Super Rugby Women: Western Force announce return of Michaela Leonard, Sammy Wood and Nicole Ledington

Western Force have announced the return of three cornerstone pieces, with Wallaroos Michaela Leonard and Sammy Wood and fly-half Nicole Ledington all re-signing. Fresh off the confirmation coach Dylan Parsons will return for two more seasons, Force have announced the three key starters are the first names to come back for the 2026 Super Rugby Women’s season. Canberra native Leonard, whose 43 caps has her placed third all-time among Wallaroos, has signed on for a fourth season out west. A previous Australian captain who started all four games for the Wallaroos at this year’s World Cup, the lock has played 15 times for the Force over the past three years despite an injury-hampered season last year and Parsons said her re-signing was vital. “Michaela’s re-signing not only shows her quality as a player, but also shows how she has chosen the club to be her home,” Parsons said. “She’s someone who we recruited into the program and has now re-committed, which is an endorsement for all the work that has been done around the club in setting up a program that people want to be a part of and commit to long term. “We’re thrilled to have her re-sign, given she’s a leader in the Wallaroos, who’s also been to multiple World Cups. She’s become an influential leader within our group for a number of seasons now. “Mac has been able to influence the young group coming through. She understands our values and what we’re about, so she’s able to help drive those values every day.” Wood was another who battled injury last year, but having missed the entire Super W campaign through a shoulder concern, the homegrown scrum-half recovered in time to start all four World Cup matches. The ARKS and Kalamunda product won the Rebecca Clough Medal, the Force’s highest individual honour for its women’s team, in 2024. “The resilience she showed with the journey she went on last year is something special,” Parsons said. “She missed all of Super W with injury but was able to prove people wrong and tick off a dream to play for the Wallaroos at a World Cup. She showed at the World Cup how important her skill-set can be for teams.” “For us to be able to re-sign Sammy as one of our local players is an important strategy to the long term success of the program and her signing is another endorsement of what we’re building as well. Kalamunda fly-half Ledington has spent the last week in a Wallaroos training camp and Parsons said it was rich reward for another local product. “Nicole is another exciting one where we’ve been able to continue to invest in our local girls. It’s a reward for her continued hard work and development,” he said. “For her to get her first taste at a Wallaroos level recently, we’re excited to see how she comes back from that experience and helps our girls here build towards their own ambitions. “Nicole’s point of difference is her silky skillset. She’s very good around catch-pass decision making, has great rugby instincts and is able to create for herself or others.”