Grace Freeman set to end 450-day injury absence as Western Force face Queensland Reds

Grace Freeman is on the verge of ending a 450-day absence from rugby when Western Force host the Queensland Reds at Kingsway Reserve in Wanneroo on Saturday, with the fly-half named among the reserves for the Super Rugby Women’s fixture. Freeman suffered a significant foot injury against the Fijian Drua during the 2024 season and has not played since.

The Perth-based side are chasing their first win of the 2026 campaign after going down to the Drua in a thriller last week — their only other match of the season so far. Freeman’s return from the bench offers a timely boost as the Force look to get off the mark.

The run-on side also features several notable changes. Winger Adi Vani Buleki comes in at No. 14 to replace the injured Ella Pietsch, while Yuna Sato has been brought into the starting XV to partner vice-captain Michaela Leonard in the second row.

Allana Sikimeti joins Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke and Alapeta Ngauamo in the front row to complete the tight five. Pia Tapsell and Anneka Stephens start at flanker, with Seina Saito at No. 8.

Force co-captain Samantha Wood links up again with Nicole Ledington at half-back — the same pairing that started the first Wallaroos Test of the year. Trilleen Pomare and Cecilia Smith form an experienced centre partnership, while Brooklyn Teki-Joye and Vani Buleki start on the wings and Aiysha Wigley is retained at fullback.

Freeman joins Sera Naiqama and Ngamihi Monk among the replacements, with the match at Kingsway Reserve kicking off at 2:05 pm WST.