Family friendly Force fixture revealed for 2025 Super Rugby season

Mon, Sep 30, 2024, 1:01 AM
BS
by Ben Somerford
The Western Force's 2025 Super Rugby Pacific fixtures have been revealed with the Club hosting seven games, including six Saturday afternoon kick-offs and a Sunday 2pm start.

The Western Force’s 2025 Super Rugby Pacific draw has been revealed and it’s a win for families with six Saturday twilight games and a Sunday afternoon fixture on the menu at HBF Park.

The fixtures for the 2025 season, which will see the Force celebrate the Club’s 20th season, were released on Monday morning by SANZAAR, with all 11 clubs hosting seven games across 16 rounds with two byes.

The Force’s home fixture is perfect for the Sea of Blue given the kick-off times and a more consistent flow of home games across the 16-round campaign, starting at HBF Park on Saturday 15 February from 4:35pm against Ardie Savea’s Moana Pasifika.

But with that comes a heavy travel schedule, including almost 48,000 kilometres on the road and Force CEO Niamh O’Connor called on Force fans to turn out in numbers in 2025 to ensure HBF Park is a fortress – having won 10 of the Club’s past 14 games at the venue.

O’Connor said: “We’re excited about our Super Rugby Pacific fixture and our fans getting access to seven home games again.

“There’s no doubt in 2025 we’ll need our Sea of Blue behind us at HBF Park as we’ve had no favours with our travel burden in the fixture, so we’re calling on our fans to get out in numbers to support us and make HBF Park a fortress as we chase a top-six finals berth.

“We really want to mark our 20th season celebrations with a huge campaign and with some exciting international signings in the off-season and the benefits of our South Africa spring series, we’re confident we can do that.”

2025 Fixtures

Internationals Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Dylan Pietsch, Nic Dolly, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Matt Proctor and Darcy Swain along with Josh Thompson, Divad Palu, Vaiolini Ekuasi and Nick Champion de Crespigny have been signed by the Force ahead of the 2025 season.

The Force’s Round 1 game against Moana Pasifika is one of six Saturday games in Perth, with three 4:35pm kick-offs and three 5:35pm kick-offs. The Force will also host a Sunday game in Round 6 on March 23 against the Fijian Drua from 2:05pm.

Across the WA Club’s seven home games, the Force will host Moana (Round 1), the Queensland Reds (Round 3), the Drua (Round 6), the Highlanders (Round 8), the Hurricanes (Round 10), the ACT Brumbies (Round 13) and the NSW Waratahs (Round 15) with the timeslots enabling the Club to hold the popular Fans on Field following games.

The Force’s family friendly fixture comes alongside the Club’s excellent offering of a family membership (two adults and two children) from only $340, which equates to less than $12.50 per person per game.

The Club will also offer free Junior Force Memberships again in 2025 for any child 15 or under alongside any paying adult Member from $170 for all seven home games, representing wonderful value.

O’Connor added: “Six of our home games will kick off in Saturday afternoon timeslots which will suit families. We’re also extremely excited about the return of a home Sunday game which should appeal to the whole local rugby community too.

“Unlike previous seasons our fixture has more of a home-and-away feel with the Force playing at home every second or third week, which we believe will really engage our Members and community.

“From a rugby point of view, travel is always a factor for a WA-based team and we’ve a great opportunity to set up our season with only one overseas game in the first 10 rounds, with five of our first nine games at home, before late-season trips to New Zealand and Fiji.”

Fans will also get excellent exposure to the Force on free-to-air TV this season, with nine games to be broadcast on Channel 9, alongside Stan Sport’s comprehensive coverage of every Super Rugby game.

Memberships go on sale on October 8 at westernforce.rugby, while 2024 Club Members will receive their renewals notices this week.

Full Western Force fixture

Round – Date - Time (all WST) – Opponent - Venue

Rd 1 – Saturday 15 February 16:35 – Moana Pasifika – HBF Park, Perth

Rd 2 – Saturday 22 February 16:35 – ACT Brumbies – GIO Stadium, Canberra

Rd 3 – Saturday 1 March 16:35 – Queensland Reds – HBF Park, Perth

Rd 4 – Saturday 8 March 16:35 – NSW Waratahs – Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Rd 5 – Saturday 15 March 11:35 – Crusaders – Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch

Rd 6 – Sunday 23 March 14:05 – Fijian Drua – HBF Park, Perth

Rd 7 – Saturday 29 March 16:35 – Queensland Reds – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Rd 8 – Saturday 5 April 16:35 – Highlanders – HBF Park, Perth

Rd 9 – BYE

Rd 10 – Saturday 19 April 17:35 – Hurricanes – HBF Park, Perth

Rd 11 – Friday 25 April 15:05 – Chiefs – TBC, Hamilton

Rd 12 – Friday 2 May 15:05 – Blues – Eden Park, Auckland

Rd 13 – Saturday 10 May 17:35 – ACT Brumbies – HBF Park, Perth

Rd 14 – Saturday 17 May 11:35 – Fijian Drua – Churchill Park, Lautoka 

Rd 15 – Saturday 24 May 17:35 – NSW Waratahs – HBF Park, Perth

Rd 16 – BYE

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