The Western Force will be Eastern based for at least the first two rounds of the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season, becoming the latest sports team affected by the Western Australian government’s hardline border stance.
Rugby Australia announced the Brumbies and Waratahs have agreed to swap home and away fixtures with the Force, who will be living out of a suitcase due to the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Force’s home fixture against the Brumbies in round one will be played in Canberra and the Perth side is now set to host their ACT rivals in round six. The Perth fixture against the Tahs in round four will now be played in Sydney with the Force awarded hosting rights in round nine.
At this stage, the Force are hoping to play their home game against the Reds in round three but the venue is yet to be confirmed.
Several West Australian sports stars are up in arms over the ongoing delays in returning to their home state and the restrictions being put in place.
Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist was the latest to vent his fury on social media, tweeting “Can anyone remind me why WA residents looking to return home are having to wait until Feb 5 to get let in? Even though they will be in quarantine for two weeks. Why can’t they just head back now and start the process?”
Perth Glory’s A-League men’s and women’s teams have been on the road for more than a month and were forced to spend Christmas in quarantine while the Scorchers managed to win the BBL final last weekend over the Sydney Sixers despite having to use Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium as their de facto home ground.
Western Australia’s participation in the final month of the Sheffield Shield season is also under a heavy cloud due to the border dramas while the West Coast Fever’s preparations for the Super Netball season have also been affected with several players stuck in the eastern states.
In the NBL, the Wildcats have not played in Perth for more than a month and have postponed their home games on February 6 and 10 and will now face South East Melbourne twice at John Cain Arena on February 5 and 13.
The Western Force are liaising with the Western Australian government about when they can return and are exploring the possibility of playing at venues on the east coast due to the ongoing uncertainty.
Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos thanked the Force, Brumbies, Waratahs and Reds for “their understanding and the spirit of cooperation in which they’ve worked as we’ve progressed through these necessary changes”.
“Unfortunately, we are all now well versed in dealing with these kinds of changes as we continue to navigate the uncertainty that surrounds COVID-19. However, we have managed to find a solution which maintains the integrity of the draw and allows us to proceed with minimal disruptions to the season.
“By relocating to the east coast for the opening rounds of the competition, the Western Force players, staff and their families are making a significant sacrifice and we thank them for that.
“Rugby has faced many challenges of the last couple of years, but I am heartened by the spirit and resolve which has been displayed by the entire Rugby community as we’ve worked together to find solutions and positive outcomes for the game during a difficult time.”
Force CEO Tony Lewis said they would continue to work hard with the Western Australian government to get their seven home games played in Perth.
“To deliver seven home games for our members and fans is of the utmost importance for us, so we’ll continue. We want to see all WA rugby fans at HBF Park for what promises to be a massive season.”
Revised Super Rugby Pacific fixtures.
*all times are AWST
Round 1 – Brumbies v Western Force, GIO Stadium Canberra, 12:00pm, Sunday 20 February
Round 2 – Rebels v Western Force, AAMI Park, 4:45pm, Saturday 26 February
Round 3 – Western Force v Queensland Reds, TBC
Round 4 – NSW Waratahs v Western Force, Leichhardt Oval, 12:00pm, Sunday 13 March
Round 5 – Fijian Drua v Western Force, GIO Stadium, 11:35am, Saturday 19 March
Round 6 – Western Force v Brumbies, HBF Park Perth, 7:00pm, Friday 25 March
Round 7 – BYE
Round 8 – Western Force v Rebels, HBF Park Perth, 5:45pm, Friday 8 April
Round 9 – Western Force v NSW Waratahs, HBF Park Perth, 5:45pm, Saturday 16 April
Round 10 – Moana Pasifika v Western Force, AAMI Park, 6:30pm, Friday 22 April
Round 11 – Western Force v Blues, HBF Park Perth, 8:00pm, Friday 29 April
Round 12 – Western Force v Crusaders, HBF Park Perth, 5:45pm, Saturday 7 May
Round 13 – Highlanders v Western Force, Forsyth Barr Stadium, 3:05pm, Friday 13 May
Round 14 – Chiefs v Western Force, FMG Stadium Waikato, 12:35pm, Saturday 21 May
Round 15 – Western Force v Hurricanes, HBF Park Perth, 8:00pm, Saturday 28 May
ScottD
Roar Guru
As of 2nd Feb, Israel had provided one shot to 76% of their population, 2 shots to 66% and 3 shots to 52 % of the population. Source: https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations?country=ISR I’d be interested to know where you get your data from that Israel is on the 6th?
piru
Roar Rookie
No counterpoint to King Js questions piru? Train? Scott? James? I'm not qualified to answer such questions, just as he is not qualified to interpret any answers. This is just a big game of 'see what you can find on the internet to prove the thing you want to be true' and I am not going to play.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
The teams swap ends at half-time so even if there's a bit of a slope it all balances out or is meant to. Most pitches are flat, even in the Eastern states.. In my experience the angle of the sun was more a of a problem.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Yea, I’ve looked back at some old threads and noticed they were still there. I think some had had the name removed - but my old man memory might be making that part up. Unless there was something significant on your old profile, no harm done. At least you’re back adding colour to the threads… even if we don’t often agree :stoked:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
haha dont start walking LOL. Maybe catch a jet... :laughing:
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
We're getting there Jacko!
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
He is compared to some...
sheek
Roar Guru
Jacko - Wow!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Sheek if you travel east for long enough you eventually end up west of where you started lol.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
haha rugby isnt life or death its far more important than that and its a bucketload safer than Covid.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Aaahh an insult. A clear case of got nothing better so needs to insult to get his point across. No wonder you have to change your name all the time. You have even started posting to others about me Paul. Should I feel privileged or is that just something you do?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
They had to leave all previous comments on there as it would have stuffed up many conversations if it were deleted. They tried to link it all but Im not keeping tabs on it like apparently some seem to be.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I would respond in how you are clearly struggling with comprehension. But I have better things to do. And I know you have all the time I the world to continue to deflect and divert from the truth Mr “20 comments a day”. So I’ll leave you to it.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I wondered why you disappeared for a bit. It does look like your profile reset its stats when that happened.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Only ever had 1 name Paul. Do you swap names? I hate that. To me thats weak.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Been here since 2016 paulo. Had an issue with the email I was using thru a business I closed down and it all went pineapple from there.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Yep. I don’t care how many Jacko profiles there have been over how long.This one is at 3000 comments in 5 months.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Jacko - you have been here for years. You’re profile was removed or reset last year and I assume the comment count with it. You are both right. You’re arguing different things. Paul commented on your current profile stats. Not how long you have been on the site.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
So you are refusing to believe me when I say its not true and I joined before that?
ScottD
Roar Guru
No Julian, there is no defeat there is only "fact" based on real "data". You are welcome to your opinion but I will never accept people quoting opinion as data based fact. I have always supported peoples choice but when the unvaccinated get worse cases of the virus than the vaccinated I don't expect them to ask for any special sympathy.