RugbyWA Academy

The RugbyWA Academy has been set up as a pathway to eventually play for the Emirates Western Force. Time in the Academy can and will vary between 1 and 3 years after which hopefully players will progress to Super 14 rugby.

More importantly, the establishment of the Academy opens up a potential pathway for local West Australian talent to hopefully wear the ocean blue jumper of the Emirates Western Force. In the past players like John Welborn, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Daniel Montagu, David Collis and Darren Murphy have all had to go East or overseas to ply their trade. With the establishment of the Academy this now gives a clear pathway for our local talent. However, the RugbyWA Academy is not only restricted to WA players, and we are constantly looking to widen our player base of players who have the ability to develop and play at the elite level.

2009 RugbyWA Academy

Level 1: Ben Whittaker, Tom Murday, Justin Turner, Siosefo Manu

Level 2: James Dougal, Brenden O'Dea, Cruze Ah-Nau, Valeni Tia Tia, Dion Berryman, Ryan Tyrell, Brent Murphy

Level 3: Alex Rovira, Mark Schmidt, Zac Holmes, Ben Hales, Heremia Te Aute, Conrad Gillingham (trial)

2008 RugbyWA Academy:

Level 1: James O’Connor, Dane Haylett-Petty, Sitaleki Timani, Sam Wykes.

Level 2: Kieran Longbottom (Level 1 trial), James Stannard (Level 1 trial), Valeni Tiatia, Ben Whittaker.

Level 3: Cruze Ah-Nau (prop), Zac Holmes (flyhalf, centre), Tom Murday (flanker), Angus Nielson (flanker), Brendan O’Dea (prop), Mark Schmidt (number 8), Darren Van Wyk (centre).

Level 1 and Level 2 members of the RugbyWA Academy will train with the Emirates Western Force senior squad and be available for selection in the 2008 Investec Super 14.

The 2007 RugbyWA Academy squad: 

Dan Bailey, Will Brock, Tim Carslaw, Michael Dan, James Dougall, Joe Egan, Tom Hockings, Jon McGrath, Ryan Lenegan, Kieran Longbottom, Angus Neilson, Adam Scari, James Stannard, Ryan Tyrell, Col Unasa, Justin Webster, Darren van Wyk, Garth Ziegler.