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.
mania
Guest
BB - "He was also infamous for dropping players who got man of the match the week before. " or players that were scoring too many tries, ie christian cullen, jeff wilson
Johnno
Guest
Keith you speak from the heart and I love that and it is people like you who I feel most sorry for. Proper rugby fans, who have Western Australia's rugby best interests at heart. And the force fans in Perth and in WA are being let down by both the ARU and the force administration. WA has a lot of ex-pats now and is growing each year, south africans, kiwis, england, irish, more and more each year, and more and more locals are warming to rugby and love it. Just being let down by incompetent fools at the top of aussy rugby tree, who are not putting any grassroots support in, or at the senior level to. Just have a hope she'll be right attitude, it is pathetic and real rugby fans in WA like you Keith deserve a lot better from the ARU and the force.
keith
Guest
The malaise set in at the Force a long long time ago.... I fired off an email to them as I rejected my renewal back when Giteau (I only go through the motions) was playing for them. In it, I decried the lack of club culture as I had just witnessed an opposing team staying out on the ground to honour a Nathan Sharpe milestone, whilst all of the 'name' WF players took off. The only ones that stayed there were some young WF players new to the club at the time. I happened to be at the boundary fence at Subiaco oval as it happened and it was such a poor look for the selfish players involved. I also stated that I would support a club who got flogged from pillar to post whilst developing and blooding home grown youngsters and following a plan of some sort. Finally, I told them I was appalled at the use of 'mercenary players' who came over for the big money, went through the motions on a weekly basis, then spent most of their second and final year negotiating their next club contract over east (and I include Mitchell in that list). I got no response... That was all before Giteau left... and clearly nothing much has changed.... I don't go to the Force games now or even watch them on TV.... So, being the dumb bloke that I am, I recently signed up as a twitter thingy and fired off a couple of tweets to the WF. I also emailed them re the coaching debacle. In my opinion the look wasn't professional from the moment Cheika said no. They should have said we're starting all over again and maintained control over their process. They could have rectified any issues that arose with Cheika, opened it up to all coaches again and had the ability to select anyone who applied on their own terms. Instead they went running to Foley with a silly offer that had FAIL written all over it. Now they look like total idiots AGAIN! Anyway, I received no response and they wallow about. In relation to Pocock, he has been a part of the force for long enough and sometimes a change is just a change otherwise you get stale. I admire his rugby, but actually think it is ok that he's left. It should galvanize a lot of people and ensure the club wakes up to what they are doing long term. As to the future, why can't the club secure a mining or corporate sponsor and fund their OWN development programs here in WA. I've recently been down to a couple of local clubs and there are volunteers coaching kid teams on their own with very little support or training.... yet some are outstanding and drilling their kids and having a ball. I bet the WF don't even know..... Cheers
Minz
Guest
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!
Bakkies
Guest
I am responding to FO's stupid comment about the Reds not being poachers. Half the team aren't from Queensland.
Blue Blood
Guest
John Mitchel is bipolar. The players and other coaches never knew what they were going to get day to day or between training sessions. He was also infamous for dropping players who got man of the match the week before. It got to the stage where he couldn't have a civil conversation with the other members of his coaching team. The media thought it was the players getting too big for their boots. Nope, it was the coaches steaming matches that got John walked.
Carnivean
Guest
John Mitchell is not an innocent victim. Reviled by all that he has coached, he was laughed out of NZ, run out of the Force, and now the Lions have shown that he was holding even them back, and shown him the door too. Lost the 2003 World Cup with the best team in the world. Most losses of any Super Rugby coach. Fired twice for pissing off the players to the point that they demanded that he was fired. Not to say that others are blameless (I think the Force bosses took their training from the Tah's bosses...) but John Mitchell is not innocent.
Johnno
Guest
-John Mitchell must be laughing at all this. He to me has been made the innocent victim in all this charade, as have james o'coonor and Pocock. It is the force administration and the ARU who are too blame.
Justin2
Guest
No different to any other sports around the world mania
Justin2
Guest
Yeah I know...
sittingbison
Guest
Pocock the player leaving the Force is not devastating, it is the one position well covered. The ready replacement is Matt Hodgson. Pocock the captain leaving is neither here nor there, he is a first year captain and was inept during the first part of the season. As others have said numerous times, Hodgo was probably the better choice to take over from Sharpie, it is understandable giving it to Pocock but he was never a happy fit. The real problem is Pocock leaving, and the reason WHY he is leaving. Which has precisely NOTHING to do with money, spending more time with mum and dad, the extra hour in the plane or any of those inane reasons. And it is the root of the problem for the Force. The Board and administration are in complete disarray, they have no idea. Vern Reid (CEO) said today "I don't know what we else could have done"!! FFS every rugby person in Oz, NZ and SA knew exactly what the Force could have done to keep Pocock. He also said "Some people may see it as a club in crisis. We are a long way from that." 1) No coach for 16 weeks 2) Chieka renegged 3) Foley approached (FFS a losing and reviled coach!!! Exact opposite of what is needed) 4) Foley renegged (the only good news in the whole sorry state of affairs) 5) GeniaGate 6) Braindead DickGate 7) Losing World quality player 8.) No captain 9) Revelation that Braindead "Dick" had total control of recruiting 10) Rugby General Manager Mitch Hardy has been made redundant 11) I'm sure I've missed something So the club is NOT in crisis. Nothing to see here. Move along.
Chop
Guest
That's not a serious comment, surely?
Jutsie
Guest
thats true SB but its also a lesson to professional teams to not get into bed with entrepreneur cowboys. Similar to investing they should stick to the stable and safe well known companies. Lower return but also lower risk.
sittingbison
Guest
herbert you are wrong on point 3
sittingbison
Guest
Its not fair to blame the Firepower fiasco on the Force. Johnson was a con man, the Force were not the only organisation hurt by him. And it was a third party deal, Gits manager organised it.
sittingbison
Guest
FYI Braindead Richard Graham had total control of recruiting
Invictus
Guest
If isolation/travel is such a factor then the Force should be allowed to offer greater incentives than the east coast sides during contract negotiations (ie salary cap increase/relaxation to rules governing 3rd party payments). I would prefer this to extra OS players at the moment (because I don't think we can attract them at present).
AndyS
Guest
I would say all of that is right Matt, in fact I'd go even further. The shame of it though is that they had a mandate to do that seven years ago, but instead chose to chase established players as the way to success. They've never really got past that or learnt the lesson that it is about the team, not the player..
AndyS
Guest
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.
AndyS
Guest
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.