Sef Fa’agase Reaches 100 Super Rugby Pacific Caps with Western Force
PERTH, AUSTRALIA — Sef Fa’agase stood on the field at HBF Park with the Western Force jersey soaked in sweat and the roar of the home crowd still ringing in his ears. At 35 years old, the veteran prop had just played his 100th Super Rugby game, a milestone that few front row forwards ever touch. The Force had beaten his old club, the Queensland Reds, 19-14 in a gritty scrap that kept their finals hopes alive. The journey to this moment started years earlier when Sef first pulled on a Reds jersey as a young tighthead hungry for a crack at the big time. He bounced around clubs, picking up scars and stories along the way. When the Force offered him a lifeline ahead of the 2026 season, he grabbed it with both hands. In Perth he found a tight group that felt like family and a fresh purpose in the west.
Sef Fa’agase with teammates on March, 2026 in in Perth Australia
After the match, Sef fronted the media at the press conference, still buzzing from the win. He spoke with the quiet pride of a man who has seen it all. “I came here thinking I had a few good years left, but the boys and the coaches made me feel like I belonged straight away,” said Sef. “My family is settled, and my kids love the lifestyle. I owe this club everything for giving me another shot. We are building something special here, and I want to be part of it, pushing for that first finals appearance,” he said.
Teammates describe Sef as the ultimate professional, the guy who leads by example in the gym and in the scrums. He can play both sides of the front row, and his experience has rubbed off on the younger props coming through. Off the field, he is the one organizing barbecues and checking in on teammates dealing with homesickness or injury. That human touch has made him a central figure in the Force dressing room.
The milestone caps a long career that took him from Auckland roots through Queensland junior ranks and even stints overseas. Reaching 100 against the Reds added extra emotion. He had worn their jersey 83 times, and facing them on this night closed a circle. Hours after the game, Sef sat with his young family, reflecting on the grind, the travel, and the sacrifices that got him here.
With his re-signing for 2027 already locked in, Sef is not done yet. He still has that fire, the same drive that carried him through more than a decade of Super Rugby battles. For the Force faithful, this milestone is more than a number. It is proof that loyalty, hard work, and a second chance can still write great stories in rugby.