Wallabies contender Nick Champion de Crespigny has backed up his all action start to the 2025 season by extending his stay until the end of 2028.
The back rower has made an instant impact with the Force since signing in the off-season after three years in the France Top 14 competition with Castres Olympique.
The 28-year-old has started all three games for the Force this season, making 53 tackles and 20 carries as well as beating five defenders in attack.
Western Force player Nick Champion de Crespigny. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Force general manager of rugby Chris Goodman said he was thrilled with the extension of Champion de Crespigny’s deal.
“First and foremost, he’s a quality human,” Goodman said. “He’s really stood out since joining the Force and we quickly knew he was someone who would continue to add value around guys like Carlo Tizzano, Ben Donaldson and Harry Potter in the long term.
“Having Nick extend until 2028 is really important as we look to build long-term cohesion within our team.“
Goodman added: “He’s provided a week-in, week-out professional that we need. He’s got a hard edge to him. He likes hitting bodies.
“He’s got a good motor on him and he’s professional on and off the field.
“He adds a lot of value around the club in terms of leadership and personality.”
Champion de Crespigny said he was enjoying his time at the Force under head coach Simon Cron.
“I’m really happy at the Force,” he said. “This is a club moving in the right direction. I feel a lot of support from the coaching staff and the club in general.
“I feel like they’re making me the best player and person I can be which is exactly why I came here. I want to invest back in the Club and hopefully give back to the fans.
“It’s an exciting time to be in Australian rugby in general with the British and Irish Lions Tour and 2027 World Cup in Australia coming up.
“But it’s also an exciting time to be part of the Western Force. Simon Cron has created a great squad and culture around the organisation, with a view to sustained success into the future.
“Signing on long term allows me to make my own imprint at the club and try to assist in moving the club the right direction.”
Also on Tuesday the Force announced they have signed prop Tom Osborne on an injury cover contract for the rest of the Super Rugby season.
The 26-year-old has spent almost four years with English Premiership Rugby club Harlequins and was brought in by Simon Cron to replace loosehead prop Harry Hoopert who suffered an ACL injury in pre-season.
Osborne previously played alongside several current Force members at Sydney University, including Tom Robertson, Harry Potter, Tom Horton, Harry Johnson-Holmes and Nick Champion de Crespigny, for a side who won the Shute Shield in 2018 and 2019.
He moved to England to attend Oxford University in 2021, eventually signing with the Quins after a successful trial. During his time in England, he had loan stints with Championship Rugby club London Scottish, while he also captained Oxford University in their Varsity matches.
Osborne said: “I’m super excited to join the Western Force. The opportunity popped up with a few loosehead injuries at the Force and I couldn’t wait to get back to Australia and take up the chance.”
“I know a few of the guys already, it’s a beautiful part of the world but mostly I’m keen to be a part of the culture that’s building here.
“It’s a great squad, and an awesome coaching group.”
Sotutu to miss two, when all said and done
Blues forward Hoskins Sotutu has been suspended for three weeks after being found guilty of a dangerous tackle during the win over the Hurricanes on Saturday.
The Super Rugby Pacific Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) ruled that Sotutu’s tackle on Peter Lakai which resulted in a red card in the 75th minute, met the mid-range entry point for foul play, warranting a six-match suspension.
However, due to his admission of guilt and mitigating factors, including a good disciplinary record, the committee applied the maximum 50% reduction, reducing his suspension to three matches. He will have a further match taken off the suspension if he participates in World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention program.
The suspension means Sotutu will miss the Super Rugby Pacific matches against the Brumbies (this Friday), Chiefs on March 15 and, if he doesn’t do the course, the Crusaders on March 22.
Mils backs Barrett shift
Former All Black Mils Muliaina has urged Blues coach Vern Cotter to get Beauden Barrett back in the No.10 jersey after his strong cameo late in the win over the Hurricanes.
“Beauden Barrett should be at No.10, and when he moved to 10 at the weekend, he just showed all his class,” Muliaina said on The Breakdown.
“He was dominant the way he was decisive in his decision-making, even when he counterattacked from the back, the guys were all on the same page.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
“He understands the ability to get down the other end, and I tell you what, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything so great in the last couple of years other than Beauden Barrett breaking through the line like that.”
Cotter has preferred Harry Plummer at No.10 this season.
Muliaina said he initially thought Barrett should play fullback on his return from Japan, but has changed his mind.
“I said that he should be playing fullback and now when I see him in round one what he’s doing, and also his ability to open the game up.
“That’s what they’ve got, the Blues have got a different game to them. I know they won one last year keeping the ball in hand.
“But there’s a different element to them as well and I feel that in some of those players, particularly the likes of the outsides, they still want to play that expensive game and this guy here can mix them up and he can ignite it.”
