Force name matchday 23 for first-ever Super Rugby Women's semi-final

The Western Force have named their matchday squad for an historic Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s semi-final against the NSW Waratahs.

Zoe Elliott and Atawhai Hotene have been given their starting debuts for the winner-takes-all encounter at Perth’s HBF Park.

Originally due to be played at Wanneroo Rugby Club, last week it was confirmed that the Force’s first-ever knockout game of rugby would form part of a doubleheader ahead of the Wallabies’ Round 3 Nations Championship clash with Italy.

It was only three weeks ago that the Western Australia team beat the Waratahs for the first time. The winner of Saturday’s clash will play either the Fijian Drua or the Queensland Reds.

Elliott starts at tighthead prop and Hotene is named at inside centre. Both came off the bench in the Force’s 36-20 win over the ACT Brumbies in Round 5.

Three-cap Wallaroos prop Allana Sikimeti is back in the starting lineup. As is wing Aiysha Wigley, who returns from a head injury. Sikimeti and Elliott start in the front-row alongside try-scoring hooker Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke.

Leicester Tigers-bound fly-half Grace Freeman teams up with co-captain Sammy Wood at half-back. Trilleen Pomare partners Hotene in the midfield, while Avi Vani Buleki and Nicole Ledington complete an exciting back three.

Brooklyn Teki Joyce, Hannah Palelei, Jiowana Sauto, Keira MacAskill, Yuna Sato, Taylor Waterson, Ai Dickson and Halley Derera – who will also join Leicester next season – are all among the reserves for the historic clash for the Perth club.

Western Force team for 2026 Super Rugby Women’s semi-final

15. Nicole Ledington
14. Adi Vani Buleki
13. Trilleen Pomare
12. Atawhai Hotene*
11. Aiysha Wigley
10. Grace Freeman
9. Samantha Wood (cc)
1. Allana Sikimeti
2. Hera Barb Malcolm Heke
3. Zoe Elliott*
4. Sera Naiqama
5. Michaela Leonard (vc)
6. Pia Tapsell
7. Anneka Stephens
8. Seina Saito

Reserves

16. Jiowana Sauto
17. Keira MacAskill
18. Hannah Palelei
19. Yuna Sato
20. Taylor Waterson
21. Ai Dickson
22. Brooklyn Teki Joyce
23. Halley Derera