HAYLETT-PETTY EXTENDS FORCE RETURN

Aug 1 • General News, Super Rugby • 1667 Views • Comments Off on HAYLETT-PETTY EXTENDS FORCE RETURN

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The Western Force has received a further boost in the lead-in to its 10th season of Asteron Life Super Rugby with the retention of local product Dane Haylett-Petty for the 2015 season.

Perth-raised Haylett-Petty returned to the Force in 2014 after playing four seasons overseas in France and Japan. The 25-year-old, who also played the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons with the Force, started in nine matches with the Western Australian club in 2014 after returning from a groin injury at the start of the year.

Haylett-Petty made his return to Asteron Life Super Rugby as a late inclusion into the starting XV at fullback in the Force’s 28-16 win over the NSW Waratahs, having already played 70 minutes for his local club, Cottesloe, that afternoon.

The Hale School graduate, who has previously represented the Australia A Schoolboys and Australian Under 20 side, was yesterday named alongside his brother and 2014 Australian Under 20 representative, Ross Haylett-Petty, in the Perth Spirit squad to contest the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship.

Haylett-Petty says he’s enjoyed being a part of the Western Australian club again.

“I’ve really enjoyed coming back to the Force and getting back to Perth with all my friends and family,” he said.

“I missed the first six weeks of the season this year, which wasn’t ideal, but I then played nine of the last 10. I felt like I was starting to find some form at the end of the season, but unfortunately the end came too soon. I’m really looking forward to getting back next year and pushing for a place in that back three again.

“It’s been great to come into such a great group of boys here at the Force. The group is very tight, the culture is really strong and continues to grow, and it’s just a pleasure to come to training every day.

“That said, it’s important that we continue to work hard as it would be shame to take a step backward after all the advances we’ve made this season.”

As the second Perth player to progress directly from the RugbyWA Academy into the Western Force, Haylett-Petty says it’s exciting to see the influx and high quality of local players now earning their way into the Western Australian Asteron Life Super Rugby squad.

“It’s great to see so many local guys coming through,” he said. “Each year the number of local players seems to be growing and there seems to be more and more excellent young talent coming through which is fantastic. It just shows at all the work that’s been done by the Force over the past 10 years to develop these players is paying off.”

Head Coach Michael Foley says the club was very keen to retain Haylett-Petty beyond the 2014 season.

“Having watched Dane play in the French competition for Biarritz, it was clear he’d developed excellent game understanding to compliment a good pass, run and kick skill set,” he said. “On that basis and the fact that he is one of our Perth boys, we were keen for him to re-join the team.

“While Dane can play 15, wing and centre, the character he displayed in his performance as a last-minute inclusion against the Waratahs emphasised why we had to ensure he remained part of the squad into the future.”

Profile
Name: Dane Haylett-Petty
Born: 18/06/1989, Durban (South Africa)
Position: Wing/fullback
Club: Cottesloe
Height: 189cm
Weight: 95kg
Super Rugby caps: 21
Super Rugby points: 10 (2 tries)
Super Rugby debut: 2008 v Chiefs, Perth
Representative Rugby: 2008-2009 Australian Under 20, 2007-2008 Australian Sevens, 2007 Australia A Schoolboys