The Western Force in conjunction with RugbyWA have been working on a range of initiatives for the Club’s 2026 Academy squad and upcoming under-age pathways cohort.
Local Development Initiatives
Force Pathways 7 Tournament
Friday 24 April, 6pm-9pm @ Wanneroo Rugby Union Club
- This is a talent identification opportunity for prospective representative 7s players,
- Australian Rugby Sevens Men's assistant coach Shannon Fraser will be among those in attendance.
Force Next Gen Blue vs Gold
- Earmarked as a one-to-three game series in September,
- Aligned in timing with Super Rugby AUS,
- Representative rugby for best club players from WA Fortescue Premier Grade and Colts competitions.
Partnerships/Relationships – Grow the game
Rockhampton Grammar Schol
- Force Academy staff ran skills session for RGS athletes during ASRU Tournament in July 2025,
- Force medical staff participated in Leadership Course run by RGS in October 2025,
- Male players came and participated in RugbyWA Academy sessions in December 2025,
- Female players coming to participate in Western Australia Girls Regionals week of April 13 – 19, along with observe Super W sessions,
- Academy staff went to RGS March 29 – April 2 for program support ahead of Ballymore Cup Tournament involvement.
Western Force Academy South Australia
- Force Academy staff went to Adelaide in January for Coach Development and player selection Camp. Over 100 athletes trialed to be in the Academy,
- Force Academy SA featuring 15 female and 27 male athletes and 10 staff launched in February,
- Evan Hooper came to Perth for February’s Next Gen campaign. Stand-out performer and now an Academy member for 2026 who’ll playing for Wests Scarborough.
SEDA
- Force Academy staff supporting SEDA program with Strength and Conditioning and Field sessions.
Partnerships/Relationships – Player Development opportunities
Urayasu D-Rocks (Japan)
- Luke Holt-Brown and Nate Gallagher spent two months in Japan pre-Christmas training and playing trial games with D-Rocks.
Chennai Bulls (India)
- Luke Megson, Nate Gallagher and Brodie Mainwaring invited to play Hong Kong 10s tournament in April,
- Peni Naqau played Coral Coast 7s tournament in January.
Gordonians RFC (Scotland)
- Brodie Mainwaring went to Scotland November – January to play for Gordonians in Scotland National League 1.
Hunter Wildfires (NSW Shute Shield)
- Max Sawers, Luke Holt-Brown and Peni Naqau playing for Hunter Wildfires for 2026 Club season,
- Important to expose these players at their stages of their development to this level of competition.
