West Coast Pirates

The West Coast Pirates Rugby League Football Club, officially referred to as The Cash Converters West Coast Pirates for sponsorship reasons,[1] are a rugby league football club based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded by the Western Australian Rugby League as a bid for Perth to rejoin an expanded National Rugby League in 2023. If successful, the Pirates would play out of HBF Park, with the support of the Western Australian Government through a $96 million upgrade to the venue.[2]

West Coast Pirates
Club information
Full nameWest Coast Pirates
Rugby League Football Club
Colours     Gold
     Red
     Black
Founded2012
Current details
Ground(s)
CEOJohn Sackson
CompetitionS.G. Ball Cup
Records
Premierships0
Runners-up0
Minor premiership0
Wooden spoons4

History

Perth previously competed in the national competition as the Western Reds (from 1995-1997) and as the WA Reds in the S.G. Ball Cup from 2006-2011. It is unknown at this stage whether the West Coast Pirates will keep the history and playing records of the Reds when they join the NRL or if the Pirates will start from scratch.

The West Coast Pirates were launched in 2012[3][4] after WARL research found that just over 50% of the marketplace associated the Western Reds name with failure.[5] Despite this the club will continue to use the same red, black and gold colours of the Western Reds.[6]

The Pirates Plan

The Pirate's Plan estimates that the club will need two years notice from the NRL to build a competitive squad and aims to be in the top five recognised sporting brands within Australia by 2022.[7] It also identifies the problem WA talent needing to move across the country to play in the NRL and hopes that local players will be able to stay in Western Australia once the club is in the NRL. At the moment players who graduate from the Pirates SG Ball team to the NRL, like Curtis Rona, need to move interstate to continue their career.[8] The Pirates also plan on developing an Intrust Super Premiership side.[9]

Fan support

The West Coast Pirates are widely supported for re-admission into the NRL by players and fans alike.[10] Perth-born players in particular are supportive of Western Australia competing in the NRL once again.[11]

Players

As of 2014 there have been fifteen graduates from the West Coast Pirates that have gone on to earn contracts with NRL clubs, either with the NRL team or with the NRL Under 20's team, including:[12]

Representative players
Main article: List of West Coast Pirates representatives

Sponsors

The following sponsors for the West Coast Pirates include:[13]

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See also

References
  1. "The Pirates 2020 Vision". West Coast Pirates. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  2. "WA's new team: West Coast Pirates". Fox Sports. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  3. "Shed at the Helm for the West". campaignbrief.com. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  4. "Introducing West Coast Pirates - Western Australia Rugby League announce name and logo of NRL bid". foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  5. "Pirates hoist NRL expansion flag". sportal.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  6. "Winning the west: Does the West Coast Pirates brand hit the mark?". sportsbusinessinsider.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  7. "The Pirate's Plan". westcoastpirates.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  8. "North Queensland Cowboys Perth product Curtis Rona strengthens West Coast Pirates NRL expansion case". townsvillebulletin.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  9. "The Pirates 2020 Vision". West Coast Pirates. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  10. "Most Rugby League Fans Say Perth Should Host Next NRL Team". stevemascord.com. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  11. "Goodwin Says It's Time To Go West Again". stevemascord.com. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  12. "North Queensland Cowboys Perth product Curtis Rona strengthens West Coast Pirates NRL expansion case". townsvillebulletin.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  13. "Western Australian Rugby League Launches West Coast Pirates". West Coast Pirates. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
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