The 2026 Rebecca Clough medalist will be crowned on Saturday night with plenty of worthy contenders in the mix to take out the honour.
The Western Force will hold the Club’s Rebecca Clough medal night at the WACA Ground’s Wally Edwards Function Room, to cap the 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s campaign where the side reached the semi-finals, in another season of firsts.
Individuals will be recognised throughout the evening, with the winners announced for the Debby Carley Rising Star, Force Woman Award and Members’ MVP, while debutants and milestones will be acknowledged too.
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The main award will be the Rebecca Clough medal, with a long list of contenders:
Scrum-half Samantha Wood had a stellar season, scoring a team-high 41 points, with two tries. Wood’s goal kicking accuracy went at 75 per cent, the second best in Super W. The ARKS product also managed a team-high five try assists (third overall in Super W), with a league-high 1797 kicking metres, plus four breakdown steals.
Rake Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke scored a joint team-high four tries in an impressive season, where her lineout accuracy and hard-hitting tackles were again a feature. The Kalamunda hooker also won six turnovers, pushing her case for a Wallaroos recall.
Fijian speedster Adi Vani Buleki will also be in the mix for top honours, having dotted four times in Super W. She led the Force for line breaks with eight and 17 defenders beaten, plus 428 carry metres, leading to a national team call-up.
Tireless Wallaroos lock Michaela Leonard is another in contention, finishing second in Super W for successful tackles (74) and a league-high 25 lineout takes, including four lineout steals (second best in Super W).
Former Black Ferns back-rower Pia Tapsell was a physical powerhouse throughout the Super W campaign, underlined by a team-high 19 dominant carries, while she was one of the best in the competition for in-contact metres (100) with a team-high four offloads and seven turnovers won including four breakdown steals.
Also in the mix for top honours are Wallaroos midfielder Cecilia Smith who recorded two tries along with four breakdown steals. Prop Allana Sikimeti returned to some of her strongest form with a team-high 43 ball carries.
Grace Freeman returned from injury to provide three try assists along with three try-saving tackles. Veteran back-rower Anneka Stephens also had three try-saving tackles.
Japan international Seina Saito was a revelation with 65 successful tackles (fourth in Super W), while Japanese lock Yuna Sato won six turnovers and offered plenty.
Co-captain Trilleen Pomare, who won last year's medal, will likely poll votes along with lock Sera Naiqama, winger Brooklyn Teki Joyce, prop Zoe Elliott and front-rower Hannah Palelei who all played every game.
Follow the Western Force socials on Friday night to find out the winners.
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Rebecca Clough Medal - Honour Roll
2025 – Trilleen Pomare
2024 – Samantha Wood
2023 – Martha Mataele
2022 – Tamika Jones
