The Western Force are thrilled to announce the signing of exciting Wallabies wing Dylan Pietsch from the NSW Waratahs on a multi-year contract.
The 26-year-old will join the Force after a strong 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the Tahs where his four tries in 12 appearances led to his Wallabies debut against Wales in July.
Pietsch, who is a proud Wiradjuri man, will join the Force in November for pre-season ahead of the 2025 campaign.
The speedy and skillful ball-running wing debuted for the Tahs in 2022 and has scored 14 tries in 38 games across three seasons. Pietsch’s pace is underlined by the fact he represented Australia’s in rugby sevens at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The wing said he was excited about the move west, where he believes he can play his best rugby in a top-class environment and bolster his international ambitions.
Pietsch said: “I feel like the Western Force are on the up at the moment and I’m really excited to play my part in it.
“The Force play a fast style of rugby where they like to move the ball which suits me. I believe that can bring out my strengths with carrying and ball-running on the edges.
“My Wallabies ambition is a big thing too. Now I’ve had a taste of international rugby, I want to play consistent footy and I feel I can play my best footy with the Force. I feel this move can help propel me forward.”
Pietsch is familiar with plenty of his new teammates from his time at the Waratahs which will help him settle into the new environment quickly.
“I’m really excited to play with a good group of boys,” he said. “I room with Donno (Ben Donaldson) on every Wallabies tour. I know a fair of them, Jeremy Williams, Will Harris, Tom Horton and many more.
“It’s good to have those relationships going into a new team, it makes the transition a lot easier.”
The wing’s signing is a boost to the Force’s backline following the recruitment of former All Blacks midfielder Matt Proctor and dynamic back Divad Palu from the Melbourne Rebels, with Force head coach Simon Cron thrilled to secure his signature.
Cron said: “He’s a genuine winger, who brings pace and power out wide. He also has a really driven personality type that will fit in really well with our group.
“The best players have that inner drive and he definitely has it, so we’re excited about getting Dylan over after his Wallabies duties.
“For us, it’s really important we get depth in the back three as it will only help others in the squad to develop and get better.”
This off-season, the Force have also added international-capped players Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Nic Dolly, Proctor and Darcy Swain along with emerging forward Josh Thompson and back-rowers Vaiolini Ekuasi and Nick Champion de Crespigny.
Cron added that he was delighted the Force were able to lure west another high-quality player.
“Over the past few years, he’s been a standout performer at Super Rugby level and he’s been a regular in Wallabies squads,” Cron said.
“In talking with him, he’s excited about coming over to the Force and we are really looking forward to having him and his partner Ella arrive in Western Australia.”
2025 Force Memberships are due to go on sale in October at westernforce.rugby.
Dylan Pietsch
23/04/1998
Wing
187cm
NSW Waratahs (2021-2024, 38 caps, 14 tries)
Wallabies (2024-, 2 caps)
Australia A (2022-, 4 caps, 3 tries)
