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Ex-England international to lead Western Force in Super Rugby AUS
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Former England hooker Nic Dolly will captain the Western Force in their opening-round Super Rugby AUS clash with the Queensland Reds in Brisbane, with Zac Lomax also set for a new role six months after switching to rugby union.
Dolly made one England appearance in 2021 but has now been with the Force for multiple Super Rugby Pacific campaigns. Mac Grealy and Will Harris will support the skipper, taking on vice-captaincy roles for the month-long tournament.
New signing Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has been named in the run-on side, set to debut for the Force after moving from the Reds. It sets up an exciting positional duel between former Reds teammates ‘HMP’ and Tom Lynagh, who will start at fly-half for Queensland.
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Australia Sevens representative Wallace Charlie will start on one wing, joining Ronan Leahy and Grealy in the back three. But perhaps the most intriguing selection comes in the midfield, with former NRL star Lomax partnering Boston Fakafaunua in the centres.
Nathan Hastie is the other back, having been named at scrum-half. The No. 9 will link the backs with the forwards, who have Kane Koteka in the loose forwards. Jack Daly starts on the other flank, with Jackson Iose at No. 8.
Zac Healy and vice-captain Harris are the two locks, supporting the front-row trio of loosehead prop Max Sawers, Dolly at hooker, and Brad Kuhn at tighthead. Albert Alcock and Junior Passi are some of the forwards named on the bench.
The Force kick off their Super Rugby AUS campaign away to the Reds, with that match set to get underway at 11:30 am WST on Saturday.
Western Force to take on Queensland Reds
1. Max Sawers
2. Nic Dolly (c)
3. Brad Kuhn
4. Will Harris (vc)
5. Zak Healey
6. Kane Koteka
7. Jack Daly
8. Jackson Iose
9. Nathan Hastie
10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
11. Wallace Charlie
12. Boston Fakafanua
13. Zac Lomax
14. Ronan Leahy
15. Mac Grealy (vc)
Replacements
16. Albert Alcock, 17. Junior Passi, 18. Regin Pratt, 19. Wil Taylor, 20. Seta Baker, 21. Tama Anderson, 22. Luke Aiken, 23. Tim Sail, 24. Kurtley Beale, 25. Sam Faoagali
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