HAYLETT-PETTY RE-SIGNS WITH FORCE FOR 2016 & 2017
Rising young lock/back-rower Ross Haylett-Petty will remain with the Western Force, after re-signing with the Western Australian club for a further two seasons.
The locally-produced tall forward made his Asteron Life Super Rugby debut in 2015, initially coming off the bench against the Stormers, in his first of two appearances for the season.
His maiden Asteron Life Super Rugby season followed in the wake of a number of standout performances for the Australian Under 20 squad in the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in New Zealand, several strong displays for the Perth Spirit in last year’s Buildcorp National Rugby Championship, as well as helping guide Cottesloe to a grand final appearance in the 2014 Pindan Premier Grade.
The Hale School graduate’s re-signing follows in the footsteps of teammates Francois van Wyk, Marcel Brache, Brynard Stander and Luke Morahan, who have all recommitted to the club in the past fortnight, and coincides with the start of the Western Force’s membership season, with a range of new membership options and improvements – including free memberships for children under 16, and priority access to the Wallabies Test match at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium) – for the 2016 Asteron Life Super Rugby season.
Haylett-Petty, who has joined brother and fullback Dane in staying at the Force through to the end of the 2017 season, says he wasn’t keen to look elsewhere for continuing his rugby development.
“It feels great to be back on board for the next two years and it’s good to know that the club sees me as being part of its future,” he said. “Personally, this is the club I want to be at and, to be honest, there’s no other club I wanted to play for. It’s great to get that confirmation that the Force has faith in me and that I’m proceeding in the right direction.
“I learnt a lot in my first season with the Force. I know there’s still a lot of my game I need to work on and the guys here are fantastic to give you that guidance. I know that if you continue to put yourself out there, you can learn a lot from the players and coaches here. I just want to keep putting in the work and soaking up the knowledge of the guys here and keep doing what I can to make myself a better player.”
After finishing school and having represented the WA Schoolboys in 2010 and 2011, Haylett-Petty spent 18 months away from rugby, studying a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Western Australia.
However, a return to play with Cottesloe at the end of the 2013 season saw him propelled into the WA Under 20’s the following season, and selected for the Australian Under 20 side where he started in every match at the Junior World Championship.
“There was a point where I didn’t think making it through the Force was possible,” he said. “However, when I made it through to the [Australian] Under 20’s, I saw how I could match it against some of the best players in my age group and there was the realisation that if you put in the hard work anything is possible.
“To get that first taste of Super Rugby this season was amazing; it’s really addictive and once you get one game, it only makes you want to work harder to get another one.”
Haylett-Petty says he’s very pleased to be staying at the Force with his brother.
“I want to stay in Perth; my whole life is here, including my family and friends,” he said.
“It’s fantastic playing with Dane. He’s someone that’s willing to teach me a lot and he’s very honest in providing feedback on how I’m playing and training. He’s been an awesome influence on my rugby so far.”
Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley says Haylett-Petty is hard-working lock/back-rower who will be pushing hard for further representation in the Force match day squad in 2016.
“Ross is a local junior, who played Australian Under 20’s as a No.8, but has the physicality to also play at lock,” he said.
“He’s working on his lineout management and repeat efforts during the NRC competition, which will allow him to increase his impact in games, and it’s fantastic to have him continue his development with us over the next two seasons.”
Western Force memberships are now available for the 2016 season! Click here for more information or to get yours now!
Profile
Name: Ross Haylett-Petty
Born: 10/01/1994, Durban (South Africa)
Position: No.8/lock
Club: Cottesloe
Height: 197cm
Weight: 110kg
Super Rugby caps: 2
Super Rugby points: 0
Super Rugby debut: 2015 v Stormers, Perth
Representative Rugby: 2015 Western Force; 2014-2015 Perth Spirit; 2014 Australian Under 20; 2014 Force ‘A’
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