FORCE v CHIEFS Trans-Tasman Round 1 - Saturday 15 May HBF Park I 7:55pm - Western Force

Trans-Tasman
             Round 1

  FORCE v
  CHIEFS
Saturday 15 May   HBF Park I 7:55pm

DEAR PLAYERS,
  MEMBERS AND FANS,
I welcome the Sea of Blue, our loyal Members and fans, back to HBF Park for
the first match of the Trans-Tasman competition against the Super Rugby
Aotearoa grand finalists, the Chiefs.
Firstly, thank you for the support you gave to the team in our last home
game against the Reds – we heard you in full voice, bringing the team home
in the last 10 minutes! The players were lifted, and you created an amazing
atmosphere that was a catalyst in our historic victory.
There is no doubt you are creating a fortress for the Western Force!
Congratulations again to the players, head coach Tim Sampson and his staff
for securing a historic first for the Western Force – a place in the Super Rugby
finals series. In the Semi Final, we were in the game until the final stages and
our defensive effort was outstanding. The team stayed in the fight while down
to 14 men, which exemplified the character of this group.
Tonight’s clash against the Chiefs is another big occasion for the club, with
bragging rights on the line. We are here to win tonight, and a victory will
ensure our momentum from Super Rugby AU continues in this Trans-Tasman
competition. We welcome Chiefs CEO Mike Collins, Team Manager Martyn
Vercoe, and their players to HBF Park.
Since my arrival, I have been amazed by the efforts of our organisation
to create a unique atmosphere at our home games, from pre-match
entertainment to our Gate 1 Fan Zone.
Compared to what is offered across other clubs, the Force are market leaders.
We want to be ‘The Leading Force’ in every
avenue of the matchday experience.
There is nothing better than live Saturday
night rugby, so be loud and proud.
Enjoy the game!
Tony Lewis
CEO, Western Force

NEXT HOME GAME

           Trans-Tasman
              Round 2

   FORCE v
HIGHLANDERS
 Friday 21 May      HBF Park I 5:45pm
         Tickets from Ticketmaster

FORCE REIGNITE
TRANS-TASMAN RIVALRY

In a momentous occasion, the Western        Aotearoa campaign, with the likes of
Force host the Chiefs for the first time    All Blacks duo Damian McKenzie and
in over four years tonight at HBF Park.     Anton Lienert-Brown providing class
The Saturday night fixture also marks       and consistency for the Waikato-
the beginning of the highly anticipated     based side and are certainly players to
inaugural Super Rugby Trans-Tasman          keep an eye on tonight.
season.                                     Having won the Super Rugby title with
Both sides enter the contest in a rich      the Chiefs in 2012, World Cup-winning
vein of form having made the finals of      former All Black and current Force
their respective domestic Super Rugby       outside back Richard Kahui is excited
competitions, with the Force reaching       to be facing his former side.
the Semi Final stage and the Chiefs
                                            “The Chiefs are a huge part of who I
narrowly missing out on the Super
                                            am as a rugby player. It will be mixed
Rugby Aotearoa title in the Grand Final
                                            emotions, but I’m really looking
against the Crusaders last Saturday.
                                            forward to it,” the 2011 World Cup
Having enjoyed their first Super Rugby      winner said.
AU finals appearance this season
following three consecutive wins,           “When you play any sport, you want
including two in front of the Sea of Blue   to test yourself against the best and
at HBF Park, the Force is fired up and      that’s what the Kiwi teams are. It’s a
hungry for more success when they           big test for our boys, but it’s fantastic
take on the Chiefs.                         to have this competition, as it’s great
                                            for rugby.
It’s sure to be an action-packed clash,
with the Chiefs proving to be the           “The guys are really excited to battle it
surprise package of the Super Rugby         out with the Kiwi teams.”

WESTERN FORCE v CHIEFS
                Saturday 15 May | 7:55pm 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                 Fergus LEE-WARNER
 6       LEFT FLANKER               Tim ANSTEE
 7       RIGHT FLANKER              Kane KOTEKA
 8       NUMBER EIGHT               Brynard STANDER
 9       SCRUMHALF                  Tomás CUBELLI
 10      FLYHALF                    Jake MCINTYRE
 11      LEFT WING                  Jordan OLOWOFELA
 12      INSIDE CENTRE              Henry TAEFU
 13      OUTSIDE CENTRE             Kyle GODWIN C
 14      RIGHT WING                 Richard KAHUI
 15      FULLBACK                   Rob KEARNEY

REPLACEMENTS
16.    Andrew READY               20.    Ollie CALLAN
17.    Angus WAGNER               21.    Ian PRIOR
18.    Greg HOLMES                22.    Domingo MIOTTI
19.    Ryan MCCAULEY              23.    Jake STRACHAN

Referee: Damon Murphy, AR1: Graham Cooper, AR2: Jordan Way,

WESTERN FORCE v CHIEFS
                Saturday 15 May | 7:55pm AWST Perth

 1       LOOSEHEAD PROP               Aidan ROSS
 2       HOOKER                       Nathan HARRIS
 3       TIGHTHEAD PROP               Angus TA’AVAO
 4       LEFT LOCK                    Josh LORD
 5       RIGHT LOCK                   Tupou VAA’I
 6       LEFT FLANKER                 Pita Gus SOWAKULA
 7       RIGHT FLANKER                Lachlan BOSHIER
 8       NUMBER EIGHT                 Luke JACOBSON
 9       SCRUMHALF                    Brad WEBER C
 10      FLYHALF                      Damian MCKENZIE
 11      LEFT WING                    Jonah LOWE
 12      INSIDE CENTRE                Alex NANKIVELL
 13      OUTSIDE CENTRE               Anton LIENERT-BROWN
 14      RIGHT WING                   Shaun STEVENSON
 15      FULLBACK                     Chase TIATIA

REPLACEMENTS
16.    Samisoni TAUKEI’AHO      20.    Liam MESSAM
17.    Ollie NORRIS             21.    Xavier ROE
18.    Joe APIKOTOA             22.    Bryn GATLAND
19.    Zane KAPELI              23.    Bailyn SULLIVAN

No4: Sam Jones, No5 Jordan Kaminski, TMO: Brett Cronan

GAME DAY ACTIVATIONS

     There’s plenty of action happening around the ground
      before the Force and Chiefs go to battle at HBF Park.
  Paula Parore and Clay Darius, who have starred at Crown Theatre Perth’s
 ‘We Will Rock You WA – Brit and Oz’ and in The Voice Australia, will be taking
   centre stage with an electric performance alongside the breathtaking
   Dangerous Delights fire dancers and an exhilarating fireworks display.
   At Gate 1, there will be an exciting variety of carnival rides. Harvey Beef
 will be there with delicious samples and it will be your last chance to go into
  the draw to kick to win a Toyota Hilux SR5 thanks to our proud partners.
        There is also the usual fun-filled kids activities including the
     Santos RugbyRoos clinic, inflatable amusements and photo booth.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW
SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN
     MAJOR PARTNER

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OFFICIAL MERCHANDISE

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VISIT US UNDER THE EASTERN GRANDSTAND AT HBF PARK
       MEMBER EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT APPLICABLE

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              Official Partners

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