The Western Force is an Australian professional rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia, currently competing in Super Rugby Pacific. They previously played in Super Rugby from 2006 until they were axed from the competition in 2017. Following their axing they played in the National Rugby Championship in 2018 and 2019, replacing the Perth Spirit, and Global Rapid Rugby from 2018 to 2020, an Indo-Pacific competition organised by Andrew Forrest.
The Zimbabwe national rugby union team, nicknamed the Sables, represents the Zimbabwe Rugby Union in international competition. While sides representing the colony of Rhodesia have played as early as 1910, the modern day Zimbabwe rugby team did not play its first test until 1981, against Kenya. Zimbabwe has competed in two World Cups, in 1987 and 1991, in place of South Africa, who were sanctioned by the IRB at the time due to apartheid. Zimbabwe is categorized as Tier 3 Development One, which prioritizes Zimbabwe over other nations due to historical success as well as popularity of rugby in the nation.
Adam Ashley-Cooper is a former Australian rugby union player who last played for the LA Giltinis of Major League Rugby (MLR). He has played in 121 matches for Australia, the third most of any Australia player at the time of his retirement. His nickname is "Mr. Versatile". He is currently the senior assistant coach for backs with the LA Giltinis.
David Willmer Pocock is an Australian politician and former professional rugby union player. Raised in Gweru, Zimbabwe, Pocock moved to Australia as a teenager and played for the Australia national rugby team. He played primarily at openside flanker, and was vice captain of the Brumbies in Super Rugby. After his retirement, Pocock worked as a conservationist and social justice advocate. In the 2022 Australian federal election, Pocock ran as an independent candidate for one of the Australian Capital Territory's two Senate seats. He defeated Liberal incumbent senator Zed Seselja, ending the two major parties' duopoly on the ACT's Senate delegation which had been in place since the ACT was granted Senate representation in 1975.
Andrew Friend is an Australian rugby union coach and former player. He completed his most recent post as Director of Rugby for Irish province Connacht at the end of the 2022/23 URC season. He was previously head coach of the Australia Sevens team, the Brumbies in Super Rugby, English club Harlequins, and Canon Eagles and Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League.
Christian Pharaoh Leali'ifano is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Super Rugby club Moana Pasifika. Born in New Zealand, he represents Samoa at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds, having previously played over twenty-five times for Australia between 2013 and 2019.
Sitaleki Timani, is a Tongan-born, Australian professional rugby union footballer. He made his test debut for the Wallabies in 2011. His usual position is lock. Timani's professional club career spanned eight seasons of Top 14 in France and seven seasons of Super Rugby in Australia. He currently plays for the RC Toulonnais in the Top 14.
Alfie Mafi is an Australian professional rugby union football player of Tongan descent. His usual position is wing. Mafi has represented Australia in rugby sevens and at under-19 level at the IRB World Championships. He previously played Super Rugby for the Waratahs, Brumbies, and Force. He currently plays in the French Top 14 league for Brive.
Zack Holmes is an Australian rugby union player who plays for Toulouse in Top 14. He is a utility back who has played fly-half and at centre.
Tevita Kuridrani is a Fijian-born Australian rugby union player. His usual position is outside-centre. He is currently with French club Biarritz and previously played for the Brumbies and Western Force in Super Rugby. Kuridrani has sixty caps for Australia in international rugby.
Ian Prior is an Australian-born Zimbabwe international rugby union player who previously played for the Western Force in Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman. He previously played for the Force, Reds and Brumbies teams in Australia at Super Rugby level, as well as for English club Harlequins. Prior's usual position is scrum-half but he can also play fly-half.
Tetera Faulkner is an Australian professional rugby union player. He currently represents the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super Rugby competition. His regular playing position is prop.
Lachlan Patrick McCaffrey is an Australian rugby union player for the Austin Gilgronis of Major League Rugby (MLR). His regular playing position is Number Eight.
Winston Stanley is an Australian-born Samoan former rugby union footballer who usually played as a centre and occasionally as a wing.
Fua Leiofi Bundellu Aki is a New Zealand-born Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Connacht. Born in New Zealand, he represents Ireland at international level after qualifying on residency grounds. He became an Irish citizen in 2024, and maintains dual citizenship. He has one cap for the British and Irish Lions.
Jarrad Butler is an Australian professional rugby union player. He primarily plays as a flanker but also plays at number 8. Butler currently plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14. Before joining Connacht, Butler played in Super Rugby, first for the Reds and then for the Brumbies. While playing for the Brumbies, Butler also played for National Rugby Championship the Canberra Vikings, where he served as captain.
Ollie Hoskins is an Australian rugby union international player who started his career as a prop for the Western Force in Super Rugby and signed with London Irish in March 2016. When the club folded, Hoskins was signed by Saracens in June 2023.
Robert Abel is an Australian rugby union coach and former professional rugby union player who as of 2023, coaches forwards for the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby. He previously played at hooker for NSW, Melbourne Rebels and for the Brumbies in Super Rugby. The Māori All Blacks, and the Canberra Vikings and Perth Spirit, and also played for Northland and Auckland in the ITM Cup.
Chance Peni-Ataera is a New Zealand-born rugby union footballer who plays for the Hino Red Dolphins in the Japan Rugby League One competition. He has previously played rugby league for the Cook Islands at international level.
Reesjan Pasitoa is an Australian professional rugby union player. He currently plays for the Western Force in Super Rugby, having previously played for the Brumbies. His usual position is fly-half.
