Wallaby Kurtley Beale returns to the Western Force starting line-up at inside-centre for the Club’s Round 2 game in Super Rugby AUS against the ACT Brumbies at Tompkins Park on Saturday 2pm WST.
Beale, who impressed off the bench in last Friday’s 24-3 win over the NSW Waratahs, comes into the starting XV along with tighthead prop Tiaan Tauakipulu following injuries to midfielder Boston Fakafanua (head injury protocols) and front-rower Bradley Kuhn (ankle).
The Force starting line-up is otherwise unchanged, following the impressive Round 1 victory away to the Waratahs in Sydney.
Six Force players subsequently were this week named in the Super Rugby AUS Team of the Week following the strong display, in Beale, Max Burey, Mac Grealy, Henry Robertson, Albert Alcock and captain Darcy Swain. Burey was named Player of the Week.
Ronan Leahy and Henry Palmer are added to the reserves for Saturday’s game which is part of a double-header with the Force taking on the Brumbies in the Super Rugby Men’s U19s from 12pm. Entry is free for all patrons.
Speedy outside back Palmer joins the Force having represented Australia on the HSBC SVNS circuit while last month he played in Easts’ 37-24 Shute Shield grand final loss to Warringah. He’s also previously spent time with the ACT Brumbies.
In the starting XV, Tauakipulu joins Joondalup Brothers loosehead prop Marley Pearce and hooker Albert Alcock on the front row. Alcock plays his club rugby for Palmyra, the home club at Tompkins Park.
Mitch Watts and captain Swain will start in the locks, with Will Harris, Kane Koteka and Vaiolini Ekuasi in the back row.
Scrum-half Robertson and fly-half Burey will team up again, supported by 95-cap Wallaby Kurtley Beale at inside-centre and George Poolman at outside-centre.
Viliami Fine, who scored six tries for Palmyra in the 2025 Fortescue Premier Grade season, and Justin Landman start on the wings with Grealy at full-back.
Leahy and Palmer are added to the bench alongside back-up hooker Wes Thomas, Kalamunda front-rower Max Sawers, Sean Paranihi, Max Johnson, Titi Nofoagatotoa and Issak Fines-Leleiwasa.
Entry is free for all patrons, with more gameday information available here. If you cannot attend, the game will be live streamed on rugby.com.au’s YouTube channel and Stan Sport.
Western Force team list
Starting XV; Marley Pearce, Albert Alcock, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Mitch Watts, Darcy Swain (c), Will Harris, Kane Koteka, Vaiolini Ekuasi; Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Viliami Fine, Kurtley Beale, George Poolman, Justin Landman, Mac Grealy
Reserves; Wes Thomas, Max Sawers, Sean Paranihi, Max Johnson, Titi Nofoagatotoa, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Henry Palmer, Ronan Leahy
Game details
Western Force vs ACT Brumbies
Saturday 20 September, 2pm WST
Tompkins Park, Alfred Cove – Palmyra RUFC
Free entry
Live on rugby.com.au’s YouTube channel & Stan Sport
Preceded by Force-Brumbies U19s game from 12pm
