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'United the group': Club legend to coach Western Force in Super W

11 Jan 2023

Western Force celebrate Matt Hodgson’s try

The Western Force have revealed some exciting news ahead of this year’s Super W campaign, with club legend Matt Hodgson set to take over as head coach.

Former Wallaby Hodgson, who was with the Force when they were kicked out of Super Rugby, has been working as the General Manager of Rugby at the club.

After making his debut in the Force’s first-ever Super Rugby match against the Brumbies 17 years ago, the former flanker went on to make 140 appearances for the Western Australian franchise.

But a new opportunity beckons for the club’s inspirational leader, with the Force announcing on Thursday that he’ll take over the head coaching reigns for the 2023 Super W season.

“Hodgo has brought a lot of energy and positivity to the group. He has united the group and grown the culture from the get-go,” Female High Performance Manager Claudia Bell said in a statement.

“The girls greatly respect Hodgo; I see it in their commitment to training and their changes to better themselves and the team.

“He is very much a conversationalist. He makes an effort to form bonds with the players, and with that respect follows. When he speaks at training, 100% of the squad if all ears; this is vital in any rugby team.

“As General Manager, eh has brought a lot of connections back to the club, the girls now understand what they stand for and the values they must uphold.”

Both the men’s and women’s Western Force teams will play crucial matches late next month, as they look to usher in a new era of greatness for the club.

While the men are set to kick-off their Super Rugby Pacific campaign on February 25 against the Melbourne Rebels, the women will also run out for their first pre-season hit out on the same night.

“There is a biz of a buzz around HQ at the moment with men’s teams,” Bell added. “We can all feel that the Force is turning into a powerhouse.

“The two teams feel very united, which comes down to Hodgo’s ongoing instillment of being one club.”

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BC 21 minutes ago

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Very pleased to see Jade Shekells given another chance, she looked very good against Italy. Interesting to see how she goes when defences are fresh.

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Yes, I agree that she should not encourage speculation, particularly as the Australian backs are their strongest point. She is still very young but her try in the PWR semi-final was amazing, she had no right to score that and there are very few wingers who would have. I am however a little concerned that we lose her because another country finds a tenuous connection and jumps in though I don’t think Jo Yapp would as she has a load of 7s players to work with who are suddenly making themselves available. On the other hand in my opinion we have a less gifted winger already in the squad. I hope she is patient and sets her sights more on the 2029 and 2033 World Cups, her chance will come.

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JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

As we've discussed before, Razor hasn't been utilising his full skillset but to be fair, Foster and a succession of Canes coaches have.

These elite sabbaticals are, as you say, beneficial to both countries. It'll be interesting to see what ROG teaches DMac.

84 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

“The issue isn’t seen at Test level at all”. So how many WC’s in the cabinet? Ok none, so how many WC finals lost? Ok none, so how many WC SF’s won? Ok none, so how many WC SF’s lost? Ok none, so how many WC QF’s won? Ok none, so how many WC QF’s lost? Oh ok, PLENTY!!! So nope, not seen at all at Test level…

Only Leinster & Toulouse take both comps seriously isn’t arrogant or disrespectful? Ofc it’s not, nor is it dismissive, disdainful or derogatory. Except it is!!!

As for Leinster meltdown, it’s not like they haven’t lost one or a few finals recently so fair cop you got me there! Or maybe not…

84 Go to comments

fl 1 hour ago

Mark Tele'a made the right call but the All Blacks won't suffer

SA already have 4 domestic sides.

Where they do add a SR side has literally no bearing whatsoever on whether Telea will play for the boks.

What does any of this have to do with the article, or with the comment you’re replying to?

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JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

Are you serious? The Irish national team have an awful record in knockout rugby.

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fl 1 hour ago

Leicester Tigers must rid themselves of their constant coaching instability

Isnt Graham Rowntree still out of a job? He could be a great signing.

Ditto with Stuart Lancaster.

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Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

Tarring all Boks with the same brush as the few you mention is, at best, a precarious perch.

Your reticence to back Ireland speaks volumes…

84 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

There’s more than one way to skin a cat old bean! For all of their success in recent years, and there’s been a fair amount (outside of wc’s ofc…), even those with emerald tinted glasses would struggle to say Ireland have a similar rep on physicality to SA. Jeez it’s only on the last few that they don’t regularly get steamrolled by England!

84 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

So if you’re telling me BOD’s an arse, then who am I to disagree…!

84 Go to comments

PE 1 hour ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

That’s twisting the narrative a bit. And BOD talks through his arse quite a bit these days. In Ireland, Schoolboy rugby comes under the jurisdiction of the Dept of Education. The IRFU, under the jurisdiction of Sport Ireland 100% comply with WADA but the Dept of Education will not allow random or standardised testing drug testing in Irish schools. In fact, for non sporting reasons, 2 schools were taken to task for introducing a drug testing regime back in 2002.

84 Go to comments

RedWarriors 2 hours ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

And open space for their 13.

84 Go to comments

NB 2 hours ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

Surprise he needed to start Dupont at all, given that France were bound to win the game by 50+…

84 Go to comments

NB 2 hours ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

Which is precisely why I recommended NZ use him to take the pressure off their 10 more often for the ABs last season!

84 Go to comments

NB 2 hours ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

The sheer size of the Leinster squad and their academy quality pretty much guarantees a sweet deal DJ.

84 Go to comments

RedWarriors 2 hours ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

I reckon they have broken bread already!

What Conan said about Barrett was interesting and it was his calm, vision and decision making. He has free license now in defence but its not far off that situation in attack. He popped up in the 13 channel drew a player which meant Ringrose was faced with a couple of front rows and skinned them. Barrett saw that potential try before even Ringrose.

Has dummy and pass for Tommy O’Brien created the overlap for that try, completely bought by the Scotland defender but hard to blame him, everyone thought Barrett was going to shovel it on to O’Brien and the Scot bit.

Lastly Kyle Rowe was chasing a kick on. Barrett got there first and it looked like best option might have been a run infield to evade Rowe and then pass. But Barrett sense, or maybe saw Rowes face, Rowe was cooked. So Barrett feigned the infield run as Row was expecting and just doubled back. Rowe was done. Barrett got a huge kick upfield to completely diffuse that danger.

His free role at Leinster is showcasing his skill set, but also both his judiciousness in when and where to apply the skills and his clarity and decsision making under what should be severe pressure.

Actually the tackle on Vaipolu was significant. He broke from a scrum targetted Barrett and was hoping to flatten him as he did a few Leicester players the preceding week. Whatver Barrett did, Vaipola was on his ass and turned over a couple of seconds later.

84 Go to comments

NB 2 hours ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

I think Kolbe triggered that idea - or maybe Breyton Paulse a few years back - just too good to leave out. Now they are pretty common, Munster had their own one last week in Thaakir Abrahams.

84 Go to comments

NB 2 hours ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

They’ve picked up a few Welshies too - I think Rhys Webb was the last one IIRC…

84 Go to comments

NB 2 hours ago

Jacques Nienaber's Galactico recruits are driving Leinster towards a fifth star

For blokes on the juice they sure don’t bulk up much G!