The Western Force team lists for the Club’s opening 2024 Super Rugby Men’s U16 and U19 games against the ACT Brumbies on Sunday have been announced.
In collaboration with RugbyWA, the Force U16s and U19s will compete in the five-team Super Rugby pathways competition, offering key opportunities to develop the next wave of emerging WA talent.
The Force will face the Brumbies first up on Sunday at Canberra’s Viking Park, with the U16s kicking off at 10:05am WST and the U19s commencing from 12:05pm WST, with both games live on Stan Sport.
The Force U16s will be coached by Gavin Laycock, with Kalamunda front-rower Dozion Laupama confirmed as the side’s captain for Round 1, supported by vice-captains Joel Ockenden and Chase Bunce, the nephew of ex-All Black Frank.
Both teams are largely made up of WA talent, but notably there are four players from Southern Lions in the starting XV; Cruise Morrison, Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage, Leighay-Jade Tauranga and Jacob Scoon, with five in the 23-player team list. Southern Lions recently won the RugbyWA U16s premiership.
There are also seven players from RugbyWA U16s runners-up Nedlands in the 23-player team list, with Cyrus Cullen and Matua Reedy to start as the half-backs.
The Force U19s will be coached by ex-All Blacks lock and current Fortescue Academy head coach Jeremy Thrush, with Australia U20s rep Boston Fakafanua selected as skipper. Zak Griffiths will be vice-captain.
There are also four players from Southern Lions in the U19s team list, including three starters; lock William Crew, back-rower Griffiths and former Australia U16s rep Peni Naqau at wing.
WA clubs Palmyra, UWA, Wests Scarborough, Joondalup Brothers, Nedlands, Wanneroo, Cottesloe and Associates plus PSA school Scotch College also have representation in the U19s.
The teams will fly out of Perth for Canberra on Saturday and remain on the east coast ahead of their Round 2 game against the Melbourne Rebels.
The Force thanks partners Fortescue, UWA, Goodyear, AFGRI and Elan as well as RugbyWA for their support of the U16s and U19s programs.
Watch every game live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
Western Force U16s
Starters; Dozion Laupama (c) (Kalamunda Districts), Ben Ridgewell (Joondalup Brothers), Cruise Morrison (Southern Lions), Leeson Tiakia (Joondalup Brothers), Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage (Southern Lions), RJ Van Der Merwe (Rockingham), Joel Ockenden (vc) (Rockingham), Rhymen Tusi (USQ Saints (Qld)), Cyrus Cullen (Nedlands), Matua Reedy (Nedlands), Leighay-Jade Tauranga (Southern Lions), Fatani Fatanitavake (Kalamunda Districts), Chase Bunce (vc) (Cottesloe), Jacob Scoon (Southern Lions), Ashton Williams (Cottesloe)
Reserves; Luke Scheepers (Nedlands), Dylan Francis (Nedlands), Rueben Sulusulumaivasa (Nedlands), Kordel Wharepapa (Southern Lions), James Aleni (Nedlands), Juan Pablo Martin Coria (Joondalup Brothers), Archie Elton (Wests Scarborough), Michael Turukawa (Nedlands)
Western Force U19s
Starters; Cooper North (Palmyra), Ollie Barrett (Bond University/Force Academy), Zavier Hawira (Palmyra), Ollie McGinnity (Force Academy), William Crew (Southern Lions), Alex Bradley-Moore (UWA), Jackson Bridges (Wests Scarborough), Zak Griffiths (vc) (Southern Lions), Tafito Ahki (UQ (Qld)), Henry James (Force Academy), Peni Naqau (Southern Lions/Force Academy), Boston Fakafanua (c) (Force Academy), Oakley Pearce (Joondalup Brothers/Force Academy), Vaughn Robson (Nedlands), Finn Prass (Force Academy)
Reserves; Luke Megson (Scotch College), Ellis New (Associates), Berakah Tuifaasisina (Souths (Qld)), Tom Hollis (UWA), Billy Turnbull (Cottesloe/Force Academy), Sam Likio (Southern Lions), Tamarangi Tunui (Wanneroo), Kade Davis (Wanneroo)
Western Force Super Rugby U16/U19 fixtures
Round 1 – Sunday 29 September, Viking Park, Canberra
ACT Brumbies U16s v Western Force U16s, 10:05am AWST
ACT Brumbies U19s v Western Force U19s, 12:05pm AWST
Round 2 – Saturday 5 October, La Trobe's University Sports Park, Melbourne
Melbourne Rebels U16s v Western Force U16s, 9:35am AWST
Melbourne Rebels U19s v Western Force U19s, 11:35am AWST
Round 3 – Bye
Round 4 – Sunday 20 October, Revo Fitness Stadium, Perth
Western Force U16s v Queensland Reds U16s, 11:05am AWST
Western Force U19s v Queensland Reds U19s, 1:05pm AWST
Round 5 – Sunday 27 October, Revo Fitness Stadium, Perth
Western Force U16s v NSW Waratahs U16s, 9:05am AWST
Western Force U19s v NSW Waratahs U19s, 11:05am AWST
Grand Finals – Sunday 3 November, Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
