Western Force 2026

[Tazzmania]

Western Force Squad for 2026 starting to take shape.

Props:
Joshua Smith 2027
Tom Robertson 2027

Hookers:
Nick Dolly 2028
Brandon Paega - Amosa 2026

Locks:
Darcy Swain 2026
Jeremy Williams 2027

Back Row:
Nic Champion de Crespigny 2028
Carlo Tizzano 2027

Scrumhalves:
Nick White 2026
Henry Robertson 2026

Flyhalves
Ben Donaldson 2027
Alex Harford 2027
Max Burey 2026

Centres:
Divad Palu 2027
Bailey Kuenzle 2026

Back Three:
Dylan Peitsch 2026
Mac Grealy 2026
Ronan Leahy 2026

OFF CONTRACT 2025

Props
Harry Hoopert 2025
Harry Johnson-Holmes 2025
Tom Osborne 2025 Injury cover
Marley Pearce 2025
Tiaan Tauakipulu 2025

Locks
Lopeti Faifua

Back Rowers
Vaiolini Ekuasi 2025
Kane Koteka 2025
Will Harris 2025
Reed Prinsep 2025
Papillon Sevele 2025
Mitch Watts 2025

Scrumhalf
Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa 2025
Doug Philipson 2025

Centres
Hamish Stewart 2025

Outside Backs
Kurtley Beale 2025 (Training, potential Injury Cover Contract)
George Pooolman 2025

RETIRED
Sam Carter 2025 [Retired]

Confirmed Gone
Harry Potter 2025 [Waratahs 2026/2027]
Leon MacDonald [Yokohama Canon Eagles as Head Coach]
Matt Proctor 2025
Sio Tomkinson 2025
Ryan Coxson 2025
Reesjan Pasitoa 2025 [Northlands NPC]
Atunaisa Moli 2025
Tom Horton 2025
Josh Thompson 2025[Grenoble in Pro D2]

Updated 15/07/2025

 

[Wilson]

That's a lot of this years regular 23 off contract. Only a few of them gone though (Potter, Coxon and Tomkinson), hopefully the Force have a decent chunk of them ready to announce.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Lock and Centre is an issue. Even if Stewart returns. I expect quite a few of the Prop and backrow group to be brought back which will fill out the squad but you have to think Lancaster would be a very attractive free agent.

With that many potentially gone it does concern me about Pasitoa and what are coaches seeing that they just move on from. 23 year old with seemingly talent to burn.

 

[Homer]

The other question is do you give Hoopert and HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) another chance? It has hurt the team and strategy the last two years and now they havent played for two years.
They'd also be crazy not to lock up Will Harris.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

You can probably retain both for pretty cheap given the circumstance and if they can stay on the park it'll make a world of difference to have genuine Super Rugby Props for depth.

Keeping them is better than the free agent options which most likely sit in Club Rugby or the MLR...

 

[Adam84]

Force have re-signed 5/8 Harford for 2 years... Doesn't give me a lot of confidence that guy, against the Lions i thought he was a 19-20year old debutant overawed by his first match against pros, turns out he is more like a 26-year-old journeyman.

He is Australian qualified though, which makes a little more sense as they're not burning a foreign player position.

Western Force lock down Lions starting flyhalf Harford

The Western Force has confirmed the re-signing of Australian-qualified playmaker Alex Harford on a two-year deal.

www.rugby.com.au

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

That's been my gripe with the signing. I know plenty of guys play their best footy at that age given they have developed now but he's not Mike Harris who came over younger with a higher ceiling.

Given the list Tazz wrote up above this would have been a lower priority signing but I reckon we'll see plenty announced as coming back.

 

[Tazzmania]

Alex Harford is an interesting story, up until last year his career kept getting stalled with a number of serious injuries, so not quite a "journeyman" but rather an older player with limited game time to his name.

Leon McDonald has liked what he he has seen, having worked with him in Auckland and recommended him to the Force.

Donaldson will be our starting flyhalf and he will be used as and when needed so he does create depth.

Like Donaldson he is a bigger build flyhalf with a decent boot so it helps the continuity when he needs to step in.

The Super Rugby Australia series will give him a chance to show his wares with Donno on Wallaby duties.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Alex Harford is an interesting story, up until last year his career kept getting stalled with a number of serious injuries, so not quite a "journeyman" but rather an older player with limited game time to his name.

Leon McDonald has liked what he he has seen, having worked with him in Auckland and recommended him to the Force.

Donaldson will be our starting flyhalf and he will be used as and when needed so he does create depth.

Like Donaldson he is a bigger build flyhalf with a decent boot so it helps the continuity when he needs to step in.

The Super Rugby Australia series will give him a chance to show his wares with Donno on Wallaby duties.

Good point. Hope the Force can get some minutes into Prass and Fakafunua during this as well. Even if its a few 15-20min stints off the bench they need to start running into pros to find their feet before it's a rest everyone throw away fixture at Eden Park or Suva and you throw them out like bait.