The Western Force’s 25-player team list for Saturday’s Japan tour opener against the Pearls and Yokohama TKM in Nagano has been named with Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke to skipper the side.
In a hybrid format, the Force will play two 40-minute games against the Pearls firstly, from 11am WST, followed by Yokohama TKM from 12pm WST at Sugadaira Rugby Field in Nagano. The Pearls will also play Yokohama in a 40-minute game from 10am WST too.
The Force women’s squad and staff flew out of Perth for Japan on Wednesday night ahead of Saturday's opener.
Long-term Force stalwart and Kalamunda hooker Malcolm Heke, who made her Wallaroos debut earlier this year, has been named as captain for the tour and will start the opening game in the front row alongside recent re-signings Hannah Palelei and Braxton Walker.
Malcolm Heke will be supported by reigning Rebecca Clough medallist Samantha Wood as vice-captain, although the scrum-half will start from the bench on Saturday after a whirlwind few weeks with the Wallaroos who won the WXV 2 title last weekend.
Australia A rep Rosie Ebbage, new signing Grace Freeman and Walker make up the leadership group for the tour.
Decorated off-season recruit Sera Naiqama, who arrived in Perth last month and is a four-time Super W winner and 13-cap Wallaroo, will be blooded immediately alongside Ebbage in the locks.
Wanneroo and Wallaroos talent Tamika Jones will also start, marking her return from a metatarsal stress fracture, alongside club mate Nami Dickson and recent Australia A rep Brooklyn Teki-Joyce in the back row.
One-cap Wallaroo Georgia Cormick will start alongside Freeman – who recently won the NSW Jack Scott Cup with Sydney University.
Former Australia U18 hurdles champion and Australia rugby 7s rep Leilani Hills and ex-ACT Brumbies flyer Halley Derera will start on the wings, with Wanneroo vice-captain Ngamihi Monk and Palmyra centre Ocean Tuhua in the midfield and Sheree Hume starting at full-back.
Front-rowers Allana Sikimeti and Alapeta Ngauamo are both named as reserves fresh from being part of the Wallaroos squad that won the WXV 2.
Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard is absent for Saturday’s game, but she will link up with the squad in Japan ahead of the second game.
Follow @WesternForce on X (Twitter) for game updates and across social media for updates throughout the tour. Unfortunately, there will be no live stream available for the game.
Game details
Western Force v Pearls / Yokohama TKM
Saturday 19 October 11am WST
Sugadaira Rugby Field, Nagano
Western Force team list
Starters; Hannah Palelei, Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Braxton Walker, Sera Naiqama, Rosie Ebbage, Tamika Jones, Nami Dickson, Brooklyn Teki-Joyce, Georgia Cormick, Grace Freeman, Leilani Hills, Ngamihi Monk, Ocean Tuhua, Halley Derera, Sheree Hume
Reserves; Loretta Mailangi, Allana Sikimeti, Alapeta Ngauamo, Zoe Elliot, Sofaia Talemaira, Topaz-Jean Porter, Samantha Wood, Nicole Ledington, April Downey, Tizanae Kovacs
Western Force Japan tour fixtures
Game 1: Western Force v Pearls / Yokohama TKM, Saturday 19 October 11am WST, Nagano
Game 2: Western Force v Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix, Sunday 27 October 1pm WST, Fujiyoshida
Game 3: Western Force v Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix / Yokogawa Musashino Artemi Stars, Saturday 2 November 12pm WST, Tokyo
