RUGBY UNION: Wallabies flanker Richard Hardwick has provided the under-seige Western Force with a timely boost, re-signing with the club for the 2018 Super Rugby Season.

The Australian Rugby Union is set to reduce the number of Super Rugby teams from five to four ahead of next season with the Force or the Melbourne Rebels the most likely to be axed but that hasn't stopped Hardwick from inking a new contract.

Hardwick has enjoyed a meteoric rise this season, capped by his elevation into the Wallabies squad for the recent Tests against Fiji and Scotland.

The 23-year-old has played 17 times for the Force since making his debut last year and is ranked in the top 10 in Super Rugby for forced turnovers this season.

The Namibia-born 23-year-old said it was an easy decision to re-sign with the Force, despite the Perth-based franchise's uncertain future.

"WA is my home. It's where I was brought up, and I've played all my rugby in WA," Hardwick said.

"I've got mates who have done the same thing, like Ross Haylett-Petty and Chance Peni, who I played with when I was 15.

"WA is producing the goods and it's not going to be long before they (Haylett-Petty and Peni) are in the Wallabies squad as well."