By Fraser Smith (Western Force)
The arrival of Kane Koteka on the Asteron Life Super Rugby scene has given the Sea of Blue some insight into the future.
Twenty one-year-old Koteka is the first player to move through RugbyWA’s Future Force program to Asteron Life Super Rugby.
The local product is a perfect example of what the Future Force is trying to achieve by fostering talented juniors in a professional environment to develop Asteron Life Super Rugby and international calibre players in the West.
The Wests Scarborough junior made his provincial debut against the Wellington Hurricanes a fortnight ago and was made even more special as he ran out in front of his friends and family at the ‘Force Field’. Koteka said he was over the moon to pull on the Force Jersey for the first time.
“It’s a dream come true,” he said. “This is something I’ve always looked forward to doing so to finally get my first game, I’m absolutely stoked. When I got out there I was really excited and just wanted to get involved.”
Koteka earned a further two caps off the bench against the ACT Brumbies and the Melbourne Rebels and has been selected in the touring party for the two-match trip to South Africa.
It’s no surprise that the powerful and relentless back-rower has earned his maiden Asteron Life Super Rugby cap so early, coming from good rugby stocks. Koteka’s uncle, Paul, played 93 games for Waikato and six times for the All Blacks.
The Future Force provides a world class rugby academy to help talented junior athletes pursue a career in professional rugby and develop as people. Koteka is one of the three first scholarship holders along with Richard Hardwick and Harry Scoble.
The Future Force aims to have three players progressing to the Western Force squad annually by 2017.
