Rugby union in Western Australia

Rugby union in Western Australia describes the sport of rugby union being played and watched in the state of Western Australia. The code was first introduced some time in the 19th century. The game tends to be centred on Perth, and Fremantle. Due to the scattered nature of WA's population, it is not so common outside the metropolitan area. The isolation of WA has also made it difficult for the sport to maintain a relationship with rugby elsewhere in Australia.

The Western Australia Rugby Union (RugbyWA) is the governing body of rugby union in Western Australia, founded in 1893. The top club competition is the Premier Grade

Western Australia is the home of the Western Force, a franchise in the Super Rugby competition since 2006. Their home ground is NIB Stadium, which has a capacity of 20,500 spectators. The development team is the Perth Spirit, which has competed in the Australian Rugby Championship in 2007 and the National Rugby Championship since 2014.

History

Regular sport did not begin to be played in Western Australia until the late 1860s and early 1870s.^[1]

Notable players

• Bob Thompson first player selected to play for the Wallabies from a WA Club
• John Welborn (retired, first Western Australian born to represent the Wallabies) - NSW Waratahs, Sharks (Currie Cup), Leicester Tigers, CA Brive, Western Force, Australia
• Brett Sheehan - NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, Western Force, Australia
• Adam Wallace-Harrison - ACT Brumbies, Australia A
• Kieran Longbottom - Western Force
• Dane Haylett-Petty - Western Force, Australia under-19, Australia^[2]
• Scott Higginbotham - Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels, Australia
• David Collis - Queensland Reds
• Darren Murphy - Queensland A
• Will Brock - Perth Spirit, Australia sevens
• Daniel Montagu - Nottingham R.F.C., Leicester Tigers
• Ryan Tyrrell - Perth Spirit
• Dan Bailey - Perth Spirit
• Salesi Ma'afu - Western Force, Joondalup Brothers RUFC

References

Bibliography