The Western Force will commence pre-season next week ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season, with several new faces and an air of optimism among the group.
To help you get excited about the 2025 season, we’ve gone back and recapped all our new recruits.
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.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa
Hooker – 25/12/1995
Joins from Montpellier (2021-2024, 56 games, 8 tries), previously Reds (2018-2021, 55 games, 14 tries)
Wallabies (2018-, 16 caps)
Matt Hodgson: “We’re delighted to have Brandon commit to the Force on a long-term basis. We are committed to building squad depth in all positions and Brandon adds to our hooker options. He brings quality, pedigree and experience domestically and internationally, so he’ll add plenty to the group.
“We know Brandon is excited by the Force project that we’re building and he’s very motivated to get back into the Wallabies set-up with a view to next year’s British and Irish Lions tour and the 2027 World Cup in Australia.”
Dylan Pietsch
Wing – 23/4/1998
Joins from Waratahs (2021-2024, 38 games, 14 tries)
Wallabies (2024-, 4 caps)
Simon Cron: “He’s a genuine winger, who brings pace and power out wide. He also has a really driven personality type that will fit in really well with our group.
“The best players have that inner drive and he definitely has it, so we’re excited about getting Dylan over after his Wallabies duties. For us, it’s really important we get depth in the back three as it will only help others in the squad to develop and get better.”
Darcy Swain
Lock – 7/5/1997
Joins from Brumbies (2018-2024, 75 SR games)
Wallabies (2021-, 17 caps)
Chris Goodman: “We are thrilled to have secured the signature of Darcy who is another quality addition to our squad for the next two seasons.
“Darcy is in the prime of his career at 26-years-old and brings vast Super Rugby experience plus good exposure at international level with the Wallabies which will be invaluable for our squad. He is hungry to take the next step in his career, so we look forward to Darcy linking up with our squad later in the year.”
Matt Proctor
Centre – 26/10/1992
Joins from Melbourne Rebels (2024, 5 SR games), previously Northampton Saints (2019-2023, 72 games, 12 tries), Hurricanes (2013-2019, 67 games, 12 tries)
All Blacks (2018, 1 cap)
Simon Cron: “He’s a very decorated player who’ll bring a lot on field. He’s also a very experienced midfielder who has a really professional attitude towards training and development of those around him.
“The feedback from teams he’s been with in the past has been so positive that we were excited to get him over to Perth. He’ll continue to help develop a lot of our back talent, additionally with the most recent injury to Bayley Kuenzle, he really helps us in the backline.”
Nic Dolly
Hooker – 11/6/1999
Joins from Leicester Tigers (2021-2024, 32 games)
England (2021, 1 cap)
Matt Hodgson: “We’re rapt to complete a deal to bring Nic back home to Australia. Nic’s signing is further reinforcement of our commitment to squad depth in all positions and he brings international quality, for both club and country.
“He proved himself as a high-quality hooker at Leicester and we’re excited to offer him an opportunity to get back to playing regular games to boost his international aspirations.”
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.
Harry Johnson-Holmes
Tighthead prop - 2/3/1997
Joins from Waratahs (2018-2024, 91 SR games)
Wallabies (2019-, 1 cap)
Simon Cron: “I’ve been lucky enough to coach Harry through Australian U20s as well as his first two years in Super Rugby. He is an extremely driven and competitive human who always has a team first mentality.
“At scrum time, Harry has the ability to play both sides, tight and loose, which is extremely unique and a real skillset. We have really needed depth to give us some options in the front row. Harry is a big part of this. He will add a lot of value to our team, and we are looking forward to having Harry, and his partner Mia, settle in the west.”
Nick Champion de Crespigny
Back-rower – 27/6/1996
Joins from Castres Olympique (2021-2024, 56 games)
Simon Cron: “We’re really happy to have Nick joining us at the Force. Nick will add a lot to our forward pack including aggression and contact zone dominance.
“With his height and skillset he has the ability to play at 6, 7 or 8 and we are looking forward to bringing him into our Spring Series and building cohesion with the his Super Rugby Pacific team mates. He compliments our current squad and has a real passion to become one of the best players in Australia.”
Mac Grealy
Outside back – 6/3/2002
Joins from Reds (2020-2024, 26 SR games)
Simon Cron: “Watching Mac play for a number of years we have always been impressed by his high work rate and ability to link in attack. His ability to play at 15, or wing, is a huge asset to our team. You’ll see he has an enormous number of last passes for tries.
“His personality type fits in with the player group we have here. He is humble and hungry, and it is a credit to those who have worked with him in his rugby development. He’s been great since arriving in Perth. He’s highly motivated and has a lot of exciting rugby left at 22-years of age.”
Sio Tomkinson
Centre – 27/5/1996
Joins from Dragons (2022-2024, 24 games, 6 tries), previously Highlanders (2017-2022, 43 SR games, 14 tries)
Simon Cron: “He’s a very experienced midfielder and has the ability to play both 12 and 13 for us. He’s a brilliant defensive reader and extremely physical in the contact zone.
“We had some in-depth chats with him early on about what he felt he could bring to the team and he’s shown all of those things since arriving. We’re excited to have him on board.
“He’s played over 50 top-level games including another 50 at NPC level, and at 28 he still has plenty of rugby left. He’ll help everybody around him to be better. He’s got a good voice on the field and he’s fitting in superbly with the group.”
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.
Vaiolini Ekuasi
Back-rower – 11/10/2001
Joins from Melbourne Rebels (2023-2024, 27 SR games), previously Blues (2022, 1 SR game)
“He’s explosive and powerful. His preferred position is number 8 but can play six and seven so he gives us some coverage.
“We need to add some street fighters to our team and he sits in that category. When he hits people, they stay hit. You’ve seen that we need that against some of the bigger teams this year. Personality wise he is a really lovely guy, humble and driven to be successful. He’s a guy that we want here at the club for 2025 and into the future.”
Josh Thompson
Lock/number six – 8/12/2000
Joins from West Harbour (2023-2024)
Simon Cron: “We identified him to be part of our Spring Series last year, but he dislocated his shoulder in South Africa and has been out for a number of months but is working his way back in, so we’re excited about bringing him into the group now he’s fully fit.
“He’s a big body. He’s dynamic, hits hard and is really keen to learn. He’s a bit of a development project in parts of his game.
“He meets a lot of our criteria. He’s a great human and he wants to get better. He offers versatility to our forward options too. He adds a lot to the squad.”
Divad Palu
Outside back - 17/1/2004
Joins from Melbourne Rebels (2024)
Australia U20s (2 caps)
Simon Cron: “He’s got really good feet and acceleration. He can be really explosive in our midfield in that 12 or 13 spot.
“He’s also young so he sits well in our age category in terms of bringing players over who can grow into long-term Force representatives. On top of that he’s an amazing person. The first day he landed in Perth he was at Nedlands training that night. We’re excited by him and what he can bring.”
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.
