Western Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super 14 competition. It commenced competing in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in their first year, however its performances have greatly improved in 2007. The team is the fourth Australian team to be accepted into the competition. It is coached by former New Zealand All Blacks coach, John Mitchell. The name was selected from a list of hundreds and was chosen to reflect power and solidity. RugbyWA said the name, "represents the natural elements that have shaped Western Australia — the waves, the heat and the wind — and the resources that have underpinned its economic strength." The team's colours are Blue and Gold and the logo resembles the state's emblem, the Black Swan. Before the 2006 season commenced, the team already had over 20,000 members, the largest membership base of any of the Super 14 teams.
History
The bid
The bid for entry into an expanded Super 12 competition started in the early 2000s, when in 2002, a group was formed to oversee developments in the push for a new Australian franchise. The group's objective was to ensure that if SANZAR agreed to a fourth Australian franchise, that RugbyWA would be ready. RugbyWA were invited to bid for the fourth Australian team, and the union assembled a project team, which was given four weeks to formulate their bid. The bid was backed by the state government, which loaned more than one million dollars to RugbyWA, as well as committing $25 million towards an upgrade of the Members Equity Stadium. It was announced in December, 2004 that RugbyWA had beaten Rugby Union Victoria for the right to host the fourth Australian franchise.
The first season
On 10 February the Western Force made their 2006 season rugby debut against the Brumbies at a near sold out Subiaco Oval in Perth, losing 25-10. Since this result, the Force have had a difficult debut in Super 14. A one-sided loss to the Hurricanes and an ugly loss at home to the Chiefs in Perth followed. Many fans were unimpressed, with only approximately 23,000 turning up to watch a match against the Bulls. On March 31, in front of 24,000, the Force came closest to their first win, losing 26-25 to the Stormers at Subiaco Oval. This was after leading 10-0 early on in the match. This was the Force's first competition point ever, and is the longest it has ever taken a side to get a point in Super rugby history (8 rounds/7 matches).
The Force run out in their first game against the Brumbies
On April 21 a crowd of 32,231[1] saw the Force nearly pull off the upset of the year, drawing 23-all with the undefeated defending champion Crusaders. Though the Force were leading 7-0 after several minutes the feeling was still that the Crusaders would win, especially after they scored a try seconds later to make it 7-5. Only when the Force had blown the score out to 17-5 did anyone begin to talk of an upset. Leading 20-8 at half time the Force did not hold on for the win after the Crusaders scored two tries and a penalty within the closing half. At 23-all with seconds left the Force crashed over the line but were denied by the television match official. Two days after the draw with the Crusaders, the Force were able to sign rising star Matt Giteau from the Brumbies, effective with the 2007 season. Giteau, whose contract with the Brumbies ends after the 2006 season, inked a three-year deal reportedly worth AUD 4.5 million, making him the highest-paid player in the history of any Australian football code.[2] On Saturday, May 6, the Force announced they had managed to sign another player, Red's winger Drew Mitchell. However, during the same week the Force were fined $A110,000 after an "independent committee found that Rugby WA had entered a negotiation process with Al Kanaar in a way that was contrary to and in breach of the contracting protocols.".[3] The Force notched up their first win by defeating the Central Cheetahs 16-14 on May 6.
Name and colours
On April 19, RugbyWA unveiled the franchise team name as well as the logo, at a reception at the Burswood International Resort in Perth. Months of detailed community involvement went into selecting the name for the team. 'Western Force' was chosen as the name, which best reflected the franchise's location (state) and it's 'values of strength, energy and community'. The logo was unveiled to be a black swan, which is the state's traditional insignia. The swan is set in a blue background, representing the Western Australia coastline and sky, whilst the gold represented the beaches, mineral wealth and sunshine. Some speculated that the team was going to be called the 'Black Swans'. In July at function at the same venue as where the logo was unveiled to the public, the Force's jersey and naming rights sponsor was revealed. The home jersey was unveiled on Brendan Cannon, being blue with a black swan. Lachlan MacKay emerged with the side's alternate strip, which was gold with a black swan; black and gold being Western Australia's sporting colours. The team's first jersey was auctioned off for $30,000, and the first alternate strip was then also auctioned off for $30,000 as well. Some rival fans, notably those of the New South Wales Waratahs, have taken to calling the team the 'Western Farce', after the Force's inauspicious start to Super 14 rugby.[4]
Support
Shortly after RugbyWA won the fourth Australian franchise, an on-line register was set up for members to record their interest. In the space of weeks, 10,000 people had registered. When membership was officially launched in July, more than 13,000 were registered, with around 400 companies expressed interest in hospitality packages. Soon the Force had the largest membership base of any of the Australian Super 14 teams. By the time pre-season had started, the Force had 16,000 members. Australian Rugby Union CEO Gary Flowers told the media that "people power" was a key factor in Western Australia being awarded the franchise ahead of Victoria. Prior to the announcement, more than 25,500 Western Australians signed a petition in support of their state's bid. In addition, 5,000 people, including the state's premier Dr Geoff Gallop, attended a rally at Subiaco Oval, organised by two rugby mothers "the Scrum Mums" (Jennifer Hoskins and Irma Cooper) to show how much the people of Western Australia wanted the franchise. By the end of the first season, the Force finished with the highest crowd average out of all the Australian teams, despite finishing in last place, the fans still came out to see Wallaby stars such as Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and Nathan Sharpe.
Stadium
The Force currently play all of their home games at Subiaco Oval, home of two Australian rules clubs, the Fremantle Football Club and the West Coast Eagles. The stadium has a capacity of 43,500 and is configured in an oval shape for Aussie rules and cricket. There is currently a proposal to increase the stadium's capacity to 60,000, though an alternative plan has also been tabled to build a new stadium with retractable seating (like Telstra Stadium) and have a capacity of 70,000. Though it also may be more effective to re-develop Subiaco, and then redevelop Members Equity Stadium, a rectangular stadium.
Western Force Gold
Gold playing Yamaha.
Western Force Gold is a team launched by RugbyWA for post-season Super 14 rugby. The team plays in just the gold strip of the Western Force. The team played Manu Samoa, and then went on a two-week tour in South Africa, including games against the Golden Lions and the Blue Bulls. The team then played Toshiba and Yamaha from Japan's Top rugby league.
Super 14 positions
-
| Season |
Pos |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
+/- |
BP |
Pts |
Notes |
| 2006 |
14th |
13 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
223 |
373 |
-150 |
4 |
12 |
|
| 2007 |
7th |
13 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
276 |
282 |
-6 |
6 |
32 |
|
Current squad
2007 Super 14 table
|
|
| Pos |
Name |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
+/- |
BP |
Pts |
| 1 |
Sharks |
13 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
355 |
214 |
141 |
5 |
45 |
| 2 |
Bulls |
13 |
9 |
0 |
4 |
388 |
223 |
165 |
6 |
42 |
| 3 |
Crusaders |
13 |
8 |
0 |
5 |
382 |
235 |
147 |
10 |
42 |
| 4 |
Blues |
13 |
9 |
0 |
4 |
355 |
235 |
120 |
6 |
42 |
| 5 |
Brumbies |
13 |
9 |
0 |
4 |
234 |
173 |
61 |
4 |
40 |
| 6 |
Chiefs |
13 |
7 |
1 |
5 |
373 |
321 |
52 |
10 |
40 |
| 7 |
Western Force |
13 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
276 |
282 |
-6 |
6 |
32 |
| 8 |
Hurricanes |
13 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
247 |
300 |
-53 |
3 |
27 |
| 9 |
Highlanders |
13 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
235 |
301 |
-66 |
7 |
27 |
| 10 |
Stormers |
13 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
249 |
326 |
-77 |
3 |
27 |
| 11 |
Cheetahs |
13 |
4 |
1 |
8 |
265 |
342 |
-77 |
4 |
22 |
| 12 |
Lions |
13 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
175 |
284 |
-109 |
2 |
22 |
| 13 |
Waratahs |
13 |
3 |
1 |
9 |
266 |
317 |
-51 |
7 |
21 |
| 14 |
Reds |
13 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
201 |
438 |
-237 |
3 |
11 |
| Updated 2007-05-11 |
Current internationals
- As of 2007 Rugby World Cup
Statistics
- First pre-season game - vs the Central Cheetahs (lost 19-29)
- First season game - Round 1, 2006 vs the Brumbies (lost 11-25)
- First try - Scott Fava vs the Brumbies
- First points - Scott Daruda (3 point penalty kick) vs the Brumbies
- First conversion - Scott Daruda vs the Brumbies
- First draw - Round 11, 2006 vs the Crusaders (23-23)
- First drop goal - N/A
- First penalty try - Pre-Season 2006 vs the Central Cheetahs (19-29)
- First win - Round 13, 2006 vs the Cheetahs (16-14)
- First home win - Round 6, 2007 vs the Hurricanes (18-17)[5]
Controversies
In November of 2007, Western Force players Scott Fava and Richard Brown were fined and ordered to do community service for mistreating protected native quokkas at a team bonding session on Rottnest Island, 19 kilometres (12 miles) off the coast of Perth. Eye-witness accounts stated that the players had mishandled the animals, including trapping and throwing them, though none were known to be seriously injured. Alcohol was said to be a factor. As a result of the actions, Australia Wallaby number 8 Fava was ordered to pay $11,000, attend a week of community service and undergo counselling for alcohol abuse, while flanker Richard Brown was sentenced to a $5000 fine as well as a seven days' community service. Both fines were payable to the Rottnest Island Conservation Foundation.
See also
References
- ^ "Force hold Crusaders to a draw", planetrugby.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-15.
- ^ "Western Force win race for Giteau", planetrugby.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-15.
- ^ "Force Fined $110,000 For Breach", MSN. Retrieved on 2006-09-15.
- ^ "McKenzie slams western farce", Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved on 2006-09-15.
- ^ Gray, Wynne. "Rugby: Force win as TV replay shows officials' frailty", nzherald.co.nz, 2007-03-12. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
External links
John Mitchell
Nathan Sharpe
