Western Force unveil special jerseys to face British and Irish Lions, designed by winger Dylan Pietsch
When the Western Force go into battle against the British and Irish Lions in just over a month's time, their one-off jerseys will have a personal connection thanks to Dylan Pietsch.
The flying winger, who has a secondary life as an artist, has designed a special jersey to be worn when the Force welcome the Lions into the Optus Stadium den on June 28.
Pietsch, a proud Wiradjuri man who is one of just 15 Indigenous men to play for the Wallabies, owns and operates Aboriginal artwork company Wulwaay.
It will not just be the Force who run out in a shirt designed by the outside back this winter either; the Wallabies will face the Lions in their three Tests in jerseys also designed by Pietsch.
While Pietsch is hoping to potentially play for three different teams against the Lions — the Force, the Wallabies and a combined First Nations and Pasifika XV who will play the touring side in Melbourne — he said he was delighted to have one connection to the tour.
'This is something that I love to do outside rugby, and just to be able to kick back and not think about rugby. To be able to do it as a side hustle is awesome,' he said.
'Rugby is so structured, I suppose it does have the creative aspect of it when you're on the field, but everything is so structured, and to have something where you can just let your mind kind of wander and do whatever it wants is a pretty cool space.'
Pietsch's design features the Force's Maali (black swan) emblem, depicted in an attack pose above a lion and references WA's waterways and the club theme of connections.
'It's a big thing at the Force this year, about our connection and giving a connection back to who we are and who we are in the future as well,' Pietsch said.
'We represent that by feathers, and we represent feathers to each individual to play for the club and for staff as well. Throughout the feathers, I put the connection circles through there to go through that, and all the river systems throughout Perth and WA, I've put the lines through there too.'
The special jerseys will be sold on a limited-edition basis — with 200 to be available at the Force's final Super Rugby Pacific game of the season at HBF Park on Saturday.
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