Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'United the group': Club legend to coach Western Force in Super W

Western Force celebrate Matt Hodgson’s try

The Western Force have revealed some exciting news ahead of this year’s Super W campaign, with club legend Matt Hodgson set to take over as head coach.

ADVERTISEMENT

Former Wallaby Hodgson, who was with the Force when they were kicked out of Super Rugby, has been working as the General Manager of Rugby at the club.

After making his debut in the Force’s first-ever Super Rugby match against the Brumbies 17 years ago, the former flanker went on to make 140 appearances for the Western Australian franchise.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

But a new opportunity beckons for the club’s inspirational leader, with the Force announcing on Thursday that he’ll take over the head coaching reigns for the 2023 Super W season.

“Hodgo has brought a lot of energy and positivity to the group. He has united the group and grown the culture from the get-go,” Female High Performance Manager Claudia Bell said in a statement.

“The girls greatly respect Hodgo; I see it in their commitment to training and their changes to better themselves and the team.

Related

“He is very much a conversationalist. He makes an effort to form bonds with the players, and with that respect follows. When he speaks at training, 100% of the squad if all ears; this is vital in any rugby team.

ADVERTISEMENT

“As General Manager, eh has brought a lot of connections back to the club, the girls now understand what they stand for and the values they must uphold.”

Both the men’s and women’s Western Force teams will play crucial matches late next month, as they look to usher in a new era of greatness for the club.

While the men are set to kick-off their Super Rugby Pacific campaign on February 25 against the Melbourne Rebels, the women will also run out for their first pre-season hit out on the same night.

“There is a biz of a buzz around HQ at the moment with men’s teams,” Bell added. “We can all feel that the Force is turning into a powerhouse.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The two teams feel very united, which comes down to Hodgo’s ongoing instillment of being one club.”

ADVERTISEMENT
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
Bok rule-benders are changing the game. They deserve respect

You want a lot of things that will never happen. You describe rugby League. You should go and watch that then. Rugby is supposed to be competitive. It's the opposition team that should figure out how to defend and turn it into an attack on the fly. The Boks play within the rules. Everyone says that kick off should have been a penalty. The law state that from a kick off it's a scrum. It's confusing as with mauls and rucks, the player has to be behind the kicker. The same does not hold true for kick offs. That law they can change, because the same rule should apply across the board for players to be behind the kicker. It's not the first time that the infield lineout has been used, only the first time in an international match. If I remember correctly, the Barbarians used it against England in 2021 or 2022 (under correction). It's also been used in SR during the 2000’s. There is just this big hoo haw because the Boks did it. If it was another team like the Irish or England or the French or someone, it would be innovative, genius and brilliant. The dummy the AB's did where a player broke to the right, acting like he had the ball, meanwhile the scrumhalfs ran down the sideline and scored. I don't hear you cry about that. That can be seen as cynical play and there is even a case for unsportsmanlike behaviour and at a minimum a yellow card. Yet there is silence from you about that. I on the other hand thought that was a great tactic. It's also not a new invention, but an old one. You only love rugby when it suits you. I don't care what new tactics teams use, or whoever the team is that is doing it. Every new invention or tactic or play that the coaches comes up with is great for rugby. It keeps it interesting. There is no law that prevents other coaches using the same tactics or create their own. It's up to coaches to come up with defense strategies to cut that down, and even retaliate against it. The game is never boring. It keeps evolving. People keep talking about rugby and all these things is what draw new fans. They don't want boring. They want innovative and fun. They want to hear the crash of bodies. They want to see the strength of the scrums. They want to see the speed, agility and flair of the players. The amazing passes and jukes or side steps. The only reason you are so up in arms is because the Boks did it and now you want it banned. The same rhyme over and over. Matt Williams wannabe. Nah, you don't love rugby or else you would enjoy the most exciting era yet in this lovely sport. Stars in so many national teams has never been more abundant nor was there so many teams that could beat each other on any given day. Not to even mention watching an era of the most controversial but most innovative and clever coach ever. A dynasty that's to last for a very long time even after he retires. Like him or hate him, his genius is undeniable and he is recognised world wide as the best coach in most countries by fans and pundits alike, even if they don't like him. Stop the hate and rather enjoy what's to come.

39 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Kane James: 'I think it’s really important to not like losing' Kane James: 'I think it’s really important to not like losing'