The Western Force are thrilled to announce the signing of 2024 Sydney University best and fairest winner Grace Freeman ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Women’s season.
The inside back, who can play fly-half or inside-centre, joins the Force fresh from leading Sydney Uni to the NSW Jack Scott Cup premiership, beating Manly 45-24 in August.
Freeman was voted as Sydney Uni’s women’s first grade best and fairest for 2024, capping an outstanding season at 10 in club rugby.
That came after Freeman made her Super W debut earlier this year with the Melbourne Rebels and played in New Zealand’s Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) in 2023 with North Harbour Hibiscus, scoring three tries and totalling 46 points in six appearances.
Prior to that, Freeman attended the well-regarded rugby school King’s College and debuted in the FPC with Auckland Storm in 2019, where she had an apprenticeship under Black Ferns fly-half Ruahei Demant, playing five games across 2019 and 2020.
Force women’s head coach Dylan Parsons was delighted to secure Freeman’s signature.
“She had a break-out season in the Jack Scott Cup for Sydney Uni and was a key member of why they were a premiership-winning team,” Parsons said. “She’s also got FPC experience and has a really good reputation from the players we asked about her.
“She’s a ball-playing inside back who has a great kicking game. Great game understanding as well. She’s someone we see as a young, emerging leader.
“We’re pretty excited that she wants to come here as well after some experience at other programs.”
Parsons added that he was thrilled to bring in Freeman to help bolster their inside back options and create competition for spots.
“They are key positions where we need game-drivers to really push the team around,” Parsons said.
“Not only do we need good players, but we need depth and competition to get the best out of those players.
“We believe competition will only drive that and the characters we have here will take that in a good way and want to challenge each other and get the best out of each other.
“We’re excited around the quality of those positions and how they can help the team get better.”
Freeman arrived in Perth earlier this month to join the Force with a view to being part of the squad’s Japan tour in October and November.
Grace Freeman
11/12/2000
Position: Inside back
Community club: Sydney University (NSW)
Former clubs: Melbourne Rebels (2024), North Harbour Hibiscus (2023), Auckland Storm (2019-2020)
