Western Force's first home semi-final elevated to HBF Park as Wallabies doubleheader

Western Force’s first-ever Super Rugby Women’s semi-final will be played at HBF Park in Perth after the fixture was upgraded from Wanneroo Rugby Club to serve as a doubleheader with the Wallabies’ Round 2 Nations Championship match against Italy.

The relocation transforms what would have been a standalone club-ground fixture into a marquee occasion, with Force and the NSW Waratahs opening proceedings before Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies face an Italy side still stinging from defeat the previous week.

Force head into the tie with momentum, having beaten the Waratahs 28-21 earlier this season in what was the first victory by an Australian team over New South Wales in the competition’s history. The Waratahs, however, carry the weight of a dynasty: Michael Ruthven’s side have won Super Rugby Women’s six times, a run of dominance only interrupted by the Fijian Drua’s back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.

Jilly Collins, Rugby Australia’s General Manager for Women’s Rugby, said the move was a fitting reward for the Force’s historic run. “Bringing the Super Rugby Women’s semi-final to HBF Park is a fantastic outcome for everyone involved and will be a fitting occasion for the Western Force’s first-ever home finals fixture,” she said. “This is a special opportunity to showcase the quality of our competition and our talented athletes, while also giving fans the chance to enjoy two elite rugby matches back-to-back.”

Collins added that the atmosphere at HBF Park should reflect the significance of the occasion. “We’re looking forward to an outstanding atmosphere at HBF Park as the Force and Waratahs battle for a place in the Grand Final before the Wallabies take on Italy in what promises to be a memorable day for rugby in Perth.”

The other semi-final takes place in Fiji, where the Drua host the Queensland Reds at Lautoka’s Churchill Park on Saturday.

The Grand Final is scheduled for Sunday 26 July at a venue yet to be confirmed. The Super Rugby Women’s champions will then face the Super Rugby Aupiki winners.