Ambitious off-season recruit Paenga-Amosa loving Force family

Thu, Jan 30, 2025, 7:00 AM
BS
by Ben Somerford

Off-season recruit Brandon Paenga-Amosa says he’s loving life with the Force family as he aims to “take the Force jersey somewhere it’s never been before”.

Paenga-Amosa officially joined Force pre-season earlier this month following Wallabies duty, having signed with the WA club early last year from French Top 14 club Montpellier.

The 29-year-old father-of-two said playing in France had made him a better player but that he always wanted to return to Australia, having previously been with the Queensland Reds (2018-2021).

Force 2025 Super Rugby Memberships are on sale NOW for seven home games + Super W games from $170 per adult, while there’s FREE Junior Force Memberships for one child under 15 with a paying adult.

“I always at some point wanted to come back home,” Paenga-Amosa told reporters this week.

“It was a great stint overseas. I’ve been grinding over the last few years. I went overseas to try to better myself and learn a new brand.

“But as soon as Crono hit me up, I was really excited to bring my family back and really be part of the franchise.

“I’m blessed it was the Western Force. I’m excited to be a part of it and take this jersey somewhere it’s never been before.”

Auckland-born Paenga-Amosa, whose father is Samoan and mother is Maori, said he and his family had settled in well in their chosen home of Perth, joking about the sharks at the WA beaches.

But he added that he’d loved the “family” culture and environment within the four walls at the Force.

“I’ve noticed off field the boys are really good at getting around each other off field,” he said.

“That’s something that’s really important, especially as a father of two little girls. My girls love hanging out some of the other boys’ daughters and sons.

“That’s really important, creating that family aspect off field. It does help, there is definitely a family here.”

The 183cm hooker has 20 Wallabies caps to his name and was buoyed by the growing contingent of Force players in the same boat, with five debuting for Australia in 2024.

Paenga-Amosa said that recognition was a positive sign as he aims to help the Force scale unprecedented heights in 2025.

“The goal is to have as many as we can in there from the Force,” he said.

“It starts with having a good season, starting off really strong at home with our first game. And taking the jersey somewhere it’s not been yet.

“The better we go in Super Rugby, the better it’ll transfer at international level.”

Paenga-Amosa may have finished the 2024 international season as the Wallabies starting hooker, but he has plenty of competition for the role at club level.

He’ll contend with one-cap England international Nic Dolly and incumbent Tom Horton to wear the no.2 shirt when the Force commences their Super Rugby campaign against Moana Pasifika at HBF Park on Saturday 15 February (tickets on sale via this link).

“I’m big on sharpening each other and that’s what we do,” Paenga-Amosa said when asked about the competition for the hooker spots.

“We’ve been really good at competing and also helping each other across the board. We’re working really hard to take that jersey somewhere it’s never actually been before.”

Force 2025 Super Rugby Memberships are on sale NOW for seven home games + Super W games from $170 per adult, while there’s FREE Junior Force Memberships for one child under 15 with a paying adult.

Share
Western Force Fan Day Info - Saturday 1 February 9am-11am
Two additions as Force completes squad for 2025 Super W season
Force sign Japanese duo, closer to completing Super W squad
Force lock in three Super W pre-season trial games