Wallabies return for Force's Sunday clash with Drua

Wed, Mar 19, 2025, 2:57 AM
BS
by Ben Somerford

The Western Force will welcome back a swathe of players to the starting XV for Sunday’s SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Fijian Drua from 2:05pm at HBF Park.

Wallabies quintet Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Carlo Tizzano and Nic White all return to bolster the starting side for Sunday’s Round 6 game. 

Back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny returns from head injury protocols, while Ryan Coxon and Nic Dolly come into the starting front row.

Vaiolini Ekuasi returns to the 23-player team list as an impact player after missing the past two away games to be with his partner for the birth of their daughter.

Tom Horton comes in to provide impact off the bench at hooker to starting rake Dolly, with Wallaby Brandon Paenga-Amosa to miss the game.

Divad Palu is unavailable after suffering a shoulder injury in last round’s loss to the Crusaders.

Kick-off for Sunday’s game is 2:05pm WST followed by the SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s clash between the Force and Drua from 4:50pm WST.

The Force have teamed up with RugbyWA and VenuesWest for a free junior rugby ticket giveaway for Sunday’s double-header. The Club are offering one free child and adult pass for all registered juniors for the double-header, using this link by Friday 21 March.

Western Force team list

Starting XV; Ryan Coxon, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny; Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Sio Tomkinson, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy

Reserves; Tom Horton, Marley Pearce, Atu Moli, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Reed Prinsep, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, Reesjan Pasitoa

Game details

Western Force vs Fijian Drua

Sunday 23 March, 2:05om WST

HBF Park

SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific Round 6

Live on Stan Sport

Tickets via Ticketmaster

Unavailable list

Harry Johnson-Holmes (knee)

Bayley Kuenzle (knee)

Harry Hoopert (knee)

Divad Palu (shoulder)

Matt Proctor (shoulder)

Papillon Sevele (knee)

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