Acting
\nWestern Force head coach James Stannard says the new Super Rugby AUS is a great
\nopportunity for the next crop to showcase their wares and has listed off a few
\nplayers to watch.<\/p>\n
The Force take The 23-player Register your interest in a 2026 Western Force Membership<\/a><\/p>\n Follow the new Western Force Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n Super Rugby Stannard is The former \u201cI think it\u2019s LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s The team Strong club \u201cIt gives \u201cThe reward Stannard Fakafanua, \u201cBoston came \u201cHe\u2019s a really LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI remember \u201cJustin Landman \u201cHe\u2019s been Stannard \u201cIt\u2019s a great \u201cI feel \u201cBut it\u2019s a Register your interest in a 2026 Western Force Membership<\/a><\/p>\n
\non the NSW Waratahs in the opening game of the Super Rugby AUS season on Friday
\nnight at Pittwater Rugby Park from 5:30pm WST, live on Stan Sport and rugby.com.au\u2019s
\nYouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nteam list was announced on Wednesday, with Darcy Swain to captain the side. The group flew east on Thursday ahead of the game.<\/p>\n
\nAUS is geared towards aiding player and coach development, with more
\nmeaningful, high-quality games for players and staff not involved internationally
\nin the second half of the year.<\/p>\n
\nacting in the head coach position during Super Rugby AUS, with Simon Cron to
\nresume his role once Super Rugby Pacific pre-season commences in November. <\/p>\n
\nAussie 7s assistant coach will benefit from that experience, as well as players
\nduring the month-long tournament.<\/p>\n
\na great opportunity,\u201d Stannard told 91.3 Sport FM on Thursday morning. \u201cIt\u2019s a
\ngreat chance for young up-and-coming guys to experience a higher level of footy
\nand test where they are at the moment. <\/p>\n
\nreally important, to be honest, for the guys in the next tier to experience some
\nhigher level rugby. It\u2019s also a way to get more games for boys through the season,
\nnot just club rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nlist named this week included several 2025 Fortescue Academy players who could be
\nin contention for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific squad, like Associates\u2019 Justin
\nLandman, Kalamunda\u2019s Max Sawers and Australia U20s midfielder Boston Fakafanua.<\/p>\n
\nrugby performers like Palmyra winger Viliami Fine, Warringah hooker Wes Thomas,
\nWests Bulldogs lock Max Johnson and UQ prop Bradley Kuhn were also named.<\/p>\n
\nthem a chance to show the Super Rugby coaches that they\u2019re ready to step up to the
\nnext level. You\u2019ve got guys like Justin Landman, Boston Fakafanua, Albert Alcock,
\nit gives them a chance to show what they\u2019ve got. We\u2019ve got a few guys from over
\neast too, so it\u2019s a chance to show what they\u2019ve got and it could be something
\nthat leads into a contract.<\/p>\n
\nfor these guys from good performances in club rugby, it lets them know they\u2019re
\nbeing watched and gives them a chance to express themselves at a higher level. I
\nthink that\u2019s really important for the game. If people don\u2019t see a pathway, they
\nwon\u2019t engage in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nwas asked about players to watch during the three-game tournament, pointing to
\nKuhn and fly-half Max Burey, along with emerging Academy talents Fakafanua and
\nLandman.<\/p>\n
\nwho lives in a host family placement with club legend Matt Hodgson, was part of
\nAustralia\u2019s squad at the World Rugby U20 Championship this year before injury
\nended his tournament prematurely. Winger\/full-back Landman helped Associates
\nwin the 2024 Fortescue Premier Grade title and has been involved in Force South
\nAfrica spring tours in the past.<\/p>\n
\nout of King\u2019s College a few years aback and he\u2019s moved over to Perth,\u201d Stannard
\nsaid. <\/p>\n
\nstrong ball carrier. He\u2019s really aggressive around his carry and tackle. I\u2019m
\nreally keen to see him. <\/p>\n
\nwatching him at school dominating, so I\u2019m keen to see how he goes playing against
\nthe big boys.<\/p>\n
\nis another kid coming out of Perth here. He\u2019s performed really well in club
\nfooty over here. <\/p>\n
\nin the Academy and done really well and he\u2019s been in and out of the main squad
\nin pre-season and didn\u2019t look out of place. I\u2019m keen to see what he can produce
\ntoo out of the backs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nsaid he was relishing the opportunity to experience the head coaching role to
\ndevelop himself, along with Academy coaches Jeremy Thrush and Jono Lance who\u2019ve
\nsupported him as assistant coaches, along with Dylan Parsons and Chris Heiberg
\nout of the Club\u2019s Super W set-up.<\/p>\n
\nopportunity for guys like myself, Jono and Thrushy to express ourselves a
\nlittle bit,\u201d he said. \u201cCrono has been really good in stepping back and letting
\nus drive what we want to do too. It\u2019s not entirely the same as our Super Rugby
\nbut it\u2019s still important we link it.<\/p>\n
\nlike more of a project manager which feels a bit funny, when you\u2019re on field
\nfeeling like you\u2019re not doing too much.<\/p>\n
\ngood chance to try things in our own way. The club has been really supportive around
\nthat. Where else are you going to get that experience?\u201d<\/p>\n