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Perth Spirit name 40-man NRC squad

31st July, 2014
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Perth Spirit have named an extended squad for the inaugural NRC, with 40 names being listed ahead of their first match to be played on 23rd August against the Canberra Vikings in the nation’s capital.

There are 20 players from the Western Force squad named alongside 20 from premier rugby in Perth. Nathan Charles, Pek Cowan, Mat Hodgson and Ben McCalman are the allocated Wallabies for the spirit.

Western Force coach Michael Foley Spirit will function as an extension of the Western Force program and will provide playing opportunities for both his premier grade players and Super Rugby players. The Queensland-based teams will also have a similar approach.

“This time last year we undertook an intensive development period which targeted three key areas,” he said.

“Firstly, achieving elite levels of fitness and strength; secondly, strengthening our involvement with our local clubs; and finally, ensuring every player had begun planning for life after rugby. The 2014 NRC competition provides us with another forum to target further development.

“While a number of our front line Super Rugby players will target improvement in speed, power and skill, the Perth Spirit match program will present a great opportunity for a number of the Force’s younger players to experience competition at one level up from club rugby.

“To complement our younger professional players, we have identified a number of aspiring local players that will be given the chance to stake a claim for squad positions into the future.

“Our program will continue to remain focused on the development of our players on and off the field, but as part of that, the NRC competition will allow us to broaden the base of players with experience that are available to the Western Force. To that end, it’s important we’re providing those opportunities as a priority to players within the RugbyWA family.”

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The Spirit will play home matches in Perth at McGillivray Oval (Sunday, 31 August), Joondalup Arena (Sunday, 28 September) and Rockingham Rugby Union Club (Saturday, 4 October).

Perth Spirit 40-man NRC squad

Name Position Club
Robbie Abel Hooker Cottesloe/Western Force
Marcel Brache Centre/wing Perth Bayswater/Western Force
Luke Burton Flyhalf/centre UWA/Western Force
Nathan Charles Hooker Palmyra/Western Force
Pek Cowan Prop Wests Scarborough/Western Force
Tetera Faulkner Prop Wanneroo/Western Force
Nili Fielea Wing Cottesloe
Kyle Godwin Centre Associates/Western Force
Richard Hardwick Flanker UWA
Dane Haylett-Petty Fullback/wing Cottesloe/Western Force
Ross Haylett-Petty No.8 Cottesloe
Chris Heiberg Prop Perth Bayswater/Western Force
Alec Hepburn Prop Cottesloe
Matt Hodgson Flanker Wanneroo/Western Force
Zack Holmes Flyhalf Associates/Western Force
Oliver Hoskins Prop Cottesloe/Western Force
Kane Koteka Flanker Wests Scarborough
Brad Lacey Wing Wests Scarborough
Dillyn Leyds Fullback/flyhalf Palmyra
Va’a Mailei Wing Palmyra
Ammon Matuauto Centre Associates
Ben McCalman No.8 Kalamunda/Western Force
Luke Morahan Wing/fullback Kalamunda/Western Force
Brent Murphy Lock Perth Bayswater
Ian Prior Scrumhalf Nedlands/Western Force
Junior Rasolea Centre Cottesloe/Western Force
Alex Rovira No.8 Associates
Michael Ruru Scrumhalf Nedlands
Joe Savage Prop Palmyra
Harry Scoble Hooker UWA
Brynard Stander Flanker Nedlands/Western Force
Scott Stevens Lock Nedlands
Kieran Stringer Lock Cottesloe
Davis Tavita Flyhalf Nedlands
Heath Tessmann Hooker Nedlands/Western Force
Corey Thomas Flanker UWA
Justin Turner Scrumhalf Associates
Rory Walton Lock Wests Scarborough/Western Force
Francois van Wyk Prop UWA
Sam Wykes Lock Wests Scarborough/Western Force
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