Koliavu answers call from ravaged Force
Anare Koliavu woke on Monday morning to prepare for a week of club training in Perth before Palmyra's clash with Wests Subiaco in the RugbyWA competition.
Instead, he was flying business class last night to New Zealand with his new Western Force teammates and may make his Super Rugby debut against the Blues in Auckland on Saturday.
Koliavu was about to leave for work at his stationery company on Monday when Force rugby manager Mitch Hardy called to ask if he was free for the two-game tour to New Zealand.
A big injury toll means No.8 Koliavu is one of three new faces in the 24-man squad. He has been joined by prop Ruan Smith from the GPS club in Brisbane and second-rower Ollie Atkins from Sydney Uni.
"I was jumping out of my skin after Mitch called," Koliavu said. "I'm excited that I've got this opportunity. This is the chance I've been waiting for."
Koliavu, who joined Palmyra three years ago, was in the Force academy in 2010-2011 and last season won the PG Hampshire Award for the best player in the RugbyWA premier grade competition.
The 29-year-old also played for Fijian development side Fiji Warriors in last year's Pacific Rugby Cup.
An injury list that includes captain David Pocock, Matt Hodgson, Ben McCalman, Sam Wykes, Phoenix Battye, Salesi Ma'afu and Kieran Longbottom has opened the door to some young talent. Back-rower Lachlan McCaffrey is expected to make his first start and fly-half Kyle Godwin, who was in the Australian Junior World Cup side, steps up from the extended squad.
A surprise inclusion is another extended squad member, flanker Angus Cottrell, who dislocated his elbow playing club rugby in April and was not expected to play again this season. Hooker Ben Whittaker replaces Elvis Taione.
Force squad: *Ollie Atkins, Richard Brown, Nathan Charles, Angus Cottrell, Pek Cowan, Nick Cummins, Patrick Dellit, Tetera Faulkner, Kyle Godwin, Josh Holmes, Anare Koliavu, Toby Lynn, Alfie Mafi, Salesi Manu, Lachlan McCaffrey, Napolioni Nalaga, Ben Seymour, Nathan Sharpe, Brett Sheehan, Rory Sidey, Ruan Smith, Winston Stanley, Will Tupou, Ben Whittaker.
