Remembering the 1980’s ‘GOLDEN AGE’ of Wairarapa Bush Rugby {1981-1986}

With Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union celebrating its 130th anniversary this year and 35 years since its representative side achieved First Division status, three of our captains from that golden era look back on golden moment in the region’s rugby history

– Also a full A-Z Bibliography of all the 64 Players and our 2 Coaches that represented us between 1981 & 1986.

{Article written by David Famularo (http://wairarapareviews.kiwi.nz/ ,
Stats from “NZ Rugby Register 1870-2015” by Clive Akers &  http://waibush.co.nz/ )

Wairarapa Bush had had its moments of glory in the distant past.

I remember as a kid discovering in a book somewhere that in the early 1920s the Wairarapa team featuring prominently in New Zealand rugby history.

In fact, its brightest moments had been between 1927 and 1930 when it held the Ranfurly Shield on two separate occasions, was one of the strongest unions in the country, and produced no less than nine All Blacks.

It had another moment of brief glory in 1950 when it took the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury 3-0,  only to lose it to South Canterbury in its  first defence 14-17.

As one of the smallest unions in New Zealand, Bush mostly had success in the Bebbington Shield, a competition contested by the Bush, Rangitikei, Southern Hawkes Bay and Orewa Downs regions, producing one All Black in Athol Mahoney.

The two unions combined in 1971 and usually gave most teams they competed against a run for their money.

In 1976 a National Provincial Championship was established with a First and Second Division, the lowest placed team in the First Division playing against the highest placed Second Division team in a promotion/relegation match. The Second Division was in turn separated into North and South Island competitions with the winner from each island playing each other to determine who would play against the lowest placed First Division team.

Wairarapa Bush was put in the Second Division and from then on till 1979, it was on the losing side more often than not – it won only one match in 1979.

Things took a turn for the better in 1980 when former All Black captain Brian Lochore became selector/coach, the team achieving six wins, six losses and a draw for third place.

Still, at the beginning of 1981, few would have expected the side to be in the First Division by the end of the year.

But the foundation was there. Lochore had all the leading players of the previous season still available, with 19 of 25 players still in the team, and he had been instilling in his players a belief in their own capabilities.

He emphasised attacking rugby with Wairarapa Bush scoring 39 tries scored in 14 matches, with seven straight wins.

But the best was to come at the end with three finals in seven days.

In his autobiography, Lochore described that programme as “crazy, especially for a union our size and our playing resources, but we had no alternative but to tackle it head on.

“The pressure on the players was enormous and, quite frankly, I couldn’t see them getting through it. The mental exhaustion alone would surely be too much for them to handle”.

The team got over the first hurdle, a  the North Island Second Division final  against Taranaki at Memorial Park in Masterton before a capacity crowd, winning 15-6.

They then beat South Island Second Division champions South Canterbury comfortably 16-0 while not playing at their very best, finally meeting Southland for the promotion/relegation match at Rugby Park, Invercargill.

The Southland game didn’t go entirely as planned, Wairarapa Times Age sports reporter Gary Caffell commented in a recent article.

“Wairarapa-Bush had the wind at their backs in the first half and Lochore stressed to them the importance of using it, even suggesting that anything less than a 12-point lead would not be good enough if victory was to be attained,” Caffell said.

“Imagine then how Lochore felt when halftime arrived and Wairarapa-Bush was trailing 6-9. Physically strong but mentally tired his players were struggling to get themselves out of second gear and promotion to First Division was slipping away.”

“It was terribly, terribly hard,” Lochore was later quoted as saying. “We had come a long way in a short time and a lot of it was due to the spirit existing within the squad. We had spent two years building confidence and self-belief amongst the players and now I had to go down there and read the riot act. I knew full well shock tactics were required but the thought of doing it didn’t exactly thrill me.”

A half time bollocking from Lochore had its intended effect with a try to number eight Carl Baker with about 20 minutes to go, the team holding on for a 10-9 victory.

Captain and hooker Gary McGlashan was a veteran by this stage. He had played his first game for Wairarapa, a year before the two unions amalgamated, in 1970 ( he went on to captain the team in the First Division in 1982, by then in his late thirties).

Also playing in the Southland game was halfback Graeme “Bunter” Anderson who had joined the team in 1979 . Bunter would go on to  captain the side in 1983, 1984 and occasionally in 1985.

Both Gary remembers the Taranaki and Southland matches as particularly gruelling.

“Taranaki came down here and thought they were going to romp home,” Gary recalls. “That was a great game with the crowd right behind the team.”

“We had to slog it all out that day. Carl scored a good try and we had to hold them out after that .

“They had us on the ropes a few times but our camaradiere held together. There was no way they were going to score, so we dug in and held them out.”

After making it into the First Division, remaining there was always going to be the next challenge.

“It was a fairly hard row to hoe the next year,” Gary recalls. “It was a different level for us. When you get up against teams like Auckland and Canterbury it is a different kettle of fish. We had a relatively small pack but we managed to battle on and stay there.”

By 1983 and 1984 when Lane Penn had taking over coaching duties from Lochore “it was more about survival”, Graeme recalls. “It always came down to a couple of games we had to win to keep in the First Division.”

However, one of the games he remembers with particular pleasure was their 19-9 victory over Hawkes Bay in 1984.

“It was right on the weekend of their centenary. I think the idea behind that was that they thought we would be easy beats. There were a lot of long faces in Hawkes Bay after that game. We took a lot of pleasure in that match.”

Both men had a high regard for both Lochore and Penn.

“They had different styles – one was a forward and other a back,” Gary says. “But it was basically the same simple style of rugby.

Graeme concurs. “It was a simple game plan, executed well.”

Lochore had a great knowledge of the game and was a great motivator, Gary says.

“He was a top class motivator and the sort of person that would draw the  most out of any player.”

Likewise, Lane was a also a good motivator, Graeme recalls. “He wanted the game played in the way that he wanted. Brian was always going to be a hard act to follow – all credit to him  for stepping up to the mark. He did a really well and managed to find a few All Blacks.”

Both former captains believe one of the most outstanding features of Wairarapa Bush teams of that era was the spirit.

“Camaraderie was one of our greatest assets,” Gary says. “It was a really close knit team and everyone got on well. We got on the paddock and everyone would work for their mates.”

“There was phenomenal team spirit,” Graeme recollects. “Everyone got on really well. In those days you would tour for ten days over two weekends so we got to know each other really well.

“It cost a lot of guys money to play as they had to take a week off work but if you spoke to anyone they would say they wouldn’t have swapped it for anything. It was a pretty special time.”

After making it to the First Division in 1981, Wairarapa Bush mostly hung around the bottom half of the competition, always battling to stay in the competition.

But then in 1985, something no one expected happened and they became one of the most formidable teams in the competition, finishing in fourth place. Potentially they could have reached even higher.

Loose forward Paul Hawkins played in the team from 1979 to 1986, and captained Wairarapa Bush for most of its matches in 1984 and 1985.

He believes the groundwork was laid in 1984 which was not Wairarapa Bush’s best year by any means.

“1984 was a bad year. We didn’t know till the last couple of games if we were going to manage to stay in First Division,” Paul recalls.

But the landscape of Wairarapa Bush rugby had been changing since 1981.

Club rugby was getting stronger as rep players brought their experience back to the clubs which in turn were producing a higher standard of players to choose from, Paul points out.

“I think club rugby was so good that it followed through to the representative side. We had been in the First Division for a while by that stage and it had  improved the overall standard of club rugby without a doubt.

“I think (one of the reasons for the team’s success) was that there was just a good core of players. We had 20 or more players to call on when there were injuries, and a lot of our players had been in the team for a while.”

Something that was a bit out of the ordinary was having the captain of the day in the selection meeting, Paul says. “That worked for us. It gave us more of an idea of what they wanted and how to get it.”

There was also a change in mind-set of the players, Paul says.

“Before the season started we would normally worry about if we were going to be relegated or not. At the beginning [of 1985] we stopped worrying and started just playing rugby.

“We realised in 1984 that we could achieve more but everyone had to buy into that. When everyone turned up and gave their all, we did exceptionally well.  But it would only work if everyone bought into it. If a couple of guys were not 100 percent it wouldn’t work.”

Paul believes the team had the potential to do even better than fourth place.

“We beat some good teams. We had wins over three of the top four teams. The only top team we didn’t beat was Auckland and that was only by about 10 points. So there was no reason we couldn’t have beaten anyone in the competition.”

One of the victories Paul relishes the most from that year was beating Wellington. “That was at Athletic Park – we had never done that before. We won a lot of away games that year.”

It wasn’t just the team that had a good year. Paul suspects Lane Penn was improving as a coach as well. “He must have, he was an All Black coach about a year later.”

Paul respects Lane for what he achieved with the team.

“He came after Brian Lochore. Everyone loved Brian. Lane was a very good coach but you had someone else telling you what to do which must have been hard for him.

“It wouldn’t have been easy for him to fill Brian’s shoes but he did a tremendous job in his own way.”

Wairarapa Bush played in the First Division for two more years, being relegated at the end of 1987 – although it should be pointed out that they still won five matches and drew one.

So after such a successful 1985 season,  why did the team begin to fade?

“I just think the other teams were more wary of us when we turned up the next year and a bit more focused.

“We were the so-called easy beats most years and all of a sudden we were turning up and beating them. When we played Counties we were down around 13 points after the first ten minutes but we still ended up winning.

“The next year they remembered what we had done to them in 1985 and were more focused.”

Interviews by David Famularo. Additional sources: Wairarapa Bush Centennial 1886-1985; NZ Rugby Almanack Franchise; Wairarapa Times Age; Wairarapa Archive

We thank David Famularo (http://wairarapareviews.kiwi.nz/)  for the article/interviews

– Full Year Stats available at our History Page  –

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	A-Z OF Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 1981-1986
	Bio’s on all 64 players (81-86) and our two coaches – Sir Brian J Lochore (81-82) & Paul ‘Lane’ Penn (83-84-85-86)
	1981 – 82 Selector/Coach	Lochore, Sir Brian James (OBE-KNZM-ONZ) Career:  Wairarapa (Masterton) 1959 (9) – 60 (8) – 61 (8) – 62 (9) – 63 (10) – 64 (13) – 65 (8) – 66 (9) – 67 (11) – 68 (2) – 69 (10) – 70 (3), 100g, 15t Wairarapa Bush 1959 – 63 – 65 – 66 – 71; WJ Whineray’s XV 1966; Centurions Club 1970; NZRFU President’s XV 1973 (v All Blacks); NZRFU Invitation XV 1973 (v All Blacks); Presidents Overseas XV (in England) 1971(4) North Island 1964 – 65 – 66 – 67 – 68 – 69, 1t NZ Trials 1961 – 63 (4) – 65 – 66 – 67 (2) – 68 – 69 – 70 (2), 13g, 1t ; New Zealand XV 1965 – 66 NEW ZEALAND 1963 (16) – 65 (4) – 66 (4) – 67 (15) – 68 (9) – 69 (2) – 70 (17) – 71, 68g (25 tests), 7t, 21pts Career: 202g, 24t, 72pts Position: Lock/No 8 All Black Captain 1966 – 70 Coach: Masterton club 1966 – 67,75 – 78 Wairarapa Bush 1980 – 82 All Blacks 1985 – 87 including winning of World Cup-  All Black selector 1983-87, 2004-07 Other: Campaign manager during 1995 World Cup. Manager and coach of various World XVs and served on many NZRU committees including a crucial role late in 1995 securing All Black contracts when the game went professional. NZRU award Steinlager Salver 2003 for outstanding service to rugby. Life member and patron of NZRU from 2013 School: Opaki PS; Wairarapa College, XV 1956 Chairman of the sports funding agency, the Hillary Commission OBE 1970 for services to rugby; KNZM 1999; The Order of NZ (ONZ) 2007 In 2006 received the IRB ‘Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service’ In 2002 the NZRU introduced the Lochore Cup for competition among the Heartland unions. Rep Wairarapa tennis 1957-61,79-80. Sheep stud breeder, member of various fanning committees and many community projects. Accepted honorary positions to many organisations outside rugby and farming. Not only is he one of rugby’s most respected personalities but also one of New Zealand’s most highly regarded citizens. A biography Lochore, published in 1996 was written by Alex Veysey, Gary Caffell and Ron Palenski.
	1983 – 84 – 85 – 86 Selector/Coach		Penn, Paul Lane (b12.6.1938,Stratford – d10.5.2014,Masterton) Career: Taranaki (NPBHS) 1957 (3) (NPHSOB) 1958 (15) – 59 (8) (Stratford) 1960 (7) – 61 (7) , 40g, 18t Wairarapa (Gladstone) 1964 (2) – 65 (6), 1t PS Burke’s XV 1959. Wing. ed Stratford PS; Stratford Technical HS; New Plymouth BHS, XV 1955-57 Taranaki and West Coast (North ls) 100yd, 220yd sprint champion 1958-59 Wairarapa Bush coach 1983-86 Life member Gladstone club and Wairarapa Bush RU All  Blacks selector 1988-91 NZRU president 2001-02 Farm manager in Northland 1967-74, Wairarapa 1974-89 Farmer at Opaki
	1984-85		Aitkenhead, Brett Ivon Career: Wairarapa Bush (Gladstone) 1984(2) (Carterton) 1985(14), 16g, 1t; Nelson Bays Invit XV 1985 Position: Prop School:  Rathkeale C 1974-78. Son of Ivon Alex Aitkenhead , (Wairarapa 1952-63,  55 games)
	1981-82-83-84-85		Anderson, Graeme Wighton ‘Bunter’ Career: Wairarapa Bush (Eketahuna) 1979(7)-80(7)-81(13)-82(11)-83(14)-84(3)-85(5)-86(7), 67g, 15t. Position: Halfback Wairarapa Bush coach 1995-96 School: Rathkeale C 1968-72, XV ’70-72. Head Prefect.
	1983-84-85-86		Anderson, Brent Leslie Career: Wairarapa Bush (Masterton) 1983(2)-84(11)-85(14)-86(14)-8(14)-88(14), 69g, 14t; Waikato (Frankton) 1989(19)-90(15), (Marist) 1991(12)-92(1O)-93(17), 73g, 22g, 92pts; Nelson Bays Invit XV1985; NZ Barbarians 1987(4), 4t; NZ Teachers 1984(2); Centrall Zone 1987(2)-88(2), 1t; NZ Emerging Players 1986(4); NZ Divisional XV 1988(5), 1t; North lsland 1986; NZ Trials 1986-87 (2) 1t; NEW ZEALAND 1986-87(2), 3g (1 test), 1t. Career: 169g. – 44t, 180pts Position: Lock. School: Viard C, Porirua 1973-77, XV ’76-77. School Teacher. Television rugby comments person. NZRU staff member.
	1981-82-83-85		Baker, Carl Duan ‘Carlos’ Career: Wairarapa Bush (Greytown) 1980(11) ,(Martinborough) 1981(14)-82(11)-83(9)-85(10), 55g, 17t; Hawke’s Bay (Nuhaka) 1989(3) Nelson Bays (Celtic) 1993(4), 1t Wellington B (Petone) 1986 Wairarapa Bush Centennial XV 1986 NZ Services (Police)1986(3)-89(2), 3t;  Southern Maori 1982-83, lt; NZ Maori 1982(7) 4t; NZ Juniors (Under 23) 1982(4) Career: 82g, 26t, 104pts. No.8 School: St Stephen’s School. Father of Cyrus Baker (Wairarapa-Bush 2010, 7 games 1t. )
	1983-84-85-86		Benton, Mark Frederick Clive Career: Wairarapa Bush (Featherston) 1983(10)-84(14)-85(16)-86(15)-87(14)-88(11)-89(6)-90(10) (Carterton) 1991(10)-92(2)-98(7),115g, 8t, 98c, 71p, 7dg, 463pts; Nelson Bays lnvit XV 1985; Horowhenua Invit XV 1988; NZ Emerging Players 1986(3), 1p,ldg; NZ Trial 1986. Career: 121g, 8t, 98c, 72p, 8dg, 469pts. Position: Five-eighth/fullback NZ Schools 1980 ,Wairarapa Bush coach 1999. School: Te Aute College
	1985-86		Berry, Martin Joseph ‘Marty’ Career: Wairarapa-Bush (Greytown) 1985 (13) – 86 (13)-87(2) – 88 (Featherston) 1991 (11)-92(12)-95(10), 62g, 22t, 32c, 53p, 317pts; Wellington (Upper Hurt) 1989(4)-90(19)-93(8)-94(2), 33g, 11t,1c,48pts Manawatu (HSOB) 1996(7), 5c, 9p; NZRU President’s XV 1992-95; NZ Under 21 1985(3)-86(4), 4t; NZ Divisional XV 1992 (3) 3t; Hurricanes 1996(7), 2t, 1c, 1p; North Island 1986; NZ Trials 1986-87-92-93-94, 1t, 4pts; New Zealand XV 1992 (3); NEW ZEALAND 1986(5)-93(5), 10g (1 test), 2t, 9pts. Career: 143g. 45t, 39c, 63p, 460pts. Position: Midfield/fullback School: St Brigid’s School, Johnsonville, St Teresa’s School, Featherston Chanel College XV 1982. Attended Flock House Training Farm at Bulls1983, Played club rugby in Glasgow 1985/86 season and rep Transvaal 1988 in Currie Cup games. Became  known as the ’18 second AllBlack’ when he made his debut in 1986 replacing Frano Botica for the last seconds of the test, at Auckland, against Australia Brother of Chris and Paddy.
	1986		Berry, Patrick Dennis ‘Paddy’ Career: Wairarapa-Bush (Greytown) 1986 (3)-89 (13) – (Featherstone) 89(10) – 91 (10) – 92 , 24g, 2t, 8pts; Position: Flanker Brother of Chris and Marty
	1986		Berry, Christopher Francis William Career:  Wairarapa Bush (Greytown) 1986 (3) – 87 – 88 – 89 – 90 (10) (Featherstone) 1991 (10) – 92 (10) – 95 (10) , 47g, 1t, 5pts Position: Prop Brother of Marty and Paddy
	1981-82-84		Bignell, Stephen James Career: Wairarapa Bush (Masterton) 1981(2)-82 (1)-84 (1), 1t.
	1980-81-82		Bracewell, Douglas William Career: Wairarapa Bush (Pioneer) 1980(8) – 81 (14) – 82 (15), 37g, 1 t, 13c, 10p, 1 dg, 63pts B.J.Lochore’s Invit XV 1981, 1c, Position: Midfield School: Tauranga Boys College Son of John; Brother of Brendon,Kevin,Mark.
	1980-81-82		Bracewell, Mark Andrew Career: Wairarapa Bush (Pioneer) 1980 (11) – 81 (6) – 82 (15), 32g, 1t, 5dg Wellington (Oriental-Rongotai) 1983-84(4), 1dg; B.J.Lochore’s Invit XV 1981 Position: First five-eighth School: Tauranga Boys College Son of John; Brother of Brendon, Doug Kevin.
	1983		Bradley, Michael Career: Wairarapa Bush (Marist) 1983 (2) Prop
	1985		Burgess, Vincent Joseph Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Carterton) 1985 (3)-88 (10)- 89 (3)- 90 (2), 18g, 1t Hooker
	1981-83-85		Carter, Kevin Wayne Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Pahiatua) 1975 (4)-76 (13)-77 (Woodville) 1979 (11)- 80 (9) – 81-83 (13)- 85 (10), 62g,6t,1c,2p,8dg,56pts B.J.Lochores Invit XV 1981. Position: First Five-eighth School: Tararua College XV 1974 Father of Lloyd Carter – Mid Cant 2007 (9g,1t)
	1981-82-83-86		Cornford, Michael Edward Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Masterton) 1974-80 (13) – 81 (12) – 82 (14) – 83 (11) – 86(5) ; (Eketahuna) 1978 (12) – 79 (6), 74g, llt, 44pts Centurions Club 1978; B.J. Lochore’s Invit XV 1981. Position: Wing. School:Wairarapa College Occupation: Fire brigadesman.
	1981-83-84		Cotter, Gary Maurice ‘Jack’ Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Carterton) 1981 (3) – 83 (7) – 84 (14) -87 (2) 26g, 7t Position: Three quarter. Also represented Western Australia 1989
	1981		Cotter, James Alfred ‘Jimmy’ Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Carterton) 1977 (8) – 78 (11) – 81 (10) 29g,11t, 1p, 4dg,59pts Wellington (Petone) 1985 (3),1t ; Centruions Club 1979 ; NZ Juniors (Under23) 1978 Position: Midfield Back School: Kuranui College, Greytown, XV 1976 Rep NZ Softball. Died 5.9.1985, in a road accident on Bombay Hill. A trophy, in his name, is played annually between Wairarapa-Bush and Wellington.
	1984		Craw, Nigel Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Gladstone) 1984 (1) Lock
	1985-86		Cruden, Stewart Neil Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Masterton) 1985 (3) -86 (12) – 87 (10) – 88 (12), 37g,3t; Manawatu (QECOB) 1989(12)-90(7)-91(16)-92(15), 50g, 18t,3c, lp, 84pts; NZ Supporters Clubs XV 1993; NZ Divisional XV 1992(3) Career: 91g, 21t, 3c, lp, 96pts. Position: Second five-eighth/lock/loose forward School: Longburn PS; PNBHS. Occupation: Meat Works manager. Brother of John, father of Aaron.
	1981-82		Dudley, Mervyn James Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Red Star) 1980(7) (Masterton) 1981 (14) – 82 (12) – 90 – 91 (2), 36g, 7t; Taranaki (Tukapa) 1983(10)-84(15) (NPHSOB)1985(12), 37g, 13t; Poverty Bay (Marist) 1992(9)-93(5), 2t, 10pts; NZ Services (Police) 1983-88(3)-92(6), 10g, 1t, 4pts. Career: 97g,23t, 94pts. Position: Loose forward. School: Opunake HS 1973-78.
	1981-82		Earl, Andrew Thomas ‘Andy’ Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Tuhirangi) 1979 (4)-80 (3)- 81 (13) -82 (14) 34g,5t Canterbury (Glenmark) 1983 (11)- 84 (12)- 85 (15)-86 (17)- 87 (17)- 88 (11) -89 (17) -90 (7) Culverde-Waiau) 1991 (13)-92 (6), 126g, 33t, 132pts; Canterbuty Country 1983 (4) -84-85-86, 2t; NZ Colts Trial 1982; NZ Colts (Under21) 1982 (5); NZ Juniors (Under23) 1984, 1t ; NZ Emerging Players 1985 (4); South Zone 1987 (2)-89(2), 2t; South Island 1985-86; NZ Trials 1984-86-87-90-91; NEW ZEALAND 1986(6)-87 (4)-88 (8)-89 (10)- 91 (11)-92 (6), 45g (14 Tests), 14t, 57pts. Career: 234g, 57t, 229pts. Position: Lock/Loose Forward. Member 1987 World Cup Winning Squad. School: Scargill PS; Hawarden DHS; St Bede’s College 1977-78 Occupation: Farmer
	1984-85-86		Foster, Michael Thomas Career: Wairarapa Bush (Featherston) 1984 (12) – 85 (16) – 86 (16) – 87 (14) -92 (12) (Carterton) 1988 (13) – 89 (12) – 90 (12), 107g, 43t, 174pts Bay of Plenty (Tauranga Sports) 1991 (2), 5t Southem Maori 1986; NZ Colts (Under 21) 1985 (3), 1t; NZ Divisional XV 1989-90 (3) 3t NZ Trial 1990. Career: 118g, 52t, 210pts. Position:Wing. School: Kurunui Coleege, Greytown. Other: Rep NZ junior wrestling 1983.
	1984-85		Fraser, Douglas Glen Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Masterton) 1984 (2) – 85 (13), 1t; Wellington (Avalon) 1987 (10) – 88 (9) – 89 (10) – 90 (21) , 50g, 3t Central Zone 1988 (2) Position: Hooker
	1983-84-85-86		Gray, Gregory Ross Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Marist) 1983-84 (8) – 85 (4) – 86 – 87 (10) – 90 (3) – 91 (10) 92 (8) – 96 (8) Career: 52g, 1t, 25c, 22p,4dg, 132pts ; Position: First five-eighth Occupation: Policeman
	1983-84-85-86		Harvey, Brett Andrew Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Tiraumea) 1983 (14) – 84 (13) – 85 (15) (Featherston) 1986 (13) – 87 (14) – 88 (11), 80g, 13t, 52pts Saracens Club 1985: Manawatu Centennial XV 1986; Horowhenua Invit XV 1988; Central Zone 1987 (2), 1t; NZ Emerging Players 1985 (3); North Island 1986; NZ Trials 1984-86-87 (2), 2t; NEW ZEALAND 1986 1 test (v France at Christchurch) Career: 94g, 16t, 64pts. Flanker School:Tiraumea PS; PNBHS ; Occupation: Farmer.
	1982-84-85-86		Hawkins, Paul Huatahi Career: Wairarapa Bush (Martinborough) 1978-79 (6) – 80 (5) – 82 (13) – 84 (12) – 85 (14) – 86 (2), 53g, 11t; Southern Maori 1979-80-84; NZ Colts Trial 1979; NZ Colts (Under 21) 1979 (3). Career: 60g, 11t, 44pts. Position: Loose forward School: Wellington College
	1982- 1985		Higginson, Bryan Lex Canterbury (Amberley) 1975 (4) – 76 (4) 1.1t; Mid Canterbury (Mayfield) 1977 (11); Career: Wairarapa Bush  (Martinborough) 1979 (2) – 80 (3) – 82 (9) , (Carterton) 1985 (13), 27g ; Canterbury Country (Amberley) 1973 (2) – 74 (2) – 75 (4) – 76, 9g; Canterbury B 1974 (2); Hanan Shield Unions 1977 (2). Career: 59g,1t, 4pts. Position: Prop/lock. Died 7.11.2013, Feilding , aged 62
	1983-84-86		Hullena, Thomas Henry ‘Tom’ Career: Wairarapa Bush (Red Star) 1983 (10) – 84 (13) – 86 (15) – 87 (12), 50g, 5t; Wanganui (Waiouru) 1989 (3) – 90 (5) Position: No.8 School: Wairarapa College
	1982-83-84		Hurley, Stephen J. Taranaki (Patea) 1979 (3) – 80 (2) – 81 (7), 12g,3t; Taranaki XV 1982; Career: Wairarapa Bush (Masterton) 1982 (7) , (Carterton) 1983 (7) – 84 (4), 18g, 3t, 12c, 7p, 57pts. Position:Threequarter/ fullback. Born and educated in Masterton.
1981-82-83-84-85-86		Kaka, Charles Huru Aporo,b Malaya. Career: Wairarapa Bush (Martinborough) 1981(12)-82(13)-83(6)-84(13)-85(8)-86-87-88(7), 61g, 9t, 13c, 25p, 137pts Sassenachs Club 1984; Centurions Club 1984; Wasps Club 1984; Southern Maori 1983-84, 2c, 1p; NZ Maori 1984; NZ Trial 1983. Career: 68g, 9t,15c, 26p, 144pts Position: Second five-eighth Played in Queensland trials 1979 School: St Stephen’s School, Bombay, XV 1976-77 Father of Gillies.
1981-82-83-84-85-86		Kapene, Christopher Rangi ‘Moose’ b 3.8.1956 Wairoa. Career: Wairarapa Bush (Martinborough) 1979 (7) – 80 (8) – 81 (14) – 82 (13) – 83 (10) – 84 (3) – 85 (14) – 86 (10) – 88 (11) – 89 (9), 99g, 17t; BJ Lochore’s lnvit XV 1981; Manawatu Centennial XV 1986; Southern Maori 1983-89; NZ Maori 1983-86(2)-88(4); NZ Emerging Players 1986(2); NZ Trials 1983-86. Career. 114g, 17t, 68pts Position:Prop School:Pirinoa PS; Kuranui College Died 31.5.2002  , aged 45 A trophy, in his name, is played annually between clubs in Wairarapa-Bush “Moose Kapene Cup”
1981-82-83-84-85-86		Karaitiana, Gregory Ian Career: Wairarapa Bush (Masterton) 1981 (11) – 82 (12) – 83 (13) – 84 (2) – 85 (16) – 86 – 87 (10), 65g, 28t, 112pts Position: Wing School: Wairarapa College Brother of Ivan and Wayne.
1986		Karaitiana, Ivan Tony Wairarapa Bush (Masterton) 1986 (2) – 87 (12), 2t Wairarapa Bush Centennial XV 1986 Position: Halfback/Centre Brother of Greg and Wayne.
1982		Karaitiana, Wayne Herbert Career: Wairarapa Bush (Masterton) 1982 (6) 3t Position: Wing Other: Rep NZ Colts at softball Brother of Greg ,Ivan
1981-82-83		Kjestrup, Neil Francis Career: Wairarapa Bush (Gladstone) 1974 (4) – 75 (8) – 76 (13) – 77 (12) – 78 (12) – 79 (10) – 80 (13) – 81 (14) – 82 (13) -83 (14) ,113g, 6t ,32c, 83p, 337pts BJ Lochore’s Invit XV 1981, 1c; Auckland President’s XV 1983; NZ Trial 1980, 1c. Career: 116g, 6t, 34c, 83p, 341pts Position:Five-eighth/fullback School: St Patrick’s College, Silverstream 1968-72 Occupation: Farmer Brother of Hugh.
1983		Lawson, Peter Otago (Univ) 1982 Career: Wairarapa Bush (Tuhirangi) 1983 (5), 1t 5g North Is Universities (Victoria) 1979-80 Position:  Hooker.
1981-82-84-85-86		Lett, Bernard James Career: Wairarapa Bush (Carterton) 1981 – 82 (6) – 84 (11) – 85 (11) – 86 (11) – 87 (13) – 88 (12) – 89 (13) – 90 (12) – 91 (11) – 92 (12), 113g, 17t, 68pts BJ Lochore’s Invit XV 1981 Position: Halfback School: St Joseph’s College (Masterton), XV 1977-78.
1981-82-83		McCool, Michael John Hawke’s Bay (Hastings Celtic) 1972 (13) – 73 (12) – 74 (14) – 75 – 76 (8) – 77 (14) – 78 (14), 76g Career: Wairarapa Bush (Pongaroa) 1979 (11) – 80 (12) – 81 (13) – , (Puketoi S.O.) 82 (4) – (Pongaroa United) 83 (10) , 50g, 1t Saracens Club 1978; BJ Lochore’s Invit XV 1981 NZ Marist 1976; NZ Juniors (Under 23) 1974 (6); NZ Trial 1979 NEW ZEALAND 1979, 2g (1 test, v Aust) Career: 138g, 1t. Position: Lock School:  Kereru PS 1960-64; St Patrick’s C, Silverstream, 1965-68, XV ’68 Occupation: Farmer
1982-83		McGlashan, Gary Keith Career: Wairarapa Bush (Red Star) 1971 (2) -72 (10) -73 (5) -74 (9) -75 (12) -76 (14) -77 (14) -78 (6) -79 (11) -80 (13) -81 (13) -82 (12) -83 (10), 131g, 5t, 20pts BJ Lochore’s Invit XV 1981 Position: Hooker School: Wairarapa College
1981-82		McKenna, Anthony Bernard ‘Tony” Career: Wairarapa Bush (Eketahuna) 1980 (7) – 81 (4) – 82 , 12g,1t,1p Position: Wing
1985		Morris, Anthony John Career: Wairarapa Bush (Greytown) 1985 (4) – 86 1t. Position: Fullback.
1983		O’Connor, Michael Craig Career: Wairarapa Bush (Marist) 1983 (1) , (Carterton) 1988 (2) – 89 (7) – 91 (7) 92 – 93, 19g, 1t, 4pts Position: Wing
1986		O’Rourke, Matthew Harvey Career: Wairarapa Bush (Masterton) 1986 (13) , 87 (6) , 19g, 5t, 20pts Position: Three Quarter School: Rathkeale College 1980-84
1986		Paku, William Career: Wairarapa Bush (Masterton) 1986 (1) , 1g Position: Prop
1981-85		Patrick, Gary William Career: Wairarapa Bush (Gladstone) 1980 (11) 81 (2) – 85 (7), 20g; BJ Lochore’s Invit XV 1981 Position:Lock School: Kuranui College
1982-84-85-86		Playle, Rex Basil Career: Wairarapa (Carterton) 1970;  Wairarapa Bush (Carterton) 1973 (8) – 74 (2) – 76 – 78 (9) – 80 (2) – 82 (5) – 84 (12) – 85 (3) – 86 (7), 63g, 2t; Wairarapa Bush Invit XV 1980 ; BJ Lochore’s Invit XV 1981 Career: 66g,  2t Position: Prop Other: Wairarapa and Bush unions merged in 1971 School: Kurunui College
1986		Rarasea, Ilisone S. Career: Wairarapa Bush (Carterton) 1986 (13) – 87 (3) 5t. 16g Wairarapa Bush Centennial XV 1986 Position: Wing
1985		Rauluni, Peni R. Career: Wairarapa Bush (Red Star) 1985 (8), 5t. Position: Centre Rep FIJI 1984-86, 5 tests.
1982-83-84		Rolston, Gary Ian Career: Wairarapa Bush (Eketahuna) 1982 (6) – 83 (6) – 84 (2) – 88 (5) – 89 (13) – 90 (12) , (Masterton) 1986 (4) -87 (3), 51g, 2t Position: Lock
1981-82-83		Rowlands, William Nepia ‘Bill’ Career: Wairarapa (Red Star) 1966 (2) – 67 (9) – 68 (13) – 69 (10) – 70 (6), 40g,3t; Wairarapa Bush (Red Star) 1966-71 (10) – 72 (15) – 74 (7) – 75 (7) – 76 (12) – 77 (14) – 78 (6) – 81 (11) – 82 (11) – 83 (10), 104g, 6t, 22pts; NZ Juniors Trial 1967-69; Southern Maori 1968-69-70-71-76-78; NZ Maori 1969 (2) – 70 (2) – 76 (2), 1t, 4pts. Career: 158g, 10t, 35pts. Position: Prop. Other: Red Star senior coach 1980. Wairarapa Bush RU management committee 1985-86. Wairarapa and Bush unions merged in 1971 , Grandson of George Nepia. School: Te Hapara Sch; Gisborne BHS, XV 1962-63.
1984-85		Rutene, David Career: Wairarapa Bush (Masterton)  1984 (14) – 85 (2) – 91 (10) , (Marist) 1989 (4) -90 (8), 38g, 19t Nelson Bays (Nelson) 1992 (12), 3t, 14pts; Southern Maori 1984, 1t; NZ Colts 1984 (3), 1t; NZ Divisional 1991 Career: 55g, 24t, 98pts Position:Threequarter
1981-83-84-86		Rutene, Phillip D. Career: Wairarapa Bush (Masterton) 1981 (3) – 83 (4) – 84 (7) – 86 (7) – 87 (14) – 88 (4) – 89 (2), 41g, 5t, 4dg North Auckland (Hikurangi) 1985 (6), 1c, 3dg Wairarapa Bush Invit XV 1980, 1p; NZ Schools 1980, NZ Colts Trial 1982; NZ Colts 1981-82 (2) Career: 52g, 5t, 1c, 1p, 7dg, 46pts Position: First five-eighth School: Wairarapa College
1981-83-84		Sargent, Nigel Peter Career: Wairarapa Bush (Featherston) 1973 – 76 (10) – 77 (14) – 79 (10) – 80 (13) – 81 (3) – 83 (7) – 84 (1) , 59g, 3t; BJ Lochore’s Invit XV 1981 Position: Prop Other: Rep NZ Wrestling, Commonwealth Games 1978.
1986		Sargent, Peter William Wairarapa Bush (Featherston) 1986 (3) – 87 (14) – 88 (12), 29g, 4t; Wairarapa Bush Centennial XV 1986, 1t Position: Flanker School: Kurunui College
1986		Smith, Peter Robert Career: Wairarapa Bush (Martinborough) 1986 (1) – 89 (13) – 90 (10), 24g Position: Lock/Flanker School: Rathkeale College 1978-82, XV ’81-82, head prefect.
1984		Stilborn, Bryce Digby Percy Career: Wairarapa Bush (Masterton) 1984 (2) ; 2g Position: Flanker
1984		Stuart, Bruce Colin Career: Wairarapa Bush (Pongaroa) 1978 (5) , (Tiraumea) 1983 (1) , 6g Position: Halfback School: Rathkeale College 1966-70
1983-84-85-86		Styles, Bryan Edward Career: Wairarapa Bush (Gladstone) 1983 (2) – 84 (10) – 85 – 86 (15) -87 (14) – 92 (11), (Carterton) 1988 (7) – 89 (9) -90 (12) – 91 (11) – 95 (6), 98g, 1t, 4pts Wairarapa Bush Centennial XV 1986; Southern Maori 1989; Central Zone 1988 (2) – 89 (2); NZ Divisional 1988 (5) – 89 – 91 (3), 1t. Career: 113g, 2t, 8pts Position: Prop School: Kurunui College
1986		Taylor, Hemi Takatou Career: Waikato (Melville) 1984 (6), 1t Wairarapa Bush (Carterton) 1986 (4) Wairarapa Bush Centennial XV 1986 Position: Flanker Later played for Cardiff, UK Barbarians 1990 represented WALES 1994-96, 24 Tests
1986		Tua, Motu Career: Wairarapa Bush (Tararua) 1986 (15) – 87 (13) (Eketahuna) 1988 (2) – 91 (10), 40g, 2t Southern Maori 1987 Position: Hooker
1981-82-84		Thompson, Stephen Reihana Career: Wairarapa Bush (Gladstone) 1978 (12) – 79 (1) – 81(1) – 82 (3) – 84 (12), 29g, 1t. Position: Flanker/Hooker School: Wairarapa College XV 1970-72.
1986		Walsh, Stewart John ‘Stu’ Career: Otago (Univ) 1983; Southland (Invercargill OB) 1984(16) Wairarapa Bush (Pioneer) 1986(13), 1t Manawatu (Freyberg OB) 1988(4); Otago B 1982; South Is Universities 1983 Career: 36g, 1t Position: Lock School: Wairarapa College; Otago Univ, MB ChB 1983 Other: Orthopaedic surgeon in Auckland.
1983 – 84		White, David Alexander Career: Canterbury (Lincoln) 1979 (2) – 80 (7) – 81(12), 21g, 1t; Wairarapa Bush (Gladstone) 1983 (14) – 84 (14), 1t; 28g Canterbury B 1979; South Is Univ 1979 (2); NZ Universities 1979-80 (3), 1t; NZ Juniors 1980(3), 1t. Career.59g, 4t. Position: Lock Other: Son of Richard ‘Tiny’ White
1981-82-83-84-85-86		Wyeth, Joseph George ‘Joe’ Career:Wairarapa Bush (Masterton) 1980 (13) – 81 (13) – 82 (8) – 83 (8) – 84 (4) – 85 (10) – 86 (12), 68g, 7t; BJ Lochore’s Invit XV 1981 Position: Flanker School: Wairarapa College XV 1971 Occuaption: Fireman. Died 6.8.2008, Masterton , aged 53

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