The Western Force’s 2025 Super Rugby Women’s squad is a step closer to completion ahead of the new season with the addition of WA locals Nami Dickson and Zoe Elliott.
Wanneroo openside flanker Dickson, 20, and Cottesloe forward Elliott, 24, have both been elevated to the main squad having been part of the team’s development squad in 2024.
The duo also travelled for the Force’s three-game Japan Tour in October and November, with their strong performances earning them full contracts.
Force 2025 Super Rugby Memberships are on sale NOW for seven home games + Super W games from $170 per adult, while there’s FREE Junior Force Memberships for one child under 15 with a paying adult.
Dickson was also part of Wanneroo’s 2024 Fortescue Women’s Premier Grade premiership-winning side.
Force women’s head coach Dylan Parsons said: “Nami is a great story about working hard, being patient and staying committed, having graduated through wider training squads and Academy set-ups through the pathway here.
“She really impressed during the Japan Tour which has helped earn her a full squad contract. It’s exciting as she’s still only 20-years-old.”
Parsons was full of praise for Dickson, highlighting her ability to play long minutes at a high level in the back row.
“In Japan, she played big minutes,” he said. “It was a first playing at that level and she showed her stamina in those games.
“She was really tough in Japan too, copping a big knock in game one, parking that and staying committed to what she wanted to achieve to then play almost every minute.
“She brings a big engine, good at the breakdown, good at the tackle and she’s learning more around the game that she’ll get through experience. She’s one of our future exciting prospects.”
Elliott has been around the Force set-up for a few years, emerging through the RugbyWA Academy programs and last year’s extended squad, before also joining the group for the Japan Tour.
The strong Cottesloe forward has a power lifting background and is transitioning from a lock to a tighthead prop ahead of the 2025 season.
Parsons said: “She’s been involved with our Academy and wider squads, she’s a physical presence. She’s got a great athletic profile from her power lifting.
“We’ve seen there’s big opportunities in the front row across the whole women’s rugby landscape in Australia at the moment.”
Elliott showed plenty as a prop while working with ex-Force front-rower Kieran Longbottom during the Japan Tour.
Parsons added: “Kieran did a lot of work with Zoe in Japan, helping get her in a position to scrummage. She went up against Japanese national players and performed well, more than holding her own, giving us a lot of confidence to contract her for the Super W season.
“We’ve seen some potential in her for that positional change. She’s just learning her craft now. We see her as a project we want to keep developing and investing in over the next few years, especially being local with her profile.
“She’s an exciting project who is still young enough to have a crack at a World Cup in 2029 with the Wallaroos.”
The Force opens their 2025 Super W season on Saturday 1 March against the ACT Brumbies at HBF Park.
Force 2025 Super Rugby Memberships are on sale NOW for seven home games + Super W games from $170 per adult, while there’s FREE Junior Force Memberships for one child under 15 with a paying adult.
Nami Dickson
DOB: 21/5/2004
Club: Wanneroo
Position: Openside flanker
Zoe Elliott
DOB: 14/12/2000
Club: Cottesloe
Position: Tighthead prop
2025 Western Force women’s squad
Adi Vani Buleki, Georgia Cormick, Nami Dickson, Rosie Ebbage, Zoe Elliott, Grace Freeman, Haylee Hifo, Sheree Hume, Tamika Jones, Nicole Ledington, Michaela Leonard, Loretta Mailangi, Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Ashley Marsters, Ngamihi Monk, Sera Naiqama, Alapeta Ngauamo, Hannah Palelei, Trilleen Pomare, Allana Sikimeti, Cecilia Smith, Anneka Stephens, Pia Tapsell, Libya Teepa, Brooklyn Teki-Joyce, Braxton Walker, Samantha Wood
