It’s not every day that two Western Australian products are part of the Women’s World Cup Squad for the Wallaroos.
But, this year, the Western Australian competition is well represented with Kalamunda’s Samantha Wood and Wanneroo’s Trilleen Pomare being selected as part of the Wallaroos World Cup squad.
With their quarter final match kicking off tomorrow against Canada, the powerhouse duo has consistently put out stellar performances not just in the Premier Grade, but for the Western Force SuperW side this year.
Samantha “Sammy” Wood is a true WA up-and-comer. Commencing her rugby journey at ARKS Rugby Club, she blazed her path into the professional game, debuting for the Western Force in 2023, before making her Wallaroos debut in 2024.
Wood decided she wanted to play rugby after attending her brother’s training session, going on to become one of the most recognisable faces in the WA competition, with her consistently perfect kicks and dominating performances. She was a regular feature in ARKS Under 15s and Under 17s sides before moving to Kalamunda in 2021, also featuring on the RugbyWA Under 18s Girls Pathways side in 2019, and the AON National Youth Girls 7s Championships side for WA in 2020.
Her move to Kalamunda saw her make the leap to the Senior Women’s competition, becoming the Fortescue Women’s Premier Grade’s leading point scorer in her second year of the Senior competition, 2022. While injury and national representation has prevented her return to the field at Hartfield Reserve this season, she’s done her community proud with her selection.
So far in the 2025 Rugby World Cup, Wood has started in all three pool games, playing 212 minutes and scoring 20 points, all in conversions. She’s made a massive impact in her World Cup debut, showing off the skills and talent of local players.
When it comes to Rugby Union in Western Australia, there is no one more identifiable for their impact on the game than Trilleen Pomare. Trilleen is a stalwart of not just the RugbyWA community, but of the Australian National Team, with 2025 marking her third Rugby World Cup.
From being a constant figure in the Fortescue Women’s Premier Grade, to the captain of the Western Force’s SuperW squad, to one of the most capped players in the Wallaroos, there is no part of Rugby Union in Australia that Trilleen hasn’t touched. Her journey began with the Wanneroo Divaz in the top Women’s competition after her Touch Rugby coach convinced her to make the code switch, making the move to Kalamunda Districts for a few seasons, before returning back to Wanneroo.
She’s represented the state extensively, including Perth Gold and its various iterations, and multiple Senior Women’s 7s appearances in national competitions for RugbyWA, in addition to Touch Rugby and Rugby League state selections. In 2018, one year after her Wallaroos debut at the Rugby World Cup, she was named the inaugural captain of the Western Force’s Women’s side, a title she continues to hold.
A true legend of the game, she continues to break barriers – over 40 Test caps, the 2025 Bec Clough Medal recipient, and only one match away from 100 club caps for the Divaz. One of the most prolific, decorated Western Australian rugby playersof all time, her 2025 selection for the World Cup in nothing short of remarkable, continuing to do WA proud and inspire the next generation.
While she wasn’t in the match day squad against Samoa, Pomare featured in both the matches against USA and England, playing a combined 82 minutes so far.
Simon Taylor, RugbyWA CEO, shared: “It’s so incredible to see local products, who have been part of the RugbyWA Pathways system, shining on field at the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Trilleen and Samantha are shining examples of the incredible talent present within Western Australia, and we’re so proud to see them represent our nation on the big stage.”
“With the incredible young talent coming up through our pathways, it won’t be long before they’re joined by many of our girls making their way through the Emerging Players Program, and into the Western Force. We can’t wait to see how Trilleen and Samantha continue to inspire them and take to the field alongside them in the not-so-distant future.”
While two of the best players to come out of Western Australia, Pomare and Wood aren't alone in representing Western Force at the Rugby World Cup. Their teammates, Michaela Leonard, who also takes the field for Wests Scarborough in the Fortescue Premier Grade, Cecelia Smith and Ashley Marsters are also on the ground in England, making their mark on the international rugby community and showing off the continued connection between Western Australia and the growing women’s game.
The Wallaroos will take to the field for their Quarter Final against Canada tomorrow, September 13, 2025, at 11:00PM AWST at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol.
