The Western Force returned for pre-season last week ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, with several new faces and an air of optimism among the group.
To help you get excited about the 2026 season, we’ve gone back and recapped all our new recruits.
George Bridge
Winger - 1/4/1995
Joins from Montpellier (2022-25, 48 caps, 11 tries), previously Crusaders (2017-22, 82 caps, 37 tries)
All Blacks (2018- , 19 caps, 12 tries)
Fun fact: Bridge is a six-time Super Rugby champion with the Crusaders
Cron said: “George is well known to a number of people on our staff and they can’t speak highly enough of his professionalism, approach to the game and his rugby knowledge. He’s got a massive left foot kick. He can play multiple positions. He’s a brilliant player. An amazing talent. He’ll add to the guys that we have in the squad.
“He’s got a huge amount to give. He’s been playing at Montpellier at Top 14 level. I know a few NZ franchises were chasing him hard, but he wanted to join the Force. I know George and his family were keen to come here and make Perth their chosen home, which is what we’re all about. He’ll add a lot to our environment.”
Franco Molina
Lock - 28/8/1997
Joins from Exeter Chiefs (2024-25, 17 caps), previously Dogos XV (2023-24), Selknam (2022), Ceibos (2020), Jaguares XV (2019-21)
Argentina (2024-, 20 caps)
Fun fact: Played in four successive Super Rugby Americas deciders with three different franchises, winning two titles
Simon Cron said: “Franco is a big powerful body, with a high work rate. He’s in an age category that we want in that tight five group. He’s an international player, and he really wants to push for World Cup selection.
“He’s very, very driven to be the best he can be. We both agree that Super Rugby and Perth is the place to help him do that. He’ll complement that group that we’ve got in the tight five. He’s a hard worker, explosive, powerful and very fit. It’s an area where we’ve got to keep getting bigger, stronger and better at. Now he’ll join Lopeti Faifua, Darcy and Jez and add a lot to the team.”
Darby Lancaster
Winger - 23/4/2003
Joins from NSW Waratahs (2025, 7 caps, 5 tries), previously Melbourne Rebels (2024, 10 caps, 4 tries)
Wallabies (2024-, 1 cap)
Fun fact: Scored a hat-trick in his third Super Rugby game
Force head coach Simon Cron said: “Darby has characteristics that you really can’t coach, with his lightning quick speed and power. He can run over 10 metres per second. He’s a powerful human being. He’s shown that against us in a few games.
“He’s really driven to be successful and be the best he can be. We’ve had a lot of chats about that over the last couple of weeks. We’ve got to make sure that we continue to drive standards and expectations in the squad and he’ll do that. He’s had experience at Wallabies level and he knows a lot of players within the environment."
Nathan Hastie
Scrum-half - 27/4/2001
Joins from Highlanders (2023-25, 12 caps), previously Otago (NPC) (2021-24, 16 caps)
Fun fact: Born and bred in Perth, playing junior club rugby with Wanneroo until moving to New Zealand as a teenager
Simon Cron said: “We’re always looking at Australian players, where they are and what they’re doing. We’re trying to attract some of those players back into Australia like Harry Potter and Nick Champion de Crespigny who’ve both gone on to debut for the Wallabies.
“Hastie has an amazing skillset, with a great pass and he can kick both feet. He’s very driven and at 24 years of age, he has plenty to give to the west for years to come. We see Nathan as a guy who’ll push everybody for that starting spot. He has the skillset to be genuinely great as a nine.”
Agustin Moyano
Scrum-half - 12/6/2003
Joins from Dogos XV (2023-25)
Argentina (2025-, 6 caps)
Fun fact: Won the 2024 Super Rugby Americas title with Dogos who were captained by new Force teammate Franco Molina
Simon Cron said: “Moyano is an exciting, talented half-back who has international experience and a huge amount of energy. He is a player who’ll add to our team with his great running game and core skills.
“We have three genuine half-backs in our squad, competing for that starting spot so that’ll bring out the best in them.”
Sef Fa’agase
Loosehead prop/tighthead prop - 5/3/1991
Joins from Queensland Reds (2014-18 & 2022-25, 92 caps), previously Melbourne Rebels (2022, 2 caps), Highlanders (2019, 3 caps)
Fun fact: Recently became a father to his second child Romey with partner Tiff
Simon Cron said: “One area we’ve identified we need to add depth is in the tight five and Sef has the ability to play both loosehead and tighthead, so he’s a great addition.
“He’s got a lot of experience at Super Rugby level and he’s right in line with the type of human that we currently have in our environment. He’s a really good man, who’ll fit in well. He’s got more to give and we’re here to get the best out of him.”
Feao Fotuaika
Tighthead prop - 23/4/1993
Joins from ACT Brumbies (2025, 11 caps, 1 try), previously Lyon (2022-24, 28 caps, 2 tries), Queensland Reds (2019-22, 31 caps, 2 tries)
Tonga (2025-, 6 caps)
Fun fact: Was part of Tonga’s 2023 Rugby World Cup squad
Simon Cron said: “He’s a big strong tighthead prop who we’ve been watching over the years. A key position we have fallen into trouble in over the last few seasons has been tighthead prop. Injury and experience have always tested our depth, so we have found ourselves hunting players to cover front row spots in-season.
"Feao has loads of Super Rugby experience and was a great leader at the Brumbies, so we feel like he’ll add a lot to the existing group.”
Boston Fakafanua
Utility back (midfielder) - 29/7/2005
Elevated from Fortescue Academy, earned 3 caps for Force in 2025 Super Rugby AUS
Australia U20s (2024-25, 8 caps)
Fun fact: Lived with Force legend Matt Hodgson’s family for two years after moving to Perth to join the Fortescue Academy
Simon Cron said: “He’s a very exciting talent who has come through the pathways and been with the Western Force for the past two years. He demonstrated through the Super Rugby AUS competition that he’s a very good defensive reader.
“We felt like even during our pre-season training, his catch-passes and running lines have been really impressive. Over the last four-to-five months we’ve started to see him grow physically. As a result, he’s very talented and we’re excited about his ceiling and upside.”
