WESTERN FORCE
Head CoachSimon Cron
Simon Cron is the head coach of the Western Force, the standards-driven developer who lifted the club from perennial strugglers into finals contention.
Tenure record
as of 30 May 2026By competition
Super Rugby Pacific 28P · 11W · 1D · 16L
Simon Cron has overseen 28 completed Western Force matches in our database since February 2025 — 11 won, 1 drawn, 16 lost. That is a 39.3% win rate, with 716 points scored and 855 conceded.
Records are computed from the WeTalkRugby match database and cover matches we hold data for within this tenure. They are not an official all-time record.
Coaching career
- 2023- Western Force Head Coach
Honours
- 2016 Shute Shield (Northern Suburbs)
Players under Simon Cron
Full squad →
About Simon Cron
Simon Cron is the head coach of the Western Force, in charge since the 2023 season and extended in May 2026 through to 2027.
His playing career is not the story. He played club rugby in Christchurch until around 30, with no provincial or professional representative career, and worked as a PE teacher and ran a business while building his coaching credentials.
From Shute Shield to Super Rugby
He moved to Sydney and joined Northern Suburbs as a sevens coach in 2013, becoming first-grade head coach in 2015 and winning the 2016 Shute Shield — ending a 41-year premiership drought. He coached Australia Under-20s and was an assistant at the Waratahs during their 2018 semi-final run, then spent three years as head coach of Toyota Verblitz in Japan alongside Steve Hansen.
The Force
He arrived in Perth in September 2022 and has turned perennial cellar-dwellers into genuine finals contenders, finishing eighth in 2026. He was also added to the Australia A coaching staff in 2026.
Style
A development-first, standards-driven coach — his own line is that if you accept average, average is what you get. Strong on defensive structure and detailed technical work.
Frequently asked
Who is the head coach of Western Force?
Simon Cron is the head coach of Western Force.
When did Simon Cron take charge?
Simon Cron took over at Western Force in September 2022, around 4 years ago.
What is Simon Cron's record?
From 28 matches in our database: 11 wins, 1 draws and 16 defeats — a 39.3% win rate.
What nationality is Simon Cron?
Simon Cron is New Zealander.
What has Simon Cron won?
Honours include: Shute Shield (Northern Suburbs) (2016).
