Gisborne’s George Bridge prepares for Super Rugby campaign in Perth

All Black George Bridge fights his way over the line in a Bledisloe Cup rugby test at Eden Park in 2019. Among the Wallabies unable to stop him is Kurtley Beale (centre), who Bridge will be playing alongside for the Western Force in this year's Super Rugby competition. Photo / NZ Herald

Gisborne-born-and-bred former All Black George Bridge donned the colours of Western Force for the first time in a pre-season match against the Queensland Reds last weekend.

Bridge signed for the Australian Super Rugby franchise last year after playing in France 48 times for Montpellier between 2022 and 2025 during which he scored 11 tries.

Bridge, 30, is the son of Gisborne couple Crispin and Chick.

The former All Black winger will play in the midfield for the Western Force.

In the Queensland match, played in Perth, Bridge was in the midfield alongside 95-test Wallaby veteran Kurtley Beale.

Bridge told Australian media he was initially approached by the Western Force’s New Zealand coach, Simon Cron, and had been living in Perth since November.

He liked the “exciting change” of playing in the midfield.

With 19 test caps and 12 tries for the All Blacks, Bridge is one of six players named in the Western Force leadership group.

He played at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, scoring in a pool match victory over the Springboks, and in a quarter-final victory over Ireland.

Bridge won the Super Rugby title six times with the Crusaders.

He played 82 matches for the Crusaders between 2017 and 2022, scoring 37 tries.

The Force open their Super Rugby Pacific campaign in Perth on February 14 against the Brumbies.

Their first match against New Zealand opposition is a home match against the Blues on February 21.

The Force host the Crusaders in Perth on April 18.