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Camera IconFormer Australian rugby players Matt Hodgson and Sam Carter pictured at RugbyWA HQ, Floreat, Perth, on Tuesday. Carwyn Monck Credit: Carwyn Monck\/The West Australian<\/p>\nPerth\u2019s Western Force is celebrating 20 seasons of elite sporting history, and will next month bring together players, staff and supporters for a special day honouring WA\u2019s premier rugby union team.<\/p>\n
The Floreat-headquartered team debut in 2006 against the ACT Brumbies at Subiaco Oval.<\/p>\n
Former player and captain Matt Hodgson was part of that first game and says it has remained a highlight of his rugby career.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty hard to beat being part of Western Force\u2019s first ever game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there were about 46,000 people at Subiaco Oval that day to watch us play against the Brumbies.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019s pretty much a highlight for me, to be a part of a new franchise, a new set up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hodgson, who also won eleven caps for Australia, got to experience two major milestones in his playing career with the Force \u2014 his 50th and 100th games were played victoriously at home. He was the first Force player to earn 100 caps for the club and was captain during its most successful Super Rugby season, when the team recorded nine wins.<\/p>\n
The openside flanker, who has continued in an administrative role at the club, will be among past and current players, coaches, staff and supporter to gather at the University of WA next month for the Force\u2019s 20th season past player luncheon.<\/p>\n
Camera IconFormer Australian rugby players Matt Hodgson and Sam Carter pictured at RugbyWA HQ, Floreat, Perth, on Tuesday. Carwyn Monck Credit: Carwyn Monck\/The West Australian<\/p>\n
All proceeds raised from the event will go to the Rugby Foundation of WA, which supports grassroots rugby in Western Australia.<\/p>\n
Retired lock Sam Carter\u2019s favourite memories are of 2024 game against New Zealand\u2019s Crusaders, who the Force beat for the first time in more than a decade of trying.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother day I\u2019ll remember was when I played my final game last year against the Lions at Optus Stadium,\u201d said Carter, who also played 16 games for Australia and is the son of Australian International David Carter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was pretty special. It was in of 45,000 people, probably the biggest crowd the Force\u2019s ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Hodgson said next month\u2019s luncheon would be a day to celebrate WA\u2019s rugby legacy and everything the Perth team has accomplished along the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one time that we can actually come back and celebrate moments and milestones together, trade old stories together, and reconnect with new players that some of us haven\u2019t had the chance to meet yet,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s open for everyone to come and celebrate what the Western Force have achieved over a 20-year period.\u201d<\/p>\n