Pocock's the leading Force on UK tour
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:53
Australian Under-20s skipper David Pocock will lead a 28-man Western Force squad on a five-week development tour of the UK at the end of July.
Pocock was announced as captain of the squad on Tuesday for a six-match tour pitting the Western Australian (WA) side against four top-flight Guinness Premiership teams and two regional academy sides.
On his first tour as captain the 20-year-old flank will have an abundance of experience to draw from, with Wallabies Tai McIsaac and Scott Staniforth named in the touring party alongside a host of established Super 14 campaigners.
The 28-man touring squad includes all available contracted Western Force players, with the exception of the five Wallabies Tri-Nations squad members and five players with long term injuries.
Forwards Scott Fava (ankle), Tom Hockings (shoulder) and David Pusey (foot), and backs Nick Cummins (leg) and Cameron Shepherd (ankle) were not available to tour due to injury.
The squad will open their tour program against Jonny Wilkinson's Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park on August 8, before matches against fellow English Premiership sides Saracens, Leicester and Northampton.
Coach John Mitchell said Pocock's appointment as captain was part of a succession planning strategy to grow the team's leadership group.
"We see David as a quality footballer and a quality individual and have recognised him as having outstanding leadership potential," said Mitchell.
"While all players in the squad are responsible for leadership, David has been named as captain for the UK tour and thoroughly deserves his position."
Mitchell said he had assembled a developing squad for the tour.
"We have named some experience in the squad along with some of our developing young local players and academy members," said Mitchell.
"The purpose [of the tour] is to provide us with some tough competition and to bring some of our developing players through and provide them with tour experience and expose them to high quality rugby," he said.
"The team will travel as the Western Force and will wear the Western Force jersey.
"We are going on this tour with the intentions of developing our game and to perform well in preparation for the 2009 Super 14 season," he said.
Mitchell said his side will face quality opposition throughout the tour.
"We are expecting the English teams to field strong sides. These will be important pre-season trial matches for each of these teams and they will be just as serious as we are about performing well."
The touring squad contains several fresh faces, including three RugbyWA Academy squad members in Tom Murday, Valeni Tia Tia and Justin Turner, plus a trio of local youngsters from the KWIK Senior Rugby Competition.
New Western Force recruit Caleb Brown, who joined the club on a two-year contract last month, will also see his first action in the ocean blue jersey.
The team departs for the 34-day tour on Thursday, July 31.
Western Force 2008 UK Development Tour Squad:
Dion Berryman, Caleb Brown, Pekahou Cowan, Scott Daruda, Gareth Hardy, Dane Haylett-Petty, Matt Hodgson, Luke Holmes, Tamaiti Horua, Kieran Longbottom, Barry Mansfield, Tai McIsaac, Tom Murday, Brent Murphy, James O'Connor, Pat O'Connor, Chris O'Young, Junior Pelesasa, David Pocock (captain), Filipe Manu, Haig Sare, Scott Staniforth, Troy Takiari, Josh Tatupu, Valeni Tia Tia, Justin Turner, AJ Whalley, Sam Wykes.
Schedule:
Thursday, July 31: Western Force squad departs Perth for Newcastle via Dubai
Friday, August 1: Western Force squad arrives in Newcastle
Friday, August 8: Western Force v Newcastle Falcons, Kingston Park, 20.00
Tuesday, August 12: Western Force v Saracens Academy, Old Albanians, 19.30
Saturday, August 16: Western Force v Saracens, Old
Albanians, 19.30
Saturday, August 23: Western Force v Northampton Academy, Franklin's Gardens, 15.00
Wednesday, August 27: Western Force v Northampton Saints, Franklin's Gardens, 19.00
Saturday, August 30: Western Force v Leicester Tigers, Welford Road, 15.00
Monday, September 1: Western Force squad departs Birmingham for Perth via Dubai
Wednesday, September 3: Western Force squad arrives in Perth
