The Western Force are excited today to announce a 39-player extended training squad for the Super Rugby Men’s U16 Championship which starts in late September.
The group largely consists of emerging Under-16 talent from the RugbyWA pathway and will be led by head coach Gavin Laycock, who is also the RugbyWA pathways coordinator.
The team will be competing in the Super Rugby Men’s U16s that runs from late September to late October, including a triple-header at Palmyra RUFC’s Tompkins Park alongside the Force U19s and Super Rugby AUS on Sunday 28 September.
Ten members of the squad hail from Joondalup Brothers, including back-rower Leeson Tiakia who was part of last year’s U16s squad, along with Southern Lions back-rower Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage.
There are also seven players from Kalamunda Districts and six from Mandurah Pirates including Harry Jenkins who originated from the club before earning a scholarship at Scots College in Sydney. Nedlands and Palmyra both have four players selected.
In addition, six youngsters have been named as development players, similar to Lachlan Ilott, Iarlaith Flaherty and Marco Nel last year, who have this year graduated to the full squad.
The group has commenced training ahead of the season, with sessions running on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at UWA Sports Park.
Laycock will be supported by assistant coaches Jarard Saunders and Martin Asiata, along with assistant/manager Tamati Young. Baily Ash (strength and conditioning) and Emma Baars (physiotherapist) round out the support staff.
The Force will open their campaign against Victoria on Sunday 28 September at Tompkins Park, hosting the Queensland Reds in Round 4 at Southern Lions RUFC on Sunday 19 October. Full fixtures will be confirmed soon.
The Force thanks partners Fortescue, UWA, Goodyear, ADD Business Group and Elan as well as RugbyWA for their support of the U16s and U19s programs.
All home games will be free entry. All games will be streamed live on rugby.com.au's YouTube channel with highlights on Stan Sport.
2025 Western Force U16s squad
Forwards
Front-rowers
Reuben Bouwer (Joondalup Brothers), Liam Brain (Nedlands), Harry Jenkins (Scots College), Elijah Leilua (Rockingham), Jamie Mackenzie (Wests Scarborough), Arawa Metekingi-Pu-Tamainu (Southern Lions), Tamati Tawhitapou (Kalamunda), Elia Vodovodo (Joondalup Brothers), Valen Yau (Palmyra)
Locks
Logan Grant (Joondalup Brothers), Enzo Kyle (Mandurah Pirates), Manawa Murray (Ellenbrook Vipers), Oscar Sio (Kalamunda)
Back-rowers
Lachlan Ilott (Nedlands), Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage (Southern Lions), JB Louw (Joondalup Brothers), Kalani Onno (Kalamunda), Leeson Tiakia (Joondalup Brothers), TiakiTutengaehe Turner (Ellenbrook Vipers)
Backs
Half-backs
Daniel Cyckoma (Ellenbrook Vipers), Kaiawha Heke (Mandurah Pirates), Eyzirie Koro (Kalamunda), Daniel Kroczek-Crack (Mandurah Pirates), Johan Oosthuizen (Joondalup Brothers), Max Osborne (Hale), Vian Potgieter (Joondalup Brothers), Longoatu Jr Vaka (Palmyra)
Centres & back three
Rhys Anderson (Nedlands), Amos Bell (Mandurah Pirates), Iarlaith Flaherty (Joondalup Brothers), Zion Matenga (Nedlands), Braden Neho-Udy (Joondalup Brothers), Marco Nel (Joondalup Brothers), Robbie Noema (Palmyra), Tini Sauea (Kalamunda), William Scott (Mandurah Pirates), Kobi Treffery-Koenders (Kalamunda), Tyrese Wainohu (Kalamunda), Cayden Whangapirita (Palmyra)
Development players
Hamish Brain (Nedlands), Jayden Tovio Junior Fepuleai (Kalamunda), Zayne Horsfall (Nedlands), Troy Smith (Rockingham), Azarius Te Rangi Thompson (Palmyra), Trent Yates (Palmyra)
