Western Force 2025

[Braveheart81]

Bit of noise about the force travelling getting around. 49000km this year. The fact we had to play perthz NZ, Perth, Fiji, Perth is just poor planning. And a last round bye.
When SA was in the comp the worst year we had was around 65k. How we have almost reached 50k in a comp that doesn't involve SA is astounding. We have gone.
H, Canberra, H, Sydney, NZ, H, Brisbane, H, H, NZ, NZ, H, Fiji, H

If the Force play two away games in a row do they stay away the whole time or do they return to Perth after each game?

 

[Yoda]

If the Force play two away games in a row do they stay away the whole time or do they return to Perth after each game?

Force this year….. Round 1 Perth 2 Canberra 3 Perth 4 Sydney 5 Christchurch 6 Perth 7 Brisbane 8 Perth 9 Bye 10 Perth 11 Maunganui NZ 12 Auckland 13 Perth 14 Fiji 15 Perth 16 Bye

A distinct disadvantage….only rounds 8,9 and 10 in Perth for an extended time. Which was a win, bye draw.

A fairer schedule would be two away games back to back say… Reds then Brumbies followed by two home games. Same in NZ. A lack of squad depth and constant travel this year made it hard but they definitely played some great rugby. Hope it is a fairer schedule next year and they pick up some new personnel to bolster their squad.

 

[Braveheart81]

11 Maunganui NZ 12 Auckland

A distinct disadvantage….only rounds 8,9 and 10 in Perth for an extended time. Which was a win, bye draw.

A fairer schedule would be two away games back to back say… Reds then Brumbies followed by two home games. Same in NZ. A lack of squad depth and constant travel this year made it hard but they definitely played some great rugby. Hope it is a fairer schedule next year and they pick up some new personnel to bolster their squad.

In that two game stretch did the Force stay in NZ?

If they play the Reds and Brumbies away in consecutive weeks do the spend the intervening week on the east coast or do they go back to Perth between games?

The point I'm trying to make is whether the travel distance changes substantially based on the order of games or is it largely the same because they return home each week.

 

[Yoda]

In that two game stretch did the Force stay in NZ?

If they play the Reds and Brumbies away in consecutive weeks do the spend the intervening week on the east coast or do they go back to Perth between games?

The point I'm trying to make is whether the travel distance changes substantially based on the order of games or is it largely the same because they return home each week.

Yes. They stayed in NZ. Yes I’d suggest they stay between games. The schedule this year was tough.

 

[Braveheart81]

Yes. They stayed in NZ. Yes I’d suggest they stay between games. The schedule this year was tough.

It certainly seems like they should schedule the Force with an NZ/Fiji tour so they do that all in one stint for 3-4 weeks or something.

Maybe they wouldn't stay on the east coast of Australia between games? 2-3 hours less flight time compared to NZ and not needing to do international customs etc. certainly makes it much faster.

I wonder if there's a split between younger and older players (or rather those with families). I'd guess that those with families would prefer to eat the extra travel so they aren't away from home for long stretches.

 

[Yoda]

Waratah schedule: 1 Sydney 2 Bye 3 Sydney 4 Sydney 5 Brisbane 6 Sydney 7 Wellington 8 Auckland 9 Sydney 10 Fiji 11 Bye 12 Canberra 13 Sydney 14 Sydney 15 Perth 16 Auckland

Definitely an extremely generous draw! With all the marquee signings.. Sua'ali'i and some of the Rebels players… Maate!

 

[Major Tom]

Waratah schedule: 1 Sydney 2 Bye 3 Sydney 4 Sydney 5 Brisbane 6 Sydney 7 Wellington 8 Auckland 9 Sydney 10 Fiji 11 Bye 12 Canberra 13 Sydney 14 Sydney 15 Perth 16 Auckland

Definitely an extremely generous draw! With all the marquee signings.. Sua'ali'i and some of the Rebels players… Maate!

Crusaders had a piss easy draw too

 

[Brumby Runner]

It certainly seems like they should schedule the Force with an NZ/Fiji tour so they do that all in one stint for 3-4 weeks or something.

Maybe they wouldn't stay on the east coast of Australia between games? 2-3 hours less flight time compared to NZ and not needing to do international customs etc. certainly makes it much faster.

I wonder if there's a split between younger and older players (or rather those with families). I'd guess that those with families would prefer to eat the extra travel so they aren't away from home for long stretches.

For all that BH and recognising the veracity of what you say, the Force only had 2 opportunities in this year's schedule to minimise the travel by staying on the road, rounds 4 and 5, and 11 and 12. Whether they did so or not, it wouldn't have made a whole lot of difference to their total travel over the course of the season. Remember too, they had already travelled to Canberra and return for a trial match in the week or two preceding the Super Rugby competition. This might well be classed as voluntary but the reality probably is that it is a burden they have to bear each and every year they want top notch competition in their trial matches.

No matter which way we might want to look at it, the Force have been shafted with this year's schedule.

 

[Derpus]

For all that BH and recognising the veracity of what you say, the Force only had 2 opportunities in this year's schedule to minimise the travel by staying on the road, rounds 4 and 5, and 11 and 12. Whether they did so or not, it wouldn't have made a whole lot of difference to their total travel over the course of the season. Remember too, they had already travelled to Canberra and return for a trial match in the week or two preceding the Super Rugby competition. This might well be classed as voluntary but the reality probably is that it is a burden they have to bear each and every year they want top notch competition in their trial matches.

No matter which way we might want to look at it, the Force have been shafted with this year's schedule.

Good to see you posting BR.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Force had a tough draw and they should probably get a couple more blocks at home but to just put the Tahs draw up obviously makes it look worse. You know in your brain that the away trips are shorter just because of geography so it's dismissed. This will always be an issue for the Force.

Going for a trial in Canberra is a nightmare tbh but probably spoke of it as a bonding experience. Force also took them selves to South Africa in the pre season. I'm interested to see how the NRL handle the Perth Bears and the draw. I know they are already planning for a Sydney base for back to back games. Stay and train in the same location every time for a couple of weeks.

 

[Braveheart81]

For all that BH and recognising the veracity of what you say, the Force only had 2 opportunities in this year's schedule to minimise the travel by staying on the road, rounds 4 and 5, and 11 and 12. Whether they did so or not, it wouldn't have made a whole lot of difference to their total travel over the course of the season. Remember too, they had already travelled to Canberra and return for a trial match in the week or two preceding the Super Rugby competition. This might well be classed as voluntary but the reality probably is that it is a burden they have to bear each and every year they want top notch competition in their trial matches.

No matter which way we might want to look at it, the Force have been shafted with this year's schedule.

I'm not doubting any of that. I agree that the draw for the Force this year was bad from the sense that they didn't have options in terms of whether they wanted to reduce their travel distance by essentially going on mini tours.

I was asking questions about what they would do in the various situations that could arise.

It seems to me that sending them on a multi week tour of NZ and Fiji makes sense to significantly reduce travel there. For Australian games I am now assuming that they would fly back west each week regardless so it probably isn't helpful to have back to back games on the east coast.

I would be interested to know what requests they put in to Super Rugby before each season about their preferences for the draw.