North have been bolstered by the return of four Western Force players including Wallaroos superstar Trilleen Pomare for Game 2 of the North vs South Women’s Series at Perth Bayswater on Saturday 11am.
Hannah Palelei, Anneka Stephens and Brooklyn Teki Joyce are all added to North’s starting side, with Pomare to impact off the bench following her recent Rugby World Cup exploits. Palelei will make her return from injury while Teki Joyce has been competing at the Next Gen 7s.
North have made six changes to their starting side in total, following South’s 14-10 win in Game 1 at Southern Lions on Sunday. South have made three changes to their starting XV.
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South will field a new-look back row with Cottesloe duo Jessica Harvie and Jessica Foster added alongside Kalamunda’s Zakiya Kereopa, who earned 11 Force caps and scored six tries between 2018 and 2023 in Super W. Tabitha Cleary moves into the locks.
Otherwise, South have selected an unchanged backline, headlined by playmakers Sammy Wood and Nicole Ledington. Kalamunda’s Ariana Ruru-Hinaki is a familiar name added to the reserves.
North have promoted Wests Scarborough captain Keira MacAskill, Wanneroo scrum-half Kylah-Rei Tuheke Kupa and Wests fly-half Talitha Heta after impressing as reserves in Game 1.
Palelei’s return at loosehead prop sees co-captain Alapeta Ngauamo shuffle to tighthead prop, with Kiriwai Tetuhi into hooker.
There’s plenty of family links with Pomare’s addition to the reserves offering her the rare opportunity to play alongside her sister Rimu. Sisters Nami and Ai Dickson are also named on the North bench, while North co-captain Ngamihi Monk may come up against her sister Makaea, who is selected as a South reserve.
Saturday’s game at Perth Bayswater’s Pat O’Hara Reserve commences at 11am, with entry free for all. The clubrooms will be open with canteen and bar facilities.
The three-game women’s pathway series is geared towards identifying and developing the top female talent across WA, providing meaningful and high-quality match opportunities with a view to transitioning into the Force’s 2026 Super Rugby Women’s side.
The seven Fortescue Women’s Premier Grade clubs have been split into two regions, with Wests Scarborough, Wanneroo and UWA representing the North and Palmyra, Southern Lions, Kalamunda and Cottesloe representing the South.
The North vs South Women’s Series won’t be live streamed but highlights will be available on Western Force social media channels. Follow our Facebook page.
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North vs South Game 2
Saturday 25 October, 11am
Pat O'Hara Reserve, Perth Bayswater RUC
North
Starters; Hannah Palelei (Wests Scarborough), Kiriwai Tetuhi (Wests Scarborough), Alapeta Ngauamo (cc) (Wanneroo), Sera Naiqama (Wests Scarborough), Sofaia Talemaira (Wanneroo), Tamika Jones (Wanneroo), Anneka Stephens (Wests Scarborough), Keira MacAskill (Wests Scarborough); Kylah-Rey Tuheke Kupa (Wanneroo), Talitha Heta (Wests Scarborough), Halley Derera (Wests Scarborough), Ngamihi Monk (cc) (Wanneroo), Brooklyn Teki Joyce (Wests Scarborough), Tizanae Kovacs (Wests Scarborough), Zion Taurima (Wanneroo)
Finishers; Susie Cano (UWA), Bridget Meade (UWA), Fipe Moli (Wests Scarborough), Roimata Toa-Amoa (Wests Scarborough), Topaz-Jean Porter (Wanneroo), Bella Houghton (Wests Scarborough), Nami Dickson (Wanneroo), Ai Dickson (Wanneroo), Trilleen Pomare (Wanneroo), Valuese Tiakia (Wests Scarborough), Rimu Pomare (Wanneroo), Teiana Mainwaring (Wanneroo)
South
Starters; Mahiti Heke (Kalamunda), Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke (Kalamunda), Zoe Elliott (Cottesloe), Libya Teepa (c) (Kalamunda), Tabitha Cleary (Cottesloe), Jessica Harvie (Cottesloe), Zakiya Kereopa (Kalamunda), Jessica Foster (Cottesloe); Samantha Wood (vc) (Kalamunda), Nicole Ledington (Kalamunda), Heather Kennedy (Southern Lions), Atawhai Hotene (UWA), Katie McClaren (Southern Lions), Nicole Ross (Southern Lions), Ella Fountaine (Cottesloe)
Finishers; Vesinia Schaaf-Taufa (Palmyra), Riley Smith (Palmyra), Mercedes Putz (Palmyra), Gabby Muir (Cottesloe), Sophie Foster (Kalamunda), Hayleigh Heather (Wanneroo), Ariana Ruru-Hinaki (Kalamunda), Ocean Tuhua (Wanneroo), Caitlyn Edwards (Palmyra), Makaea Monk (Wanneroo), Briar Kawau (Wanneroo), Awhina Heke (Palmyra)
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