The Western Force confirms the acquisition of props Harono Te Iringa and Alapeta Ngauamo along with the re-signing of Manusina Samoa scrum-half Saelua Leaula for the 2024 Super Rugby Women’s season.
Te Iringa, 27, was previously a New Zealand’s Black Ferns squad member prior to the 2022 World Cup. The prop joins the Force after spending the past few seasons with the Chiefs in Super Rugby Aupiki, helping the side win the 2022 title.
Ngauamo joins after spending the past two seasons at the Queensland Reds, while she has plenty of experience with Queensland Premier Rugby outfit GPS Rugby Club and offers leadership coming from a coaching background.
The duo’s signings are a major boost for the Force’s front-row stocks as they gun to improve on last season’s 2-3 record where the side came close to a maiden finals berth.
Super W head coach Dylan Parsons said: “Harono has come out of the Chiefs Manawa program. She just played in the Farah Palmer Cup with County Manukau.
“Through her performances there and being in a position of need in the front row, we’re really excited to add someone with that experience to come across to the Western Force
“Alapeta is coming out of the Reds program where she’s been consistently in the match day squad the past couple of seasons. She’s an experienced prop who has come across wanting an opportunity to help achieve higher goals.
“We’re really excited add her experience to our group and she is already showing that she is a quality human."
Te Iringa said she was thrilled about heading to WA and revealed she consulted Black Ferns teammate Martha Mataele, who won the Force’s 2023 Rebecca Clough medal, before making the move.
“I’m very excited to be joining the Force and grateful for the opportunity,” Te Iringa said. “I’ve never played for an Australian club before, so I’m looking forward to testing myself against new opponents in a new country.
“I spoke to Martha Mataele, who came here last year, and she was really positive about her experience with the Force, particularly around how the club supports you. I’m looking forward to indulging in the culture with the girls and also hope to lead by example and offer my experience to help the younger group.”
Ngauamo said she was attracted to the Force by the club’s groundbreaking program that has invested heavily in the women’s space, including a league-first appointment of a full-time head coach in Parsons.
“The commitment and investment the Force has made to its women's program is a significant stride forward for women in Rugby and is something I want to be a part of,” Ngauamo said.
“Working with Dylan and the team has been fantastic, and I'm eager to be part of the momentum they're creating for a successful Super W season.”
Leaula spent last season with the Force after joining on the Australian government’s PacificAus Sports scholarship program and proved to be an X-factor utility back with her speed, playing all five games in the 2023 Super W season.
“We’re really excited about Saelua,” Parsons said. “She came out of the Oceania Combine program. Through her efforts and performances, she’s earned a contract in the main squad.
“That shows that the program is a successful program to keep bringing them players in and exposing them to earn contracts. She’s a great character, we’re stoked to have her back.”
Leaula said she was delighted to link up again with the Force for the 2024 season, having learned plenty last year.
“I’m excited to re-join the Western Force for Super W in 2024 because I still want to learn more not only on the field but also in the off-field environment,” she said. “I loved the experience from both players and management.”
The Force will open their 2024 Super W season at HBF Park against the Rebels on Friday 15 March from 4:30pm WST as part of a double-header prior to the men’s game against the Moana Pasifika. Memberships are on sale now, including the offer of free Junior Memberships.
2024 Western Force Super W squad: Sheree Hume, Tamika Jones, Natsuki Kashiwagi, Saelua Leaula, Nicole Ledington, Michaela Leonard, Alapeta Ngauamo, Trilleen Pomare, Pia Tapsell, Harono Te Iringa, Samantha Wood
