David Pocock (left) captain of the Western Force and coach Richard Graham. AAP Image/Paul Miller
Wallabies captain David Pocock looks poised to sign with the Brumbies after the Western Force conceded on Saturday night that their inspirational flanker was leaving the Super Rugby club.
The 24-year-old has spent seven seasons with the Force after making his debut in 2006, the same year the franchise became Australia’s fourth team in an expanded Super competition.
The club has never reached the playoffs and the 2012 campaign was one of their worst, finishing second-last on the overall table with just three wins from 16 games.
The lack of finals action has reportedly prompted Pocock, who skippered the Wallabies in Tests against Scotland and Wales this year, to find a more competitive team.
Speculation has been rife that Pocock will on Monday commit to the Brumbies, especially since their outstanding young flanker Michael Hooper is switching to the Waratahs.
The Force gave credence to the rumour when they released a statement saying they’d failed to convince Pocock to remain in Perth.
“It is with considerable regret that RugbyWA has learnt of David Pocock’s decision to leave the Western Force at the conclusion of the 2012 Super Rugby season,” the statement said.
“For the past six months, RugbyWA has done everything within its power to retain his services as a leading player within the Western Force.
“David’s concerns were principally around the club’s inability to recruit high-profile players with this challenge highlighted by the recent opportunity presented to (Wallabies and Reds halfback) Will Genia which ultimately was unsuccessful in bringing him to WA.”
“While we are disappointed with his decision, we wish David well.
“David will always have a special place at the Emirates Western Force and should the opportunity arise down the track for him to return, we would welcome him back with open arms.”
Pocock’s departure is a massive blow to Force fans, who have had to deal with the retirement of veteran second-rower Nathan Sharpe this season, the loss of star Wallabies utility James O’Connor to the Rebels last season, and coach Richard Graham signing with the Reds mid-2012.
Pocock played 69 Super Rugby matches with the Force and replaced Sharpe as captain this season.
© AAP 2013
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July 29th 2012 @ 7:44am
Worlds biggest said | July 29th 2012 @ 7:44am | Report comment
While not unexpected it’s a big blow to the Force, hard to be critical of Pocock as the organisation like the Waratahs appears to be a shambles. When is the ARU ever going to show some leadership and do a review of both franchises.
July 29th 2012 @ 8:06am
Chris said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:06am | Report comment
Hopefully gives the Brumbies that little bit extra to turn the five “7 or less” bonus points into wins.
If they can add Clyde Rathbone to this team at 13 they are going to be very hard to beat.
July 29th 2012 @ 9:29am
Grimmace said | July 29th 2012 @ 9:29am | Report comment
Is Rathbone looking at making a return?
July 29th 2012 @ 12:07pm
Chris said | July 29th 2012 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
SMH seems to think so. That said, they pretty much made up a story about Ronan O’Gara moving to the Brumbies a couple of weeks ago, so take anything they say with a pinch of salt.
When it comes to player movements in Super Rugby I generally find The Australian is the best source. Rugby Heaven was good a while back but Growden has pretty much gone mad by now.
July 29th 2012 @ 1:27pm
Dan said | July 29th 2012 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
How Growden is still allowed to write in any form of media is beyond me.
July 29th 2012 @ 2:39pm
geoffo said | July 29th 2012 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
Growden’s longevity at the SMH is a mystery. He seems to trade purely on rumour, innuendo and insults and clearly has very little support at all from fair dinkum fans. Unfortunately Spiro often follows down the same path even though he is clearly more knowledgable about the game. After 25 odd years you’d hope that these fellows would be put out to pasture and talented journos like Paul Cully would take over the reins.
July 29th 2012 @ 9:24pm
Hansie said | July 29th 2012 @ 9:24pm | Report comment
I still read Growden, but only to have a laugh at the fiction contained in his articles. If he wrote a book, it would definitely be in the fiction section of the local library.
July 30th 2012 @ 11:12am
jameswm said | July 30th 2012 @ 11:12am | Report comment
I’m glad I’m not the only one. He writes with an agenda, to stir things up. The SMH is better than that I reckon.
He’s never played or coached, Growden. He’s from WA.
He needs Chief Rugby Correspondent next to his name to give him some credibility.
And even his level of English is poor.
It’s a big blight on the game. He must have photos of his boss in compromising positions.
I think a whole bunch of us need to write to the SMH to tell them what we think and that we rarely read rugby in their paper because of Growden’s crass writing.
July 29th 2012 @ 8:08am
Minz said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:08am | Report comment
While I’m a Brumbies supporter and keen to see Pocock here, the lack of loyalty and underhandedness shown by Genia and Pocock recently with regards to the Force disappoints me. I’d hope to see better from the Wallabies leadership group.
July 29th 2012 @ 8:38am
p.Tah said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Loyalty? Genia stayed with the Reds and shunned the bigger money. I’d say that’s loyalty.
I don’t think you could ever call Pocock disloyal. He gave them 7 years in Perth. During that time RugbyWA (off- field) went from one stuff up to the next. he gave them plenty of opportunity to keep him. He didn’t want money he wanted a coach and structures to help take his game to the next level. White can do that.
How on earth can a rugby team in one of the top rugby competitions not attract a top coach?
RugbyWA should join Tahs Inc and clean out the top jobs. Hopefully for Force fans Pococks departure will trigger a significant management change. It worked for the Reds when Barnes left.
July 30th 2012 @ 9:28pm
Minz said | July 30th 2012 @ 9:28pm | Report comment
Nah, it was the apparent agreeing to go and then reneging in Genia’s case which is kinda offputting to me. I’d like to see integrity from the leadership group.
Agreed that Pocock did great service for the Force, but still… he’s the captain!
July 29th 2012 @ 8:39am
Rob from Brumby Country said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Clyde Rathbone wrote quite a good article on club loyalty a while back on this very website, Minz. You should check it out.
July 29th 2012 @ 8:44am
winston said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:44am | Report comment
If he was loyal hed be playing for the Reds
July 29th 2012 @ 10:06am
Bakkies said | July 29th 2012 @ 10:06am | Report comment
He was never in the Reds setup. The Force contracted him when he was 17 and fought for his exemption to play (as you have to be 18 to play).
July 29th 2012 @ 10:18am
formeropenside said | July 29th 2012 @ 10:18am | Report comment
Yeah, but if he had stayed with the State that gave him his shot at the big time, he’d have had everything his letter says he wants already.
A bit short sighted by Mr Pocock – and even more so not to come back in 2009 when the Reds rolled out the red carpet – including Croft retiring – to give him all he could want.
July 29th 2012 @ 7:42pm
Bakkies said | July 29th 2012 @ 7:42pm | Report comment
Croft was the problem he went to the Force when Croft was the starting 7 and knowing what Qld was like at the time he would have waited 3 seasons for a starting spot. When Latham left Croft was the Refs heart and soul. As a result of going to the Force Pocock was already a Wallabies fixture. A lot different to the Brumbies where Brett Robinson retired early to allow George Smith to start.
July 29th 2012 @ 8:01pm
Bakkies said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:01pm | Report comment
Sorry typo Reds heart and soul.
July 30th 2012 @ 7:45am
formeropenside said | July 30th 2012 @ 7:45am | Report comment
I think he’d have learned a lot playing with Croft – and you can bet Pocock would not have been on the bench for three years.
My point remains though, if he had stayed in Qld he would have had everything his letter said he wanted already.
July 30th 2012 @ 11:55am
AndyS said | July 30th 2012 @ 11:55am | Report comment
They would have benched the captain for him? Doubt it somehow. By 2009 he had lived as long in WA as he ever had in Q’ld and was already a fringe Wallaby. If he had stayed put he would have been a fringe Red, or they would have tried to keep him at 12 and turn him into some sort of Lloyd Johansson centre.
July 29th 2012 @ 11:51am
Rob from Brumby Country said | July 29th 2012 @ 11:51am | Report comment
So I can take it that you’re still working for the same company that gave you your very first job, Winston? Or are there standards only applicable to professional sportsmen?
July 29th 2012 @ 8:19am
gurudoright said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:19am | Report comment
Maybe it is time to allow the Force some concessions when it comes to recruitment. It seems no marquee Australian players are willing to go there, maybe open up 3 or 4 slot for overseas players from the Pacific or Argentina. and a marquee player from the Northern Hempishere
July 29th 2012 @ 8:46am
winston said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:46am | Report comment
They need to do something like that otherwise the Force are going be a bigger joke than this year. There is a lot of cash in perth. Some rules would have to be adjusted but it would make for a far better comp. They could recruit some pacific island reps as well, i’m sure some SA players would find it an attractive option to play there for a season.
July 30th 2012 @ 7:34am
mania said | July 30th 2012 @ 7:34am | Report comment
or maybe its time to admit aus cant support 5 teams?
July 30th 2012 @ 9:19am
Winston said | July 30th 2012 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Yeah that too
July 30th 2012 @ 11:49am
AndyS said | July 30th 2012 @ 11:49am | Report comment
Or maybe it is time for the Force to bite the bullet and spend their money on developing players rather than relying on players from the Eastern States. It would mean a few hard years, but they can hardly say the approach they’ve taken to date has worked seven years on.
July 29th 2012 @ 9:03am
hog said | July 29th 2012 @ 9:03am | Report comment
As a rebels supporter i sympathies with the Force, you can’t blame Pocock either he gave them 7 years, and maybe this could in a strange way be the thing that turns things around for the force, but we need leadership from the ARU as a franchise in a non Rugby state they need to have some concessions regards recruiting, The problem is the player base is the same but now we have 5 teams and until the Rebels and Force can produce home grown talent and that realistically may take 5-10 years. If support is not provided then this problem will simply go around in circles.
July 29th 2012 @ 9:18am
nickoldschool said | July 29th 2012 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Looks like 2013 will be another ‘year of transition’ for the WF without their 3 best players in 2012 (Pocock, Sharpe and Nalaga). Wallabies stars like Pocock, Genia, Cooper, O’connor etc won’t come so they have to invest in some young prospects and hope they blossom with them. Guys like Hooper, Gill, F’Sautia should have been approached. It’s a gamble but at this stage they have no choice.
Sad to see our 4th franchise getting deserted year after year. Dunno how the wealthiest region of the SH can’t attract and keep quality rugby players. They have the money, the lifestyle…just don’t get it.
July 29th 2012 @ 2:44pm
PeterK said | July 29th 2012 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
its called a salary cap, which I think only Aust has. Doesnt matter that WA has the most money they are not allowed to spend it depsite being able to afford it. Really stupid. I totally disagree with an arbitary salary cap. The ARU should oversee payments and ensure the franchise can afford to pay what it has BUT it should not force the same amount on everyone.
July 29th 2012 @ 3:45pm
Rob from Brumby Country said | July 29th 2012 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
I agree, that salary cap seems like a solution in search of a problem. It’s not like rich, moneyhungry states were buying up all of the talent in Australia and starving the poorer states. If that were the case, the Western Force would be dominating the competition by now!
All it means is that the franchises will have less money to give to quality players who will be able to earn more in France or Japan. And we all know where that leads…
But since when did the ARU care about the state of Aussie rugby?
July 29th 2012 @ 8:00pm
Bakkies said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:00pm | Report comment
It all goes back to the days when there were rumours that the Force and Tahs will pillage teams like the Brumbies due to economics and lifestyle. As it stands now the opposite happened and very Brumbies players have gone to the Force or stepped down to the Waratahs. Bar Vickermann and Timani most Brumbies who have gone to the Tahs have gone there to decline for bigger dollars. The Rebels have only lured Brumbies players who were past it or on the fringe like Tauemopou (who was flung aside after one season) and Jono Owen. Brumbies have lured big name players and a RWC winning coach to it’s small ‘boring’ city. What the rumour mongers from Sydney fail to realise at the end of the days it’s about the rugby program not the lifestyle. Only a handful fall in to that trap and get in to trouble.
I remember when Wendell Sailor was talked out of signing with the Brumbies when he switched to Rugby as Canberra supposedly didn’t offer him marketing and lifestyle opportunities. Playing in a world class backline week in week out wasn’t enough in the ARU. In the end Sailor struggled to score tries in a poorly drilled talented Reds backline. Went to the Tahs, didn’t reach his potential for the Wallabies and was sacked for failing a drugs test.
July 29th 2012 @ 7:07pm
Lats said | July 29th 2012 @ 7:07pm | Report comment
Mate,
Pockok must have been their highest paid player right?
They should make a bid for Harris, Tapuia and Lane from QLD.. if they can land 2 or all 3.. then WF are right back amogsnt it.. Surely Lane and Harris are not going to want to want to be second string to Quade Cooper for ever ? both those guys are class 5/8ths in their own right… going to WF might give them the game time they both need.
Tapuai the best center in Australia should command big bucks.. suprised the Rebels havent made a bid for him..
Lets cut the BS.. if you want to play S15 rugby.. Western Force has a lot going for it. A lot of those blokes have played for the Wallabies.. if you make the starting lineup.. you are are only one step away from test rugby…
Pockok was a wonderful servant for the Force, but him leaving opens up a blank chequebook to get some of those great QLD players who feel they should be getting paid more….
If they can get any of Harris, Tapuai and Lane.. they will be doing ok.. if they can get 2 or all 3.. they will ROCK!!
July 29th 2012 @ 8:07pm
Bakkies said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:07pm | Report comment
Further to add the Reds were in disarray and no one would go there. So any serious offer would lure them away from there. Even with their recent success the Reds haven’t signed a Wallaby regular.
All three of those players are staying and you can include James Hanson who has signed a new deal. You can’t keep riding the pine behind a player your age long term. You won’t increase your value and it’s tougher to make the Wallabies.
July 30th 2012 @ 7:49am
formeropenside said | July 30th 2012 @ 7:49am | Report comment
Bakkies, the Reds dont poach from other teams. We dont try to steal talent from elsewhere: why would we, its never as good as a Queenslander. All we ask is that you leave us alone and dont poach what we have developed.
Its funny, all NSW best players are Queenslanders, and they supposedly produce all this talent.
July 30th 2012 @ 9:52am
Bakkies said | July 30th 2012 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Cough where are Faingaa x 2, Shepherdson, Harris, Wallace Harrison, Higginbotham, Taupai, Samo, Beau Robinson from? They sure ain’t Queenslanders or products of Qld Rugby. Ex Reds god Chris Latham was from Narrabri in NSW. If Qld were so good they wouldn’t have to recruit from NZ or interstate.
July 30th 2012 @ 9:56am
Bakkies said | July 30th 2012 @ 9:56am | Report comment
Chuck in Ioane (Kiwi born via Melbourne and his family still live there) and Q Cooper both Kiwis.
July 30th 2012 @ 2:56pm
Chop said | July 30th 2012 @ 2:56pm | Report comment
That’s not a serious comment, surely?
July 30th 2012 @ 8:34pm
Bakkies said | July 30th 2012 @ 8:34pm | Report comment
I am responding to FO’s stupid comment about the Reds not being poachers. Half the team aren’t from Queensland.
July 30th 2012 @ 12:00am
Jutsie said | July 30th 2012 @ 12:00am | Report comment
Actually Lats it has been reported that both the force and rebels have on separate occasion made offers to Tapuai but he decided to stick with the reds.
I wouldve preferred him to higginbottom actually, his a melbourne boy too. We have delve, saffy and luke jones (who is very promising) that can cover 6 and 8 what we should be recruiting is front rowers, a decent 7 (one of the tahs 7′s wouldve been nice considering they now have 4 on the book) and an inside centre or 5/8.
July 30th 2012 @ 12:36am
RebelRanger said | July 30th 2012 @ 12:36am | Report comment
With Mortlock gone and Huxley, Gerrard leaving as well I’d add outside centre for the future (as I don’t think Inman is a standout) plus a group of outside backs (with the potential to be great not average journeymen like Lachlan Mitchell)
July 30th 2012 @ 12:48am
Jutsie said | July 30th 2012 @ 12:48am | Report comment
I dont mind inman because his not flashy but he adds alot of starch to the defence, our best defensive efforts this year have been when he was fit. He also runs good hard lines. His not spectacular but he will compliment guys like beale and o’connor. Sometimes u need the work horses.
Yeah mitchell im not so sure on. Its a shame we let betham go to the tahs he looked alright last year on the wing. I would also like to see kingi get more game time, if not at half back then on the wing. He offers alot in attack.
July 30th 2012 @ 1:10am
RebelRanger said | July 30th 2012 @ 1:10am | Report comment
I heard about his defense and in the preseason a mate and I dubbed him Mitch Inhumane. Which wore off quickly as was neither menacing with ball in hand or with his tackles. Unlike aging Mortlock who made a few bone crunching hits! Your right though, we do need solid players to compliment our attacking threats. Just wish they were more in the mould of a intelligent game reader ala
Mortlock/ Conrad Smith instead of a solid yet unspectacular Tom Carter.
Betham was definitely a project left early. But the few times I’ve seen him around town, he was a douche bag, maybe that’s why they cut him. Would have loved to get Pama Fou (for
Australia Sevens).
Kingi at 15 was really good. If we keep KB at 10, I think Kingi should play 15. He’s potent on attack and offers a second play maker who looks to distribute.
July 29th 2012 @ 9:18am
LeftArmSpinner said | July 29th 2012 @ 9:18am | Report comment
my surprise is that he has made a decision prior to knowing who will be the new coach and hence what he can expect.
Many teams under performing teams, invariably at rock bottom, resurrect themselves with the arrival of the new coach. Just ask the Brumbies.
For such an impressive player and human being, he should be looking for where the best teams will be rather than where they are………..
I don’t question his decision to move, just the timing so close to the appointment of the new coach. Unless he knows something more than us mortals.
July 29th 2012 @ 2:46pm
PeterK said | July 29th 2012 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Since the force have been reduce to offering a pathetic coach like Foley 3 years (and still knocked back) I dont think the remaining candidates are of much known quality. Certainly no one of the stature to be able to retain Pocock.
July 29th 2012 @ 9:19pm
Carnivean said | July 29th 2012 @ 9:19pm | Report comment
I think the timing of the announcement played a big part in Pocock leaving, specifically its absence. Part of his thinking must have been that these muppets couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery, let alone assemble a competition winning coaching setup and team.
July 29th 2012 @ 9:19am
stillmissit said | July 29th 2012 @ 9:19am | Report comment
I blame Richard Graham for a big impact on this. Then compound that with the inability to get a decent coach (What happened to Michael Chikka?) and it was on the cards that Pocock would go.
Perth is a great town to live and is one of the wealthiest states in Australia at the moment. They need to get a major miner sponsor on board and get rid of the drop kicks at the top of the Force. Allowing that leak about Genia has to be one of the most stupid things they could have done, add to that announcing Pocock’s departure before he is gone, didn’t they learn anything from the Genia episode. Who are these cowboys in the West? Big buckles and no brains?
July 29th 2012 @ 11:07am
sittingbison said | July 29th 2012 @ 11:07am | Report comment
Just a slight correction stillmissit:
It was not Force who leaked Genia, and Pocock announced he is leaving.
That aside, yes the Force board is a shambles and needs a complete clean out. The organization needs a clean sweap as well, all the other jobs should also be advertised,
July 29th 2012 @ 8:33pm
El Gamba said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:33pm | Report comment
Pocock is at the end.
Tim Horan “leaked” Genia, strange that a staunch Queenslander would attempt to scupper the deal.
There hasn’t been a lot reported on the coach, there was a little gem about Cheika though “Cheika was also believed to be upset about details of the negotiation leaking”.
Loose lips sink ships and these two moments led to Pocock.
It’s a conspiracy by the establishment to keep the Force down.
July 29th 2012 @ 9:21pm
Carnivean said | July 29th 2012 @ 9:21pm | Report comment
The entire Fox Sports team mentioned several times that they were all told, repeatedly, and my a number of people. Tim was just the one that made the announcement. It was hardly a secret at that point.
July 29th 2012 @ 10:33am
jnr said | July 29th 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
so can anyone tell me if they think the force will win as many games nxt yr as they did this yr im findin it hard to think that they gonna win any now pocock decided 2 go wouldnt b surprised if sharpey comes bak nxt yr now 2 lead again
July 29th 2012 @ 10:36am
Garryown said | July 29th 2012 @ 10:36am | Report comment
As had been said several times lately two things need to be done ASAP.
1- sort out the Force management and this should be done by the ARU straight away.
2. The ARU should wake up and give the Force the same deal as the Rebels have had..
Both outfits have been f..ting around for too long.