THEY come from almost every corner of the world, but the Margaret River Gropers rugby team is a band of brothers no other side can match.
This weekend, the Gropers will enter the South West Rugby Union grand final the reigning premiers and unbeaten for the season, replaying last year's final against local rivals Dunsborough.
What makes this feat even more extraordinary is the fact that just three seasons ago, the Gropers lost every game they played.
"We just decided to get serious,'' coach Mark Sheath said.
"There's now a fairly high expectation on the guys to attend training two nights a week, engage in personal training in between, and play every Saturday and that impacts pretty heavily on their families as well."
For many new arrivals to Margaret River, the Gropers have provided an instant family.
Rugby's popularity throughout the world has provided a natural connection for the 26 players hailing from South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Mauritius, Samoa, Tonga, the United States, Italy "and a couple of token Aussies".
"These guys pretty much live in each other's homes, we each host international dinners after training and just spend a lot of time together," Sheath said.
The flipside, though, is that many will return home, albeit with lifelong bonds to their team-mates.
"I'll be telling the guys this weekend to do it for each other this will probably be the last time they'll all play together as a team."
Missing will be kiwi Dan Lee, in New Zealand to receive a police bravery medal for saving lives in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
This week the side managed one last team bonding session on the ropes course at Explorus in Karridale.
The Gropers are hoping to draw a big local crowd this Saturday, August 23, when they run on to their home ground at Nippers Oval, Gloucester Park at 3 pm.
Win, lose or draw, spectators are sure to witness a special moment in local team sport.
