Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest has announced seven invitational matches for axed Super Rugby club Western Force later this year. Grandly titling the games, referencing Kerry Packer, World Series Rugby.
The seven match World Series Rugby will trial some new initiatives including a try being worth 10 points and a fixed time frame for scrums and lineouts. Former Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, who is serving as an adviser, believed an innovative revamp would make the game “faster and more exciting.” Lyangh added “We want to keep the ball in play and really reward the skills.”
The rule changes are designed to make the game more spectator and player friendly and Forrest hopes that WSR will evolve into a fully-fledged international competition for the Asia Pacific region in 2019 and beyond.
The matches, to be played at Perth’s NIB Stadium, will pit the new look Force team against Pacific nations Fiji, Tonga and Samoa plus Hong Kong and Super Rugby outfits the Rebels and Crusaders between May and August. A Japanese team is likely to round out the competition.
The former Tuggeranong Vikings coach Tim Sampson will lead the squad, which contains 11 former Force players and some familiar names in former Springboks centre Jacque Fourie, Peter Grant, Chris Alcock and Rod Davies.
Force squad: AJ Alatimu, Chris Alcock, Marcel Brache, Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Rod Davies, Andrew Deegan, Tevin Ferris, Jaque Fourie, Josh Furno, Peter Grant, Chris Heiberg, Rodney Iona, Feleti Kaitu’u, Brad Lacey, Kieran Longbottom, Ryan Louwrens, Cameron Orr, Harrison Orr, Leon Power, Ian Prior, Harry Scoble, Tom Sheminant, Brynard Stander, Elliot Turner, Clay Uyen, Fergus Lee-Warner
WSR invitational matches in 2018
May 4 v Fiji
May 13 v Tonga
June 9 v Rebels
June 22 v Crusaders
July 13 v Samoa
Aug 10 v Hong Kong
Aug 17 TBA