Damian Steele will lead the Western Force’s coaching staff for the four-week 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby AUS competition which starts in less than three weeks.
Force Academy Manager Steele will be assisted by ex-Force players Nic White, Jonathon Lance and Chris Heiberg for the tournament with training commencing earlier this month.
The purpose of the four-week competition is to support the ongoing growth and development of players but also high-performance staff. The Force provided similar coaching opportunities in the 2025 edition.
Force head coach Simon Cron said: "We see Super Rugby AUS as a really important opportunity for the Club to develop our coaches, providing them with an opportunity to grow amid a competitive series of games. We're excited to have this coaching group lead the team over the next two months."
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Steele previously worked as head of rugby and elite development program head coach for Queensland Premier Grade club Brothers, and has experience as director of rugby at Belfast Rugby Club too.
White is an ex-Wallabies scrum-half who spent the final two years of his playing career at the Force, before retiring and moving into the Club’s coaching ranks for the 2026 season. He’s also spent time working with the Wallabies recently.
Lance is a former fly-half who played 28 times for the Force between 2016 and 2021 and has been at the Club as the Academy assistant coach since early 2024. He was part of last year’s Super Rugby AUS coaching staff.
Former front-rower Heiberg has been involved in numerous coaching roles at the Force in recent years, including Super W and Academy. The scrum specialist coach was part of last year’s Super Rugby AUS coaching staff too. He’ll be supported by Force forwards coach Craig Dunlea.
The Force’s first game of Super Rugby AUS is on Saturday 12 September away to the Queensland Reds at Ballymore Stadium.
The Force will host the ACT Brumbies at North Coast Sharks RUFC in Butler on Sunday 20 September from 1:30pm WST with entry free for all patrons.
The side’s round robin campaign will conclude away to the NSW Waratahs on Sunday 27 September.
All Super Rugby AUS games will be broadcast live on the rugby.com.au YouTube channel.
2026 SWYFTX SUPER RUGBY AUS SCHEDULE
*All times WST*
Round 1
Queensland Reds v Western Force - Saturday 12 September 11:30am - Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Round 2
Western Force v ACT Brumbies - Sunday 20 September 1:30pm - North Coast Rugby Club, Perth
Round 3
NSW Waratahs v Western Force - Sunday 27 September 10:45am - Pittwater Rugby Park, Sydney
Grand Final
1 v 2 - Saturday 3 October – TBC
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