Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force stars Carlo Tizzano and Ben Donaldson proud to sign new two-year deals

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force stars Carlo Tizzano and Ben Donaldson proud to sign new two-year deals

A home Rugby World Cup and firm belief in what Western Force are building left Carlo Tizzano and Ben Donaldson with little doubt in their mind they were right where they wanted to be.

The Force announced on Friday the Wallabies duo had both signed two-year deals extending their tenure out west and tying the pair to the club until the run-in to the 2027 World Cup.

With Rugby Australia’s Wallabies selection policy unlikely to change in regards to limited opportunities for overseas players, proud Perth local Tizzano and fly-half Donaldson were eager to stay put.

Both Tizzano and Donaldson have starred for the Force this season, with the former having equalled a league record for most tries in a Super Rugby season by a forward and the latter sitting second in the league for points and goal-kicking accuracy.

And both had sizable offers to play abroad, but the pair both saw brighter futures in Australia — and specifically, in Perth with the Force.

“Money’s not the be-all and end-all in the world. There’s definitely more value to stick around for a couple more years and grow the game,” Tizzano said.

“To be honest, if I did sign overseas — I had a really good think about this — it’s me not backing myself to be the (best) openside (flanker) for the country and for Western Force, I’d kind of contradict myself and all my training and all my beliefs if I did that.”

Camera IconCarlo Tizzano poses during a Rugby Australia press conference. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images for Rugby Australia

“World Cups don’t come around very often, let alone a home World Cup,” Donaldson said.

“To potentially, be selected in that, I’ve just got to keep grinding, keep working hard to put myself in the best position.”

The pair join captain Jeremy Williams, back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny and hooker Nic Dolly in having signed for the Force through to 2027 at least.

Donaldson was enthused by the core the Force had built, despite the side’s season petering out and the club missing finals yet again after a strong start to the year.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

“We’ve shown a glimpse of what we can do as a team, but it’s been a disappointing year for us. We haven’t made the finals, there’s a lot of things I still want to achieve here in Perth and with *********** rugby.

“A lot of us aren’t from here (Perth), and it’s a real family club, so that’s the main thing for me. We haven’t played our best footy yet as well, so I’m really excited to see where we can take our rugby.

“There’s been a lot of chop and change in the past couple of years with the squad, but from last year to this year, there are a few of us who have been here now.

“All those learnings hopefully will come into place over the next couple of years. If we can keep a core group of players here with the coaching staff, there’ll be some good things coming up in 2027.”

Tizzano is one of the rare few West Australians to have pulled on the green and gold jersey and said was inspired by past Force flankers such as Matt Hodgson, Richard Hardwick and Kane Koteka.

Continuing to play in his home state was a big lure for the UWA product, but Tizzano said his teammates were just a big an influence.

“Another real good reason for me sticking around is I’ve got some really close mates in this team, the types of guys that will be the best man on my wedding type of thing,” he said.

“Those types of guys you want to share the field with at the end day when you’re in the 80th minute defending your line.”

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Super #Rugby #Pacific #Western #Force #stars #Carlo #Tizzano #Ben #Donaldson #proud #sign #twoyear #deals

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

For verified travel tips and real support, visit: https://hopzone.eu/