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

Wairarapa Bush squeezed into the Meads Cup grade but did not gain any further wins although close games against both Poverty Bay and South Canterbury showed that the team was very competitive and the shock win over Wanganui gave the team a boost. They did finish at the bottom of the table in the Meads Cup but proved to be a difficult team to score against. Only Mid Canterbury and Wanganui conceded fewer tries.

The season started by hosting Wellington in a rare Ranfurly Shield challenge. It was largely one-way traffic but not since 2003 has a Heartland union (North Otago) managed to score three tries in a shield game. The inside back combination was unchanged with Nick Risdon (halfback) and Byron Karaitiana and Sam Mitchell outside. Former Manawatu rep Siaosi Anamani was at centre until winger Hemi Tupaea moved in one position. Junior Togia and Thomas Harmon were the other wings and Nick Olson at fullback. A small player, Olson’s fine season was rewarded with selection in the Heartland team.

Kurt Simmonds, the captain, and Jared Brock were the props and Origin player Ben Periera the hooker. Lock Tomasi Kedrabuka won good lineout ball and there were a couple of good loose forwards in Joss Tua-Davidson and Nathan Rolls. Chris Senior, Corry Reid, Jared Hawkins and Duncan Law had their moments. Andrew McLean, Nick Beavon and Richard Puddy were tight forwards who regularly appeared.

Higher honours went to:
New Zealand Heartland XV: Olson

2009 Pre-Season Match Record: Played 3 ; Won 1; Lost 2
Points :For 59 ; Against 136

2009 Heartland Match Record: Played 8 ; Won 3; Lost 5
Points :For 155 ; Against 142

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 2009 {Total Games}

#CAP		NAME	POSITION	CLUB	PL
287		Nathan Leslie Arekateia Riwai-Couch	First Five, Fullback	Marist	2
429		Tomasi Talacanavatu Kedrabuka	Lock	Carterton	8
430		Corey Geoffrey Reid	Lock	Marist	9
436		Thomas Harmon	Centre, Winger	Pioneer	11
439		Brett Robert Rudman	Prop	Greytown	6
441		Etuale ‘Junior’ Togia	Winger	Tawa – Wellington RU	7
452		Willie Lui Robin Leota	Hooker, Prop	East Coast	1
457		Heemi Nerehana Tupaea	Centre, Fullback	Masterton Red Star	10
464		Zebulan.A.T.M.’Zeb’ Aporo	Scrumhalf	East Coast	1
466		Jared Abraham Hawkins	Flanker	Martinborough	6
467		Nathan Hemi Rolls	Loose Forward	Pioneer	7
469		Jordan Leslie Watene	Centre	Masterton Red Star	4
471		Kurt Michael Simmonds	Prop	Gladstone	11
473		Joseph Peter Feast	Flanker	East Coast	5
477		Nicholas Keith Olson	Fullback, Winger	East Coast	11
478		Richard William Puddy	Hooker, Prop	Gladstone	10
481		Andrew Robert McLean	Lock	Gladstone	11
482		Nick Stephen Beavon	Prop	Puketoi	8
483		Brandon Charles Patrick Young	Lock	Bush – Manawatu RU	1
484		Joss Arama Tua-Davidson	Loose Forward	Bush – Manawatu RU	9
485		Duncan John Law	No. 8	Puketoi	6
486		Byron Tony Ivan Karaitiana	First Five, Fullback	Masterton Red Star	11
487		Samuel Rei Mitchell	Centre, Winger	East Coast	11
488		Jason Neil Kjestrup	Fullback	Gladstone	1
489		Nick John Risdon	Scrumhalf	Hutt OB Marist – Wellington RU	11
490		Rupeni Junior Tamani	Flanker	Eketahuna	1
491		Adam Jack Marshall	Hooker	Martinborough	1
492		Jared Hamish Brock	Prop	Puketoi	10
493		Chris Bevan Senior	Flanker	Masterton Red Star	10
494		Apirana Tika Matenga	Scrumhalf	Marist	7
495		Fa’asili Richardson Tugaga	Centre	Masterton Red Star	5
496		Rex Fabian Rimene	Winger	Pioneer	1
497		Siaosi Anamani	Centre	Northern Utd – Wellington RU	5
498		Ben John Tavita Pereira	Hooker	Alhambra Union – Otago RU	8
499		Timothy Grant Fleming	Lock	Gladstone	1
500		Kieran Dana Te Whare	Winger	Martinborough	3