
The 118kg prop entered Force folklore in 2008 against the Chiefs at Subiaco Oval when he became the first WA player to go through local ranks to make his Super Rugby debut.
He is one of 12 players that have progressed through RugbyWA pathways to be fully contracted in this season’s Force squad.
“To come from the academy and now being a senior player, I want to give something back,” Longbottom said.
“I want to help bring the next generation of players through. I had a good experience, lets see how good I can make it for them.”
GRR, in its first home-and-away season is bankrolled by mining magnate Andrew Forrest who was angered by Rugby Australia’s refusal of his $70 million offer to keep the Force alive when they axed them from Super Rugby. It has evolved from World Series Rugby and the GRR Showcase Series in the past two years.
“You want to do right by Andrew Forrest, he’s obviously invested a lot in us, but we want to make everyone proud, make WA proud,” Longbottom said.
“We’ve always had pride but the excitement is there now. I feel that little bit of nervousness. We want to show that rugby is alive in WA.”
Longbottom, 33, started his rugby at All Saints College, Bull Creek, and progressed through the Rockingham club, WA representative teams, the Force academy, Perth Gold, Perth Spirit and, ultimately, Super Rugby.
In 2014 he signed with English club Saracens for two seasons and had a year at Sale before moving back to Saracens.
Force play the South African-backed Malaysia side as part of a double-header with Manuma Samoa taking on South China Lions.
The core leadership group and ex Super Rugby players from the Western Force after the win against the Malaysia Valke on Saturday.
Great job lads: L-R:Ian Prior (66), Kieran Longbottom (57), Chris Heiberg (35), Heath Tessman (61), Brynard Stander (62), Brad Lacey, Marcel Brache (38 & 19 USA), Chris Alcock (55). (Number of Super Rugby caps).
Ian Prior - 16 March 2020
"A huge night for the @westernforce & @rapidrugby after a few years of hard work and sacrifice to get us to this point! Thankful to all those who’ve made it possible in such a short period of time.
As the world and Australia grapples with the current situation and what that means for sport in the short term, one thing we know for sure is the long term future of this competition is looking bright."
Great job lads: L-R:Ian Prior (66), Kieran Longbottom (57), Chris Heiberg (35), Heath Tessman (61), Brynard Stander (62), Brad Lacey, Marcel Brache (38 & 19 USA), Chris Alcock (55). (Number of Super Rugby caps).
Ian Prior - 16 March 2020
"A huge night for the @westernforce & @rapidrugby after a few years of hard work and sacrifice to get us to this point! Thankful to all those who’ve made it possible in such a short period of time.
As the world and Australia grapples with the current situation and what that means for sport in the short term, one thing we know for sure is the long term future of this competition is looking bright."
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Heh. Hi Reg!
Newspaper said 2,000.
I was there and reckon it was a bit more, around 3.5 to 4k.
This week with Tim Sampson - 17 March 2020
Training continues - and good opportunity for rehab for those carrying injuries.
Training continues - and good opportunity for rehab for those carrying injuries.
The Rugby Wrap - Season 1 Episode 3 - March 25, 2020
Mitch Hardy and Mick Colliss catch up with Heath Tessmann to find out what's happening during the self isolation period at the Western Force, and shoot the breeze with former Wallaby captain Phil Kearns about the broadcast deal, a domestic competition and what Australian rugby really needs to focus on.
Mitch Hardy and Mick Colliss catch up with Heath Tessmann to find out what's happening during the self isolation period at the Western Force, and shoot the breeze with former Wallaby captain Phil Kearns about the broadcast deal, a domestic competition and what Australian rugby really needs to focus on.
The Western Force will get through unscathed after coronavirus shutdown
Nick Taylor - The West Australian - 1 April 2020
Western Force are the only rugby club likely to get through the Coronavirus crisis unscathed — thanks to mining magnate Andrew Forrest who has invested millions in the side and Global Rapid Rugby.
The irony is not lost on Forrest, who offered Rugby Australia $70 million to save the Force when they controversially axed the club and saved the loss-making Melbourne Rebels.
Forrest went alone, resurrected the Force and created GRR but the competition had to be postponed after just one round of its debut season.
Unsubstantiated reports claim Forrest is interested in buying Australia’s four Super Rugby clubs but they are loss-making organisations and it is understood such a move is not in his thinking.
His priority will be GRR, those who stayed loyal or joined the Force and the other teams in the Asia-Pacific based competition.
No Force or GRR staff or players have currently been stood down or asked to take pay cuts but some are on altered duties.
RugbyWA has not made any cuts although some staff are on reduced working hours.
RA’s Super Rugby clubs have all been forced into cutbacks as they try to survive the next three months of the coronavirus pandemic that is wreaking havoc on the sport.
The Rebels were the last club to tell staff they would be stood down or be put on reduced duties.
RA has stood down 75 per cent of its staff in an attempt to reduce losses, which could go as high as $120 million if Super Rugby does not resume this year and all Wallabies Tests are cancelled.
Discussions between RA and the Rugby Union Players' Association on prospective pay cuts for Super Rugby players are continuing this week but they do not involve Western Force players who are affiliated members of the union.
Nick Taylor - The West Australian - 1 April 2020
Western Force are the only rugby club likely to get through the Coronavirus crisis unscathed — thanks to mining magnate Andrew Forrest who has invested millions in the side and Global Rapid Rugby.
The irony is not lost on Forrest, who offered Rugby Australia $70 million to save the Force when they controversially axed the club and saved the loss-making Melbourne Rebels.
Forrest went alone, resurrected the Force and created GRR but the competition had to be postponed after just one round of its debut season.
Unsubstantiated reports claim Forrest is interested in buying Australia’s four Super Rugby clubs but they are loss-making organisations and it is understood such a move is not in his thinking.
His priority will be GRR, those who stayed loyal or joined the Force and the other teams in the Asia-Pacific based competition.
No Force or GRR staff or players have currently been stood down or asked to take pay cuts but some are on altered duties.
RugbyWA has not made any cuts although some staff are on reduced working hours.
RA’s Super Rugby clubs have all been forced into cutbacks as they try to survive the next three months of the coronavirus pandemic that is wreaking havoc on the sport.
The Rebels were the last club to tell staff they would be stood down or be put on reduced duties.
RA has stood down 75 per cent of its staff in an attempt to reduce losses, which could go as high as $120 million if Super Rugby does not resume this year and all Wallabies Tests are cancelled.
Discussions between RA and the Rugby Union Players' Association on prospective pay cuts for Super Rugby players are continuing this week but they do not involve Western Force players who are affiliated members of the union.
Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
I am actually incredibly disappointed and disgusted with this media article. Now is not the time to Crow about $70m offer to RA as clearly no one was predicting a covid 19 event.
I was always a big supporter of force, twiggy and Rapid Rugby but quite frankly this article is low level gutter trash that does nothing to make twiggy, rapid rugby or the force in the current environment look anything more then a bunch of cocky arseholes while so many are suffering including across the board in professional sport.
With this sort of press and attitude twiggy, the force and rapid rugby can go and get fuck’d and good luck finding any supporters for your competition with this sort of attitude and gutter press article.
Pull your head in before posting this sort of article in the current environment as insensitive and not welcome here
Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
Forcefan you are a complete fuckwit for posting something like this in the current environment and seriously lacking in any sort of basic judgement to post this sort of crap in view of what is going on
Can we please cut out the personal attacks, they just aren't necessary - FP
Can we please cut out the personal attacks, they just aren't necessary - FP
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Oh, so it's $70 million now?
Isn't that the same amount he pledged in bushfire funding, which in reality was only $10 million after the rest of it was invested in back into Fortescue?
I can't imagine why RA never accepted his, er, generous offer.
But seriously, that's a pretty grubby article to put out right now.........
Isn't that the same amount he pledged in bushfire funding, which in reality was only $10 million after the rest of it was invested in back into Fortescue?
I can't imagine why RA never accepted his, er, generous offer.
But seriously, that's a pretty grubby article to put out right now.........
You're entitled to your opinion RN - so now we shoot the messenger?
The article was from the West Australian - it's already freely available on the internet.
It's newsworthy to WA and Force rugby fans that their professional team will be OK in getting through this season.
Any other form of censorship you'd like to see put in place?
It was always $70M.
That was the amount referenced by John Welborn in his evidence before the Senate Inquiry.
John attended the Adelaide meeting at which the offer was made and rejected without being put before the full RA Board..
Forrest has just donated $160M to purchase medical supplies (PPE etc) for WA and elsewhere as well as $100M towards the endeavours to develop the Covid-19 vaccine.
Australia's tall poppy syndrome is obviously still alive and well.
The question should be more about why others aren't stepping up during this time of crisis.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
not many people got paid $1.2 billion in dividends in 2019, Forrest's overall wealth has arguably been the least impacted out of all the 'super rich' during this crisis as well, Fortescue's market capitalisation has barely budged compared to the broader market.
Its good that he is helping, I don't take everything at face value about how big the size of the grants are though, I think theres a bit of creating accounting going on there since he channels it all through his own charity.
KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
I think you will find most elitist who making massive donations don't want to draw attention to themselves. It's not that they don't step up and help, it's that they doing it quietly and don't need a news paper headline for every good deed they do.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
I don't think any elitist are making donations to the scale of what Andrew Forrest is, it's pretty bloody hard to keep $40million+ donations out of the headlines even when done quietly. I think the tone of this comment is a bit ridiculous, to have a dig at someone for making massive donations and making it public.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
KevinO who of all the other elitist has stepped up to save any one of the current Super sides? Not sure it wouldn't be trumpeted in the press if that were to happen.
Personally, I have no issue with the article nor its posting here at all. I am one of many here who lamented the sacking of the Force and the way it was done. It seems I'm now one of the few who are glad to see that they will survive this latest catastrophe.
Personally, I have no issue with the article nor its posting here at all. I am one of many here who lamented the sacking of the Force and the way it was done. It seems I'm now one of the few who are glad to see that they will survive this latest catastrophe.
Rebels3
Jim Lenehan (48)
I second this, the article is fine. It doesn’t say anything disparaging at all.
Those that were triggered give yourselves an uppercut and stop been so precious.