Western Force announces coaching overhaul
NEWS: James Stannard will head up the Western Force’s coaching staff, which is full of past players, for the Super Rugby AUS competition, which starts next month.
The 42-year-old ex-Force scrumhalf, who is currently the club’s skills coach, will take on the top role with head coach Simon Cron stepping back during the tournament.
Stannard joined the Force in November before the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season, having previously worked within the Australian rugby sevens set-up, including at two Olympic Games.
During his playing days, Stannard was a No.9 who played 29 Super Rugby games for the Force across two stints in 2008 and then 2011-2012, along with the Brumbies (2009-2010).
He had a decorated career in Rugby Sevens, including playing at the 2016 Rio Olympics and being named the 2010 Australian Sevens Player of the Year.
Stannard will be assisted by Fortescue Academy head coach Jeremy Thrush and Fortescue Academy assistant coach Jonathon Lance, who are both ex-Force players.
Former All Black lock Thrush played 33 Super Rugby games for the Force (2020-2023) and was recently part of Australia’s coaching staff at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.
Lance made 28 Super Rugby appearances for the Force (2016-2021) and has recently led the Academy program in Thrush’s absence.
Force Super W head coach Dylan Parsons and Super W assistant coach Chris Heiberg will also provide support in the five-man coaching staff.
Perth-born-and-bred Parsons led the Force to the club’s maiden Super W semifinals appearance in 2024, backing that up in 2025, with support from Heiberg, who played 31 Super Rugby games for the Force as a prop in two stints from 2014 to 2016 and 2018 to 2021.
Heiberg was also part of the Force coaching staff during last year’s spring tour of South Africa.
Force general manager of rugby Chris Goodman said: “We’re excited to compete in the upcoming Super Rugby AUS competition and utilise it not only to develop our players but also our coaches and staff.
“Chucky [Stannard] is really experienced from his time in the Australian Rugby Sevens team, and he impressed everyone after joining us for the 2025 season.
“We know he’ll work well with Jeremy, Jono, Dylan and Chris, who are all connected, given they already work within our four walls, enabling a continuity of approach and internal development.”
The Force commenced their Super Rugby AUS training block last week with the side’s first game away to the Waratahs on Saturday, September 13, before home games at Palmyra RUFC against the Brumbies and Reds on Sunday, September 21 and Sunday, September 28, respectively.
