The Western Force are rapt to announce the re-signings of WA products Nicole Ledington and Hannah Palelei ahead of the side’s upcoming Japan tour and the 2025 Super Rugby Women’s season.
Kalamunda fly-half, 21, Ledington penned her new deal after playing every game in the 2024 Super W season, before a stint with Wests Bulldogs in Queensland’s StoreLocal Premier Grade to further develop her game.
Fortescue Academy graduate and Wests Scarborough Warriors front-rower Palelei, 24, has re-committed fresh from winning the side’s 2024 Rising Star award.
Force women’s head coach Dylan Parsons was thrilled to secure two players who’ve come through the WA pathway.
“It’s really important for us to be able to have a really big group of local girls,” Parsons said.
“They know what the Western Force is about, there’s a genuine connection to the jersey and the state that we represent. We want girls to be able to see their local heroes and that only happens by having players who’ve walked the same path as they’re trying to walk.”
Ledington debuted for the Force in 2021 and has made 15 Super W appearances, including five starts at 10 in the 2024 season.
The Aranmore College graduate was the third leading point scorer in the 2023 WA Fortescue Women’s Premier Grade with Kalamunda, before this year making five starts for Wests Bulldogs in Queensland’s top women’s competition this year, scoring one try, four conversions and a penalty.
“Nicole has been a key member of our team for a long time and plays a key position as well, so to be able to re-sign her as a local is important,” Parsons said.
“It’s been great to be able to support her through other areas of her game that she wanted to improve, like game management and communication and putting herself in a bit more of an uncomfortable position.
“We sent her across to Brisbane for a few months to play in their comp for an experience to lead a different team and to get her out of the bubble that she’s been in for a long time in Perth.
“She’s gained a lot from that, really matured and been able to come back a more confident player. Following on from her last 12 months, we believe she’s knocking on the door for higher honours. We’re looking forward to next year to have her pushing for that.”
Palelei debuted for the Force in Round 2 of the 2023 season and has played six Super W games across the past two campaigns.
“Hannah is going to be in her third year in the program,” Parsons said. “We’re really hoping this is her year to step up and cement a spot in the side.
“She had that Rising Star recognition, but we see her pushing past that at the moment and cementing a spot in that matchday squad regularly.
“We really wanted to re-sign her from a character point of view. She’s great for our culture and how we want to act and behave.
“She’s inspiring for our community girls as well. She has a really strong presence in the local community and a big part of inspiring our younger girls to grow up and be a player like Hannah.”
Ledington and Palelei’s re-signings follow that of rep trio Rosie Ebbage, Alapeta Ngauamo and Georgia Hume plus Otago utility back Sheree Hume, along with the recent signings of Wallaroo Sera Naiqama, Loretta Mailangi and Grace Freeman.
Hannah Palelei
DOB: 2/6/2000
Local club: Wests Scarborough Warriors
Western Force (2023- , 6 games)
Nicole Ledington
DOB: 24/4/2003
Local club: Kalamunda
Western Force (2021- , 15 games)
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