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

It was a much changed team from that which won the Meads Cup in 2006 with several players retiring. Coach Peter Russell had moved to Hawke’s Bay where he produced spectacular results.

New coaches Graeme Cheetham and Lofty Stevenson had to blood many new players who were given a rough baptism in June with heavy losses to a Hawke’s Bay XV (79-0) and Manawatu XV (76-7) then to Poverty Bay (28-15). However, once the competition commenced Wairarapa Bush posted three good wins before being upset by Horowhenua Kapiti at Levin.

The team got back on track with a deserved victory over the favoured North Otago team, at Masterton. It was the third win over the southerners in two years, however, in the semi-final at Oamaru the home team proved too strong.

The only loan player to appear regularly was John Dodd, a five-eighth from Manawatu, who proved a fine tactician and accurate goal-kicker. Only two of the regular backline had previous experience at this level, halfback Hamish McKenzie and fullback Simanu Simanu, both with over 50 games for the union but the newcomers were keen and sometimes produced sparkling rugby.

In midfield were Tapaga Isaac, Jon Guillard and Heemi Tupaea while the wingers were 18 year-old Jordan Fox, Lance Stevenson and Lima Lauvi.

There was more experience in the forwards with the captain Michael Spence, locks Daniel Griffin and Tomasi Kedrabuka, props Brett Rudman and the solid Brendan Walker, and hooker Joe  Harwood.

New forwards to appear frequently include hooker Mosese Gutuvakaca, prop Shane Te Mana, and loose forwards Jared Hawkins, Jared Bambry, Sullivan Alsop and Josh Mackey. If the bulk of the debutantes are available in 2008 Wairarapa Bush will certainly be title contenders again.

2007 Pre-Season Match Record: Played 1 ; Lost 1
Points :For 15 ; Against 28

2007 Heartland Match Record: Played 9 ; Won 5; Lost 4
Points :For 209 ; Against 161

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 2007 {Total Games}

#CAP		NAME	POSITION	CLUB	PL
336		James Clayton Bruce	Scrumhalf	Gladstone	2
363		Joseph Rua ‘Joe’ Harwood	Hooker, Prop	Carterton	10
397		Hamish Mavor McKenzie	Scrumhalf	Eketahuna	10
403		Simanu Filisoa Simanu	Centre	Eketahuna	9
412		Steven Gerald Olds	Centre	Eketahuna	5
415		Brendan Hiona Walker	Prop	Eketahuna	10
422		Daniel Joseph Griffin	Lock	Eketahuna	10
429		Tomasi Talacanavatu Kedrabuka	Lock	Carterton	9
439		Brett Robert Rudman	Prop	Greytown-Tuhirangi	10
440		Michael Robert Spence	Loose Forward	Gladstone	10
450		Lance Douglas Stevenson	Winger	Carterton	10
451		Shane Karena Temana	Prop	Eketahuna	10
452		Willie Lui Robin Leota	Hooker, Prop	Northern Utd – Wellington RU	2
453		Jared John Bambry	Flanker, Lock	Puketoi	10
454		Josh Hugh Mackey	Flanker	Eketahuna	10
455		John Graham Dodd	First Five	HSOB – Manawatu RU	10
456		Jon Tavia Guillard	Centre	Eketahuna	10
457		Heemi Nerehana Tupaea	Centre, Fullback	Masterton Red Star	10
458		Jordan Corey Fox	Winger	Pioneer	8
459		Mosese Sela Gutuvakaca	Hooker	Carterton	8
460		Sullivan De Wayne Alsop	Flanker	Eketahuna	10
461		Michael Carl Hollis	Scrumhalf	Greytown-Tuhirangi	3
462		Tapaga Peter Alefaio Isaac	Centre	Greytown-Tuhirangi	10
463		Lima Afato Lauvi	Winger	Masterton Red Star	6
464		Zebulan.A.T.M.’Zeb’ Aporo	Scrumhalf	East Coast	4
465		Phillip Rangi Aporo	Winger	Marist	3
466		Jared Abraham Hawkins	Flanker	Martinborough	5
467		Nathan Hemi Rolls	Loose Forward	Pioneers	3