The Western Force’s 23-player team list for the Club’s opening Super Rugby Next Gen game against the NSW Waratahs on Saturday has been confirmed.
The Force will face the Waratahs at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Parramatta from 10:30am WST on Saturday, live on rugby.com.au’s YouTube channel in the new four-team competition.
The Next Gen series replaces the Super Under 19’s competition in the pathways calendar and has a dual purpose of pre-season matches for Academy players, and talent identification for the Australia Under 20s.
Kalamunda loosehead prop Max Sawers, Academy and Associates hooker Luke Megson and Academy and Wanneroo tighthead Jasper Asi make up the front row.
In the run-on second row are Southern Lions lock William Crew and Academy recruit Max Johnson, who was part of the Force’s Super Rugby AUS squad.
Wanneroo’s Rickie Harte and Academy duo Luke Holt-Brown (Perth Bayswater) and Nate Gallagher (Cottesloe) will start in the back row.
Wanneroo scrum-half Tamarangi Tunui will team up with Northampton Saints Academy fly-half Max Innes.
There is more Roodogs flavour in the midfield with Chris Jansen starting at inside-centre alongside Evan Hooper, who is with the Force via the Club’s Rugby South Australia links.
Academy duo Peni Naqau (Southern Lions) and Chase Bunce (Associates) will start on the wings, with Academy graduate Ryan McGloin (Joondalup) at full-back rounding out the back three.
There are familiar faces among the impacts, including Academy players Ollie Barrett, Ollie McGinnity and Fatani Fatanitavake, along with Palmyra prop Zavier Hawira and Nedlands midfielder Tama Anderson, who was part of the Force’s Super Rugby AUS squad in 2025.
Queensland-raised Cottesloe prop Regin Pratt, South African back-rower Daniel Grant and Wildfires half-back Angus Cornish are also among the reserves, with Associates back-rower Ellis New the travelling reserve.
The Force will be coached by Jeremy Thrush, Jonno Lance and Chris Heiberg.
Western Force team list
1. Max Sawers
2. Luke Megson
3. Jasper Asi
4. William Crew
5. Max Johnson
6. Rickie Harte
7. Luke Holt-Brown
8. Nate Gallagher
9. Tamarangi Tunui
10. Max Innes
11. Penijameni Naqau
12. Chris Jansen
13. Evan Hooper
14. Chase Bunce
15. Ryan McGloin
Reserves; Ollie Barrett, Zavier Hawira, Regin Pratt, Ollie McGinnity, Daniel Grant, Angus Cornish, Fatani Fatanitavake, Tama Anderson
Travelling reserve; Ellis New
Game details
NSW Waratahs vs Western Force
Saturday 7 February, 10:30am WST
Eric Tweedale Stadium, Granville, Sydney
Live stream on rugby.com.au’s YouTube channel
