Written by Ben Somerford, courtesy of rugby.com.au Source article
Fresh fromearning representative honours, Rosie Ebbage and Alapeta Ngauamo have re-signedwith the Western Force for the 2025 Super Rugby Women’s season.
Ebbage, 22,and Ngauamo, 35, both joined the Force from other franchises ahead of the 2024Super W season where the side made the finals for the first time.
Lock Ebbageimpressed across five starts for the Force after switching from the NSWWaratahs. This week, she was recognised for her growth with Australia Aselection for the first time. Australia A are due to play Samoa next week.
Front-rowerNgauamo didn’t miss a Super W game for the Force in 2024, including five startsand a try following her move from the Queensland Reds. She earned her maidenWallaroos call-up in June and this week was selected for the upcoming WXV 2tour.
Force headcoach Dylan Parsons was delighted to see the pair re-commit to the Club.
“Rosie wasan up-and-coming lock when she first came across and locks are a position thattake time to develop their craft. We were thrilled with her growth in 2024,”Parsons said.
“She’s areally good character and someone who brings a good mindset to learn. We knewwe definitely wanted to have her back, so we’re really pleased to re-sign her.
“Now she’sgot some exciting opportunities ahead with Australia A. We see her as a futureplayer for this club as well.
“Pets isanother good story. She’s a more experienced player but she took a chance withus, moving across, looking for something different. She’s a fantastic characterto have around the squad.
“She’s alsoreally worked hard at her craft, working closely with assistant coach ChrisHeiberg in learning how to be a really effective prop.
“Now she’sbeen rewarded for a great season with a WXV squad selection, a few Wallarooscamp call-ups and she’ll be pushing hard for her debut cap as well.
“We see heras a player that should be pushing to be at a World Cup next year as well, soto have her re-sign is a testament to the program but also shows the program isdeveloping Wallaroos here too.”
The pair’sre-signings are part of the foundation blocks of the Force’s women’s program asit builds towards the 2025 Super W season, with the upcoming Perth Gold game onSaturday 21 September and the three-game Japan tour in October and November.
Parsonsadded: “We want to make sure we’ve got consistency in our squad with playerslike Rosie and Alapeta. To have that cohesion in what we are building it isreally important for us to have quality re-signings like these ones.”
RosieEbbage
Lock – 6/7/2002– Easts Tigers Brisbane
WesternForce (2024-, 5 caps)
NSW Waratahs(2021-2023, 8 caps)
AlapetaNgauamo
Prop –11/7/1989 – Wests Bulldogs
WesternForce (2024-, 6 caps)
QueenslandReds (2022-2023, 10 caps)
