Wallabies-eligible Trevor Hosea seals Super Rugby return with Western Force

Former Wallabies squad member Trevor Hosea is returning home to Australia on a two-year deal with the Western Force, bolstering the squad’s depth in the second row after the departures of Darcy Swain and Franco Molina.

Hosea became a mainstay of the Melbourne Rebels starting side from 2018 to 2023, which led to higher honours in the Wallabies squad. Dave Rennie included Hosea in a squad for a Gold Coast camp in 2021, but the 204-centimetre lock remains an uncapped prospect.

The towering tight five forward never took for the field for the Wallabies, before heading overseas to link up with Tokyo Sungoliath from 2023 to 202 and then Mie Honda Heat during the recent Japan Rugby League One campaign.

Hosea made 42 appearances in Japan’s premier rugby competition before suiting up for finals-bound Gordon in the NSW Shute Shield. The 26-year-old will join the Perth-based Force ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, committing to a two-year deal.

“We’ve been really targeted in bolstering our second row after Darcy Swain and Franco Molina’s departures, so we’re extremely happy to lock in Trevor,” Force coach Simon Cron said.

“We’ve been tracking Trevor since he left Australian shores and headed to Japan. We believe he has an extremely high ceiling and will be a great asset for the Western Force as well as having the potential to put himself into international contention.

“He’s a powerful, strong and mobile athlete who will work really well with Jeremy Williams and Lopeti Faifua.”

Hosea was part of a star-studded Australia side that reached the final at the 2019 World Rugby Junior World Championship in Argentina, with future Wallabies Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight starting in the side that lost to France by just one point.

Brisbane Boys’ College product Hosea would debut for the Rebels on July 4, 2020, away to the ACT Brumbies in the national’s capital. The Melbourne-born talent made 33 appearances for the club before heading abroad.

Hosea is the latest second-rower to commit to Australian rugby, with 203-centimetre Aiden Stait signing with the ACT Brumbies through to 2029. Stait has spent a few seasons in France with Top 14 outfit Bayonne, but is back Down Under ahead of Super Rugby AUS.

“I’m real keen to join the Sea of Blue,” Hosea explained.

“I’m really happy to be coming back to Australian rugby. It’s an exciting time in my life and I’m looking forward to a new challenge.

“Coming back from Japan, I’m excited to play some attacking rugby. It’s an exciting brand of footy in Super Rugby and playing against some of the best in the world really excites me to push myself and bring out the best in me.

“I’m excited to get to Perth as it’s a beautiful place with beautiful beaches and a great bunch of lads at the club. It’ll be somewhere where I can bring my family and enjoy ourselves.

“I’m always excited for a new challenge and a new environment. I’m looking forward to meeting the boys, coaches and fans and putting my best foot forward to leaving the jersey in a better place.”