Western Force’s 2026 Season Ends, but Their Fight Was Not in Vain
Despite their hopes of making the finals being dashed for another year, coach Simon Cron expressed immense pride in how the Western Force stood up against the competition’s top teams in the 2026 season. The Force managed to improve their Super Rugby Pacific record to 6-7 after securing a 19-15 victory over the Fijian Drua in Perth on Saturday night.
However, Queensland’s last-minute win over Moana Pasifika earlier in the day, combined with the Force’s failure to secure a winning bonus point, meant that the Perth-based team was eliminated from the finals race with one round remaining. This outcome left the Force facing a tough reality, especially after having won four of their past five games heading into their final-round match against the Waratahs in Perth next Saturday night.
The Force’s inability to close out matches earlier in the season proved costly. A notable example was their 42-32 loss to the Blues in Perth, where they led at half-time but ultimately fell short. Similarly, they trailed the Highlanders in Dunedin despite leading by 10 minutes, eventually losing 39-31. Against the Hurricanes in Napier, the Force squandered an 11-5 lead in the second half, resulting in a 31-23 defeat.
In another close contest, the Force showed resilience in a 24-14 loss to the Chiefs at home. They also faced heartbreak in a 24-22 defeat to the Drua in April, where they failed to capitalize on their dominance.
Despite these setbacks, the Force managed to achieve some impressive victories. They defeated the fourth-placed Crusaders 31-26 and secured two wins over the sixth-placed Reds. These results highlighted the team’s growing strength and competitiveness.
Cron praised his players for their performance against some of the league’s strongest teams. “These guys played some brilliant rugby against some great sides,” he said after the Force’s finals drought extended to 21 years. “Previously when I’ve been coaching the Force against some of those bigger Kiwi sides, it’s been a challenge and we haven’t really been in the fight. Whereas this year against the Hurricanes, Chiefs and those sides, these guys were actually punch for punch.”
Force captain Jeremy Williams acknowledged the disappointment of missing the finals but emphasized the team’s determination to finish the season strongly. “We’ve still got a lot to play for. We’ve got each other, the club, the fans,” he said. “We want to put in a performance that we’re really proud of, and is what the Western Force is about.”
