Round 9 FORCE v WARATAHS Saturday 17 April HBF Park | 5.45pm DEAR PLAYERS, MEMBERS AND FANS, I welcome the Sea of Blue, our loyal members and fans, back to HBF Park to support the team in this must-win game against the Waratahs – please ensure our opponents know they are in opposition territory! The Force players understand and appreciate the power of our home supporters – you are all our 16th player. Firstly, congratulations to the Force players, head coach Tim Sampson and his staff for the nail-biting win last Friday against the Rebels. It had been a big week for the coaches and players as we reviewed our season to date, and credit to them and all involved to embrace this process. Tonight’s performance against the Waratahs will play a crucial role in defining our season. I am sure you are as thrilled as I am that we are playing at home again this weekend, especially given we are back at 100% capacity at HBF Park. After last week’s memorable win on the road, the Western Force is now in an exciting contest that is like another Grand Final for us when we take on the Waratahs! It is set to be a blockbuster clash with a place in the finals on the line. We welcome our good friends from NSW, including CEO Paul Doorn and their sponsors who have made the trip to Perth, the greatest city in Australia. The theme for our supporters this week is ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and, as always, you can expect a great matchday experience for the whole family. Next Friday, we will be at HBF Park again for our Anzac Round clash against the undefeated Queensland Reds. We look forward to welcoming you back for another great match! The number one advantage the Force have is our supporters; we need you next week in full voice. There is nothing better than live rugby, so be loud and proud. Enjoy the game! We are ‘Here to Win’ tonight. Tony Lewis CEO, Western Force 2021 UPCOMING GAMES RD OPPOSITION DATE KICK-OFF LOCATION SUPER RUGBY AU 10 QLD REDS FRI, 23 APRIL 5.45PM HBF PARK, WA QUALIFYING FINAL - SAT 1 MAY FINAL - SAT 8 MAY SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN 1 CHIEFS SAT, 15 MAY 7.55PM HBF PARK, WA 2 HIGHLANDERS FRI, 21 MAY 5.45PM HBF PARK, WA 3 HURRICANES VS FORCE - DATE AND VENUE TBC ORANGETHEORY 4 CRUSADERS FRI, 4 JUNE 3.05PM STADIUM, NZ 5 BLUES SAT, 12 JUNE 3.05PM EDEN PARK, NZ FINAL - SAT 19 JUNE FOUR GAME MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE NOW FROM JUST $69 OUR MEMBERSHIPS ALSO INCLUDE A SEVENTH HOME GAME, WHICH WILL BE A ONE-OFF SPECIAL EVENT AGAINST A HIGH PROFILE OPPONENT. WESTERNFORCE.COM.AU *All fixtures are subject to change and kick-off times are AWST THE FIGHT FOR FINALS HEATS UP The Western Force is determined to The Waratahs enjoyed a week off with make it two wins from two against the the bye after battling out a narrow NSW Waratahs at HBF Park as they 24-22 loss at the hands of the reigning continue to push for a place in the champion ACT Brumbies. Super Rugby AU finals. The traveling side will be buoyed by the Round 9 is sure to be a heated contest return of club captain and Wallabies after the Force got the better of their scrumhalf Jake Gordon, who was Eastern states rivals in Sydney back in instrumental in their Round 7 clash Round 3 with a historic 20-16 triumph. with the Brumbies. Having secured their second away win Former All Blacks lock Jeremy Thrush of the season last Friday night with a cannot wait to be back out in front of 16-15 win over the Melbourne Rebels the Sea of Blue. in dramatic fashion, the Force, led out “It was massively important for us to by captain and homegrown star Kyle get that win last week,” he explained. Godwin, is primed and ready to take on the Waratahs. “The way the Waratahs bounced back in the last couple of weeks after Tim Anstee’s all-important try losing their coach shows it will be a big and Domingo Miotti’s decisive challenge for us and we are looking last-minute conversion sealed a forward to it.” memorable win over the Rebels in an inspired display full of character and “It has been awesome to have been defensive resilience. able to play at HBF Park this year. Our fans deserve a win at home.” WESTERN FORCE v WARATAHS Saturday 17 Apr | 5.45pm AWST Perth 1 LOOSEHEAD PROP Tom ROBERTSON 2 HOOKER Feleti KAITU’U 3 TIGHTHEAD PROP Santiago MEDRANO 4 LEFT LOCK Jeremy THRUSH 5 RIGHT LOCK Sitaleki TIMANI 6 LEFT FLANKER Tim ANSTEE 7 RIGHT FLANKER Kane KOTEKA 8 NUMBER EIGHT Brynard STANDER 9 SCRUMHALF Tomás CUBELLI 10 FLYHALF Domingo MIOTTI 11 LEFT WING Jordan OLOWOFELA 12 INSIDE CENTRE Kyle GODWIN C 13 OUTSIDE CENTRE Tevita KURIDRANI 14 RIGHT WING Richard KAHUI 15 FULLBACK Jack McGREGOR REPLACEMENTS 16. Andrew Ready 20. Fergus Lee-Warner 17. Angus Wagner 21. Ian Prior 18. Greg Holmes 22. Grason Makara 19. Ryan McCauley 23. Jake Strachan Referee: Amy Perrett, AR1: Graham Cooper, AR2: Matthew Kellahan WESTERN FORCE v WARATAHS Saturday 17 Apr | 5.45pm AWST Perth 1 LOOSEHEAD PROP Angus BELL 2 HOOKER Dave PORECKI 3 TIGHTHEAD PROP Harry JOHNSON-HOLMES 4 LEFT LOCK Hugh SINCLAIR 5 RIGHT LOCK Max DOUGLAS 6 LEFT FLANKER Lachlan SWINTON 7 RIGHT FLANKER Carlo TIZZANO 8 NUMBER EIGHT Will HARRIS 9 SCRUMHALF Jake GORDON 10 FLYHALF Ben DONALDSON 11 LEFT WING James RAMM 12 INSIDE CENTRE Lalakai FOKETI 13 OUTSIDE CENTRE Izaia PERESE 14 RIGHT WING Alex NEWSOME 15 FULLBACK Jack MADDOCKS REPLACEMENTS 16. Tom Horton 20. Jeremy Williams 17. Tetera Faulkner 21. Charlie Gamble 18. Darcy Breen 22. Jack Grant 19. Sam Caird 23. Tane Edmend No4: Sam Jones, No5: Jordan Kamin, TMO: James Leckie GAME DAY ACTIVATIONS We’re all set for another fantastic Super Rugby AU clash at HBF Park with plenty of entertainment on the cards before, during and after the Force and Waratahs go head-to-head! It’s Saturday Night Fever for our Round 9 match-up with the Waratahs. There’s a silent disco located at Gate 1, as well as the usual fun-filled kids activities including the Santos RugbyRoos clinic, inflatable amusements, photo booth, and Toyota vehicle display. Harvey Beef is back with some tasty samples and delicious pies on sale, while the Members bar is now open at Gate 1, which Members can enjoy before and during the match. Half time is competition time tonight, with the Retravision Catch for Cash and Harvey Beef Bolt taking place on the pitch. Want to grab a drink before kick-off? You’re in luck tonight with a special Gage Roads beer offer of $5 Side Track cans in select retail bars and $6 Single Fin schooners in all Members Bars, including the new Matso’s Member Bar at Gate 1 available from 4:15pm to 5:15pm! OFFICIAL MERCHANDISE S RU IN’ N A T- T S P H A I R C $59 T LT HOOD U IE D S A $80 AVAILABLE AT THE GAME DAY MERCH PODS VISIT US UNDER THE EASTERN GRANDSTAND AT HBF PARK MEMBER EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT APPLICABLE NEXT HOME GAME Round 10 FORCERound 4 v REDS Join us for our upcoming Anzac Round, where we will honour and celebrate those that have served whilst raising important funds for Legacy WA. Friday 23 April HBF Park | 5:45pm Tickets from Ticketmaster and Memberships from westernforce.com.au THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS Principal and Major Sponsors Official Partners Suppliers and Player Sponsors.