Five Wallabies return for Force’s pre-season trial against Brumbies

Five Wallabies are set to suit up in Western Force colours for the first time in 2026, with coach Simon Cron naming the quintet in the starting XV for this week’s Super Rugby Pacific trial against the ACT Brumbies in Perth.

Tom Robertson, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Hamish Stewart and Force captain Jeremy Williams have been selected after missing last Friday’s nail-biting 21-19 win over the Queensland Reds at Scotch College.

Williams was unveiled by the Force on Wednesday as the team’s captain for the 2026 season, while Champion de Crespigny partners Wallabies playmaker Ben Donaldson as the two vice-captains in a six-man leadership group.

19-Test All Black George Bridge was selected by the Force coaching staff in the leadership group. The New Zealander will line up at outside centre against the Brumbies, linking up with Stewart as the midfield pairing.

Former Highlanders scrum-half Nathan Hastie starts for the Force along with Donaldson in the halves. One-Test Wallaby Darby Lancaster has been named on the left wing, with Divad Pau on the right, and Mac Grealy starts at fullback.

Robertson, who is also part of the leadership group, has been brought into the run-on side at loosehead prop. Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Harry Johnson-Holmes complete the starting front row, while others wait for their chance to come off the bench.

Captain Williams partners Los Pumas lock Franco Molina in the second-row, while Champion de Crespigny and Tizzano join Vaiolini Ekuasi in the loose forwards. Kane Koteka is among the backrowers named in the reserves.

Alex Harford (shoulder), Nic Dolly (knee), Doug Philipson (knee), Feao Fotuaika (foot), Darcy Swain (calf) and Dylan Pietsch (Wallabies return to play) were not available for this fixture.

This pre-season trial gets underway at 4:35 pm WST on Friday, 30 January. It will be live streamed on the Western Force Facebook Page.

Force team to take on Brumbies in trial

1. Tom Robertson

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa

3. Harry Johnson-Holmes

4. Franco Molina

5. Jeremy Williams

6. Nick Champion de Crespigny

7. Carlo Tizzano

8. Vaiolini Ekuasi

9. Nathan Hastie

10. Ben Donaldson

11. Darby Lancaster

12. Hamish Stewart

13. George Bridge

14. Divad Palu

15. Mac Grealy

Reserves; Leonel Oviedo, Sef Fa’agase, Misinale Epenisa, Lopeti Faifua, Gus Farnan, Kane Koteka, Jack Daly, Will Harris, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Boston Fakafanua, Bayley Kuenzle, Kurtley Beale