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Super Rugby Pacific

‘An honour’: Super Rugby champion signs on with Western Force for 2024

By Finn Morton

289 days ago

Ben Funnell of the Crusaders (C) is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try during the round eight Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and the Sunwolves at AMI Stadium on April 14, 2017 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Former Crusaders hooker Ben Funnell is the latest player to head across the ditch and sign out west after penning a deal with the Force for the upcoming 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Funnell, 33, represented the Crusaders 89 times from 2011 to 2019 and also played an integral role in Canterbury’s run to New Zealand’s National Provincial Competition semi-finals last year.

The New Zealander adds invaluable experience to this Force outfit, with Funnell contributing to five NPC-winning teams with Canterbury and also the Crusaders’ Super Rugby triumph in 2017.

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During that winning year with the then-Scott Robertson-coached side, Funnell scored five tries in 16 games – which included an appearance in the final against the Lions in Johannesburg.

“Joining this esteemed organisation is an honour, and I am genuinely thrilled about the opportunities ahead,” Funnell said in a statement.

“I am eager to contribute my skills, passion and dedication to the team’s success.

“I look forward to forging strong bonds with my teammates and making meaningful strides on the rugby field. Here’s to an exciting and successful journey with the Western Force.”

Funnell adds depth to the Western Force’s options at hooker with the Kiwi set to compete with Wallaby Feleti Kaitu’u and former Waratah Tom Horton for places in the matchday 23.

Head coach Simon Cron is looking forward to seeing how Funnell’s “knowledge and experience” can help the Force during the upcoming season.

“The hooker position is one we’re trying to build depth in,” Cron added.

“We’ve got some exciting talent in that position in our Fortescue Academy who we think will be great in the future, but Ben’s recruitment provides someone in the interim who can add to the group and the culture with his knowledge and experience.”

Funnell joins former Maori All Blacks lock Tom Franklin out west. Franklin, who won a Super Rugby title with the Highlanders in 2015, resumed training with the Force last month.

Wallabies Ben Donaldson and Nic White are other marquee recruits for the Force as they look to take the next step by making the finals in 2024.

Comments

2 Comments

David 289 days ago

thats great to see he will be playing super rugby in australia

Forward pass 289 days ago

A good solid worker as a player. he will be great for the younger guys to see his work ethic.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 4 minutes ago

Five changes for the All Blacks, including the return of Sam Cane

This is not an under strength selection and should be far too strong for the 6th ranked ( Northern) Italians

1 Go to comments

Bull Shark 6 minutes ago

Johan Ackermann returns to SA in new coaching role

Fabulous News. He can swan about here for a while until the England job opens up.

1 Go to comments

Bull Shark 11 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

You're outta here!

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 12 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Yellow for you. Timeout.

Low risk of danger, so there won't be a bunker review.

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 17 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

LOL. Tinfoil meet head.

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 25 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Not true. I'm a South African and I absolutely loved seeing the Wallabies beating England. And miss the Wallabies of old who were a devastating force with some of the greatest players of all time.

I hear quite regularly that Australians prefer Aussie rules, league, and cricket over rugby.

So again, seems like Australians are to blame for the state of the game in Australia?

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 33 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I find Ben Smith to be an emotionally driven hysteric. So I question everything he writes.

He launched into the year about the ABs being back this year. For a "journalist" his opinions are based on the flavour of the month.

He's at least gone quiet about how sh1t the boks actually are. Although I suspect he's working on an outrageous article to that effect as we speak, to drive engagement after the end of the Autumn series, as we'll all be taking a break until the 6N. Reading his drivel in between extended periods of alcohol and mince pie consumption, and low grade depression related to the lack of international rugby. Leading to more alcohol and mince pies.

22 Go to comments

Chesterfield 35 minutes ago

Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

The dominant pack should be enforcing their superiority with maximum points and the psychological advantage of taking the lead.

You don’t get that by saying we’ll settle for three and try again you get it by scoring seven and trying again. Doesn’t come off every time?

No.

But if you’ve asserted dominance letting the opposition off and not trying to build a double score difference is wrong minded.

All blacks have traditionally played to build the unassailable lead not meekly win a single point victory.

11 Go to comments

Arnold 38 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Aaah. Ben Smith. Ever the unbiased, objective rugby scribe......NOT.

Unable to give credit where it's due, other than for the ABs, especially when it comes to the Boks. His contempt for them is tangible. If you want to " Get Real" about these ABs Ben, consider when they last beat the Boks??? For us Bok fans, beating the ABs is the only true measure.

22 Go to comments

Reader76 57 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

"they [All Blacks] are nuggety and resourceful and don’t wilt. They are prepared to win the hard way, accumulating points by any means necessary."

Sounds like you're describing your arch-nemesis Ben 😁

22 Go to comments

CM 1 hour ago

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

This article only shows a part of SBs failings as England Coach. Firstly his reputation st Leicester was false, his SA and Welsh players won the matches not his coaching prowess. He has Wigglesworth as attack coach, someone who rarely attacked when playing. His player selection is awful, ignoring form players and sticking with failed internationals. He picks players that he knows and will be easy to manage for him. What on earth is Slade doing when even for Exeter he does not make line breaks with steppping, pace or guile, why on earth are Cole,George,Steward,Ford,Iseweke and a few other anywhere near the Team. Borthwick is awful as Head Coach of England.

1 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 1 hour ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Good to be writing about a WB team that has beaten two 6 N sides in successive weeks, Brett.

Lolesio indeed is looking very comfortable under Schmidt coaching. He must feel as confident now as he was feeling in his spell at Toulon last year. It will be interesting to see how he does against Finn Russell.

30 Go to comments

J Marc 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Your unterstanding of the relation FFR LNR, is far better than the one in the article. For Meafou, there is an article on Skelton saying he is totally indispensable in the australian game.

In France they are often compared, and french game is often, but not always ,based on this kind of number 5. But , there are a lot of kind of play in France and in the world, and it's a blessing, because otherwise, the game would be boring.

On my other post ,which you replied, my intention was to explain with some historics facts the main importance, in France, of the championship.

But ,once again, I would prefer 3 games in NZ , with the better french players.

289 Go to comments

Ninjin 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I said before the November tests that the AB's should go smash some Nh teams to find their feet and it seems that is just what they did bar France. Could have should have always sucks. Better to look to the future.

22 Go to comments