We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union. We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series from the season’s 1934 through to 2020 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin

Lochore Cup winners in 2011 Wairarapa Bush made a significant improvement to finish third after the round robin and lost narrowly to Wanganui in the Meads Cup semi-final. Five pre-championship games were played with the only loss being to NZ Universities 30-25 in a non-first class fixture.  The team met Horowhenua Kapiti in its first appearance at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium, played as a curtain-raiser to a Hurricanes game.

The union used three loan players from Wellington, Titapu Pairama-Lewington, Thomas Fleming and Jonathon Fuimaono, plus origin player Glen Walters who set a new union record for points in a season. Kurt Simmonds led the team well and had excellent support in the forwards from fellow prop Wilba Davies, locks Andrew McLean and Fleming, and loose forwards James Goodger and Johan Van Vliet, the last named being captain in Simmonds’ absence. Richard Puddy and 20 year old Jamie Hunt shared the hooking duties.

First five-eighth Glen Walters’ successful goalkicking kept the team in positive minds and he also directed the backline well. Pairama-Lewington and Jessie McGilvary were an excellent midfield combination while Cameron Hayton and Nathan Hunt were speedy wings and Nick Olson a steady fullback. Inia Katia was lively whether at halfback or on the wing.

Matt O’Connor, Byron Karaitiana, Mike Te Whare were other backs used regularly.

Higher honours went to:
New Zealand Heartland: Hayton, N. Hunt

2012 Pre-Season Match Record: Played 3 ; Won 3 ;
Points : For 126; Against 49

2012 Heartland Match Record: Played 9 ; Won 6 ; Lost 3
Points :For 239; Against 153

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 2012 {Total Games}

#CAP		NAME	POSITION	SEASON	PL
408		Dylan Morgan Higgison	Prop	Carterton	1
462		Tapaga Peter Alefaio Isaac	Centre	Greytown	1
464		Zebulan.A.T.M.’Zeb’ Aporo	Scrumhalf	East Coast	1
471		Kurt Michael Simmonds	Prop	Greytown	12
477		Nicholas Keith Olson	Fullback, Winger	East Coast	12
478		Richard William Puddy	Hooker, Prop	Gladstone	12
481		Andrew Robert McLean	Lock	Gladstone	12
483		Brandon Charles Patrick Young	Lock	Bush Sports	8
486		Byron Tony Ivan Karaitiana	First Five, Fullback	East Coast	11
490		Rupeni Junior Tamani	Flanker	Eketahuna	1
502		Jesse Rowan James McGilvary	Winger	East Coast	12
503		John Alexander Alistair ‘Johnnie’ McFadzean	Loose Forward	Carterton	11
509		Johannes Jan Arie van Vliet	Flanker	Eketahuna	12
510		Matt Thomas O’Connor	Scrumhalf	East Coast	12
514		Wilba David Rhys Davies	Prop	Martinborough	12
515		lnia S.T. Katia	Fullback, Scrumhalf, Winger	Gladstone	12
518		James W.P.R. Goodger	Flanker, Loose Forward	Marist	9
521		James Robert ‘Jamie’ Hunt	Hooker	Bush Sports	12
522		Lachie J.M. McFadzean	Lock	Carterton	8
523		Nathan Shane Hunt	Fullback	Martinborough	12
524		Cameron McKellar Hayton	Winger	Gladstone	11
525		Guy N. Wood	Fullback	Gladstone	1
526		Sam Michael Marshall-Wilson	Flanker, Lock, Prop	Bush Sports	1
527		Damian Kamo-Paku	Winger	Pioneer	1
528		Timoci Tikoisuva ‘Jim’ Temo	No. 8	Gladstone	11
529		Glen Miha Walters	First Five, Fullback	H.O.B.M – Wellington	11
530		Michael Joseph Te Whare	Center	Martinborough	11
531		Lance Graves	Hooker, Prop	Gladstone	1
532		Jonathon Roy Fuimaono	Prop	O.B.U- Wellington	10
533		Thomas Peter James ‘Tom’ Fleming	Loose Forward, Lock	O.B.U- Wellington	10
534		Titapu Pairama-Lewington	Center	O.B.U- Wellington	10