UWA Western Force Cup

UWA Western Force Cup (Interschool Rugby Competition)
Role: Founder & Strategic Lead (RugbyWA / UWA Western Force)
Organisation: RugbyWA in partnership with Western Force, UWA Sport & Local Schools

The UWA Western Force Cup is a large-scale interschool rugby competition launched to engage junior athletes across WA, strengthen school–club connections, and promote rugby as a values-driven sport. As the founding architect of the program, I worked closely with stakeholders at RugbyWA, the Western Force, and UWA to build the initiative from the ground up — from competition structure and school recruitment to sponsor engagement and media presence.

🔹 My Contributions:
Co-designed and launched the Cup, creating a sustainable, term-based format for school competition across Perth and regional WA.

Developed a comprehensive school engagement plan targeting primary and secondary schools with limited exposure to rugby.

Negotiated support from UWA Sport and Western Force, including access to facilities, branding, and player appearances.

Led the coordination of logistics, draws, officiating, safety protocols, and post-match experiences for participating schools.

Integrated inclusive divisions, encouraging participation from girls’ teams, multicultural cohorts, and schools new to rugby.

Partnered with clubs to establish clear transition pathways from schools to local rugby programs.

Created an accompanying values charter reinforcing teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship.

🔹 Delivery & Impact:
Over 60 schools participated in the first full cycle — many of which were new to rugby or re-engaging after a long hiatus.

More than 3,500 students competed in structured, safe, and developmentally appropriate matches.

Alumni of the program have since progressed to Pathways, State 7s, and community clubs, validating the model as a genuine talent pipeline.

Featured Western Force players at select events to build excitement and raise visibility.

The Cup became a cornerstone of RugbyWA’s junior participation growth strategy, and is now a proudly recurring fixture.

🔹 Legacy:
Established a scalable model for school rugby competitions that can be replicated across other regions and states.

Strengthened RugbyWA’s and Western Force’s reputation as proactive, school-facing partners.

Demonstrated how cross-sector partnerships (education, sport, NGBs) can build something greater than the sum of their parts.

Created new opportunities for school–club alignment, parental engagement, and local media coverage.

Contributed to a 70% increase in junior rugby interest among participating schools in the following season.

✅ Key Achievements:
Designed and launched WA’s flagship school rugby competition

Engaged 60+ schools and 3,500+ students in structured play

Connected schools to clubs, talent pathways, and community

Elevated rugby’s brand presence in education and youth sport

Created a values-led sporting experience with legacy impact