The Western Force are delighted to announce the re-signings of Kalamunda front-row duo Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke and Braxton Walker ahead of the upcoming Japan tour and the 2025 Super Rugby Women’s season.
The local front-rowers are the latest players to re-commit and sign up with the Force ahead of the historic Japan tour where the women’s side will play three games.
Malcolm Heke’s re-signing comes following a breakout 2024 Super W season, which led to her Wallaroos debut in May against Canada. She has tallied three Wallaroos caps and last month played for Australia A against Samoa in a one-off game in Apia.
The 24-year-old hooker scored three tries in six appearances in the 2024 Super W season, but her tough tackling, line-breaking carries and accurate lineout throwing were also key features.
She debuted for the Force in the 2019 season and has tallied 19 caps with four tries for the Club. Local product Malcolm Heke captained Kalamunda in the 2023 WA Fortescue Premier Grade premiership.
Force women’s head coach Dylan Parsons said: “Hera-Barb has been really impressive with her development and improvement over the past 12 months.
“As a local who’s been in the club for years now, she’s a really important part of our group around culture, how we want to play, represent WA and is a highly respected member in the RugbyWA community.
“We believe her best rugby is still ahead of her. She’s still young as a front-rower.
“We’re really excited about just how much she’s improved in 12 months and how much more she can improve over the next period.”
Walker was part of Kalamunda’s 2023 premiership-winning side, following her Super W debut in Round 1 of the 2023 season.
The front-rower made 10 Fortescue Premier Grade appearances, scoring three tries for Kalamunda in the 2024 season after struggling for game-time in the Super W campaign.
Parsons was buoyed by Walker’s significant development over the past 12 months and excited about what she can offer the side after further exposure to the Club’s women’s program.
“Braxton is one of the locals we’ve invested in and have seen improve significantly,” Parsons said. “She’s really stepped up through consistent training and we’re starting to see the best out of Brax at the moment.
“The last six months she’s worked really hard with the athletic and conditioning side of the game and with that consistent training her game has improved a lot. This work puts her in a much stronger position moving forward.
“Last season she didn’t get the game-time that all players are pushing for but through the work she’s done during the club season and with the Japan tour coming up, we’re pretty excited about what she’s going to be able to bring in 2025 Super W.”
Malcolm Heke and Walker’s re-signings follow that of rep trio Rosie Ebbage, Alapeta Ngauamo and Georgia Cormick plus Nicole Ledington, Hannah Palelei and Sheree Hume, along with the recent signings of Wallaroo Sera Naiqama, Loretta Mailangi and Grace Freeman.
Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke
29/1/2000 Birthplace: Tauranga, NZ Position: Hooker Local club: Kalamunda Western Force (2019- ,19 games) Wallaroos (2024- , 3 caps)
Braxton Walker
23/12/199 Birthplace: New Zealand Position: Prop Local club: Kalamunda Western Force (2023- , 2 games)
