The Western Force team lists have been named for Sunday’s home games at Claremont’s Revo Fitness Stadium against the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby U16s and U19s.
In collaboration with RugbyWA, the Force U16s and U19s will compete in the five-team Super Rugby pathways competition, offering key opportunities to develop the next wave of emerging WA talent.
The Force, who are coming off the Round 3 bye, and Reds are currently 1-1 in both competitions ahead of the penultimate round of fixtures, with victories on Sunday critical to keeping them in contention for the grand finals.
The U16s’ game kicks off at 11:05am, followed by the U19s’ game at 1:05pm, with entry free and both games live streamed on Stan Sport.
There are four changes from the Force U16s’ starting line-up that lost 27-24 to the Melbourne Rebels a fortnight ago, with hooker Ben Ridgewell, lock Leeson Tiakia, fly-half Archie Elton and outside Michael Turukawa added to the XV.
Tiakia will partner with Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage who leads the league for dominant tackles (five) and lineout tackles (17). Tiakia leads the league for defensive ruck arrivals (17).
The Force’s back-row has been a highlight too, with Rudolf Johannes Van Der Merwe, who scored a double in Round 2, sitting sixth overall for successful tackles (22), second for defensive ruck arrivals (16) and first for breakdown steals (3). His back-row partner Joel Ockenden is seventh overall for successful tackles (21).
Likewise, there are four changes to the Force U19s’ starting side following their 47-22 win over the Rebels in Round 2. Loosehead prop Cooper North, lock Josiah Marks, back-rower Zak Griffiths and full-back Kade Davis come into the XV, with the latter’s addition seeing Finn Prass shuffle to fly-half.
Prass, who sits fifth in the league for line breaks (4), will feed inside-centre Boston Fakafanua who has scored four tries this campaign, with 22 carries (fifth overall), four offloads (second overall) and nine tackle breaks (seventh overall).
The Force thanks partners Fortescue, UWA, Goodyear, AFGRI and Elan as well as RugbyWA for their support of the U16s and U19s programs.
Watch every game live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
Entry is free at Revo Fitness Stadium via Gate 1 off Davies Road. For more gameday info, head here.
Western Force U16s
Starters; Dozion Laupama (c) (Kalamunda Districts), Ben Ridgewell (Joondalup Brothers), Cruise Morrison (Southern Lions), Leeson Tiakia (Joondalup Brothers), Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage (Southern Lions), Joel Ockenden (Rockingham), RJ Van Der Merwe (vc) (Rockingham), Rhymen Tusi (USQ Saints), Juan Pablo Martin Coria (Joondalup Brothers), Archie Elton (Wests Scarborough), Chase Bunce (vc) (Cottesloe), Fatani Fatanitavake (Kalamunda Districts), Michael Turukawa (Nedlands), Leighay-Jade Tauranga (Southern Lions), Ashton Williams (Cottesloe)
Reserves; Luke Scheepers (Nedlands), Dylan Francis (Nedlands), Khan Corbett-Gagamoe (Rockingham), Kordel Wharepapa (Southern Lions), James Aleni (Nedlands), Luke Wessels (Scotch College), Cyrus Cullen (Nedlands), Jacob Scoon (Southern Lions)
Western Force U19s
Starters; Cooper North (Palmyra), Ollie Barrett (Bond University/Fortescue Academy), Zavier Hawira (Palmyra), Ollie McGinnity (Fortescue Academy), Josiah Marks (Joondalup Brothers), Alex Bradley-Moore (UWA), Jackson Bridges (Wests Scarborough), Zak Griffiths (Southern Lions), Tafito Ahki (UQ), Finn Prass (Fortescue Academy), Peni Naqau (Southern Lions/Fortescue Academy), Boston Fakafanua (c) (Fortescue Academy), Oakley Pearce (Joondalup Brothers/Fortescue Academy), Vaughn Robson (Nedlands), Kade Davis (Wanneroo)
Reserves; Luke Megson (Scotch College), Daniel Christodoulou (West Harbour), Zane Wesley (Wanneroo), Billy Turnbull (Cottesloe/Fortescue Academy), Felix Cooper (Wests Scarborough), Tamarangi Tunui (Wanneroo), Henry James (Fortescue Academy), Tevita Ali-Benet Alatini (Palmyra)
Western Force Super Rugby U16/U19 fixtures
Round 1 – Sunday 29 September, Viking Park, Canberra
U16s; ACT Brumbies 18 def by Western Force 19
U19s; ACT Brumbies 53 def Western Force 23
Round 2 – Saturday 5 October, La Trobe's University Sports Park, Melbourne
U16s; Melbourne Rebels 27 def Western Force 24
U19s; Melbourne Rebels 22 def by Western Force 47
Round 3 – Bye
Round 4 – Sunday 20 October, Revo Fitness Stadium, Perth
Western Force U16s v Queensland Reds U16s, 11:05am AWST
Western Force U19s v Queensland Reds U19s, 1:05pm AWST
Round 5 – Sunday 27 October, Revo Fitness Stadium, Perth
Western Force U16s v NSW Waratahs U16s, 9:05am AWST
Western Force U19s v NSW Waratahs U19s, 11:05am AWST
Grand Finals – Sunday 3 November, Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
