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

Following two years as third division semi-finalists, Wairarapa Bush dropped to second from the bottom having achieved wins over only Poverty Bay and West Coast. The early matches against Japan A, Manawatu and Wanganui offered considerable confidence for the championship but many of those who appeared in those games were not used later. Only the hooker, Jason Adamson, appeared in every game. Coaches Roger Walker and Kerry Williams had difficulty achieving a settled backline with many positional changes being made. Only Hamish McKenzie, Jamie Stewart- McDonald, Simanu Simanu, Tumanu Martin and Joe Collins appeared regularly, with McKenzie and Simanu showing the most potential.

It was unfortunate that the well-performing fullback and goal-kicker Patrick Rimene was injured mid-season and controversy arose when 2001 rep Darren Kapene was recalled to replace him for the game against Horowhenua Kapiti. Kapene had been playing rugby league in Wellington during the club season and is a very talented player, but the decision to bring in a player who had chosen to play league ahead of the many rugby union club players upset both officials and supporters and, sensibly, he was not retained in the squad.

The forwards were a more settled unit than the backs, with captain Mike Robinson and Germaine Anaha experienced loose forwards. Stu Smith and Norm Henricksen were the regular locks and Justin Va’a and Adamson in the front row. Of the remainder only Barry O’ Sullivan, James Saipani and Errol Weston started in five or more games. The front row was one of the heaviest of the division. The best forwards were Anaha, Va’a and Smith with Mikaele Apikatoa showing improvement. Robinson, though a good leader, suffered from injury which affected his form.

2002 Pre-Season Match Record: Played 4 ; Won 2 ; Lost 2
Points : For 77; Against 75

2002 NPC Third Division Match Record: Played 8 ; Won 2; Lost 6
Points : For 160; Against 207

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 2002 {Total Games}

#CAP		NAME	POSITION	CLUB	PL
262		Kerry Todd Hargood	Lock	Marist	1
278		Richard John Carroll	Fullback	Pioneer	4
284		Douglas To’o Power	Loose Forward	HOBM – Wellington RU	1
299		Graham Hugh Bolsted	Fullback	Marist	1
307		Michael Raymond Robinson	Loose Forward, Lock	Greytown	11
323		Germaine Stacey Anaha	Flanker	Masterton Red Star	11
332		Frederick James Taulapapa Saipani	Lock	Carterton	8
333		Darren Kapene	First Five, Winger	Petone – Wellington RU	1
335		Andy Thomson Wichman	Winger	Pioneer	2
337		Lawrence Hemi Matthews	Centre	Marist	7
338		Neil Timothy Rodger	First Five	Carterton	1
343		Patrick Harding-Rimene	First Five, Fullback	Marist	7
351		Norman Albert Henricksen	Flanker, Lock	Greytown/Tuhirangi	11
358		Jamie Finn Stewart-McDonald	Centre, Winger	Poneke.. – Wellington RU	11
362		Justin Hugh Va’a	Prop	Upper Hutt  – Wellington RU	11
363		Joseph Rua ‘Joe’ Harwood	Hooker, Prop	Carterton	1
364		Stuart Graeme Smith	Lock	Eketahuna	11
368		Jason P. Adamson	Flanker, Hooker	Carterton	12
369		Richard Allan McDonald	Flanker, Hooker	Featherstone	7
371		Frederik Jacobes ‘Jaco’ Pieterse	Centre	Marist	7
373		Daniel Fenwick	Hooker	Greytown	1
375		Bryan Saolele	Flanker	Northern Utd – Wellington RU	6
376		Iliesa Vosarogoci Durrant	Winger	Greytown	2
382		Errol Digger Wiremu Weston	Prop	Avalon  – Wellington RU	9
383		Scott Summerville	Flanker	Gladstone	1
384		Gilbert Lee Wharetaiki Kelly	Flanker	Carterton	1
385		Todd Alexander Pullar	Scrumhalf	Carterton	1
386		Thomas G. Miller	Winger	Featherstone	6
387		Tony Andrew Lyford	Prop	Greytown	1
388		Patrick Hector ’Paddy’ Ashworth	First Five	Featherston	7
389		Trevor Logan	Winger	Carterton	1
390		Jamie Maxwell Gay Olsen	Winger	Greytown	1
391		Tumanu Martin	Centre	Petone – Wellington RU	9
392		Daniel Paul Wyeth	Prop	Marist	7
393		Mikaele Apikatoa	Flanker	Featherston	10
394		Daniel George ‘Danny’ Smith	Scrumhalf	Eketahuna	1
395		Alex N. Grant	First Five	Gladstone	2
396		Barry S. O’Sullivan	Flanker	East Coast	8
397		Hamish Mavor McKenzie	Scrumhalf	Eketahuna	10
398		Joe Collins	Winger	Petone – Wellington RU	9
399		Chris Kalauta	Winger	Carterton	3
400		Justin Lett	Winger	Carterton	5
401		Matthew Vaai Tema	Prop	Western.Suburbs  – Wellington RU	1
402		Maurice Tawhai Karaitiana	Loose Forward	Carterton	1
403		Simanu Filisoa Simanu	Centre	Western.Suburbs  – Wellington RU	9
404		Tui T.P. Hunt	Prop	Petone – Wellington RU	6
405		Dan Filihiahekava	Lock	Featherston	1
406		Corry Broughton	Scrumhalf	Eketahuna	1

#CAP		NAME	SEASON
—		Penalty Try	2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2007, 2006, 2015, 2014, 2008, 1987, 2003, 2002, 2013, 1990, 2010, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999	1