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 scored as many tries (31) as the opposition during the championship but was less successful with goal kicks, the result being three wins from nine games. In the five pool games, only one of which was won, the team registered more tries (17) than any other side in Pool A, but also conceded the most tries (19). Weak defence cost the team dearly. Three home pool games were lost by narrow margins — all should have been won.

New coaches Kelvin Tantrum, who had enjoyed success in Manawatu club and Manawatu women’s NPC teams, and former rep captain Mike Robinson recruited some useful players from Wellington to blend with the few experienced local players.

In the backline Nathan Riwai-Couch and Patrick Harding—Rimene returned after a year’s break to provide their wealth of experience. There was pace in the three-quarters with Junior Togia and Charles Walker-Blair scoring half the team’s tries. Fullback Peato Lafaele was also enterprising on attack. New rep Jordon Watene was a sound link at centre.

In the pack the grand toiler Joe Harwood captained the side, and later the Heartland XV

He was assisted in the tight by props Dylan Higgison, Brett Rudman, and young newcomer Kurt Simmonds, a hard grafter with promise. There were two tall locks in Tomasi Kedrabuka and James Measor. Tireless Michael Spence and Jared Hawkins were industrious loose forwards with Nathan Rolls, Joe Feast and Mike Wilson also playing their roles.

Higher honours went to:
New Zealand Heartland XV: Harwood

2008 Pre-Season Match Record: Played 1 ; Lost 1
Points :For 6; Against 19

2008 Heartland Match Record: Played 9 ; Won 3; Lost 6
Points :For 249 ; Against 241

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 2008 {Total Games}

#CAP		NAME	POSITION	CLUB	PL
287		Nathan Leslie Arekateia Riwai-Couch	First Five, Fullback	Marist	8
336		James Clayton Bruce	Scrumhalf	Gladstone	1
343		Patrick Harding-Rimene	First Five, Fullback	Marist	10
363		Joseph Rua ‘Joe’ Harwood	Hooker, Prop	Carterton	10
408		Dylan Morgan Higgison	Prop	Tuhirangi	9
429		Tomasi Talacanavatu Kedrabuka	Lock	Carterton	10
439		Brett Robert Rudman	Prop	Greytown	9
440		Michael Robert Spence	Loose Forward	Gladstone	10
441		Etuale ‘Junior’ Togia	Winger	Tawa – Wellington RU	9
442		Peato ‘Cash’ Lafaele	Fullback	Northern United – Wellington RU	9
446		Michael Phillip Patrick Shaw	Centre	Gladstone	8
450		Lance Douglas Stevenson	Winger	Carterton	1
453		Jared John Bambry	Flanker, Lock	Puketoi	4
456		Jon Tavia Guillard	Centre	Eketahuna	3
461		Michael Carl Hollis	Scrumhalf	Greytown	8
466		Jared Abraham Hawkins	Flanker	Martinborough	6
467		Nathan Hemi Rolls	Loose Forward	Pioneer	8
468		Dean Grant	First Five	Gladstone	2
469		Jordan Leslie Watene	Centre	Gladstone	10
470		Charles William Walker-Blair	Winger	Carterton	10
471		Kurt Michael Simmonds	Prop	Gladstone	10
472		Michael Hayden Wilson	Flanker	Pioneer	10
473		Joseph Peter Feast	Flanker	East Coast	8
474		Callum Wayne Buchanan	Scrumhalf	Carterton	4
475		Tavita A. Isaac	No. 8	Greytown	1
476		James Dennis Measor	Lock	Upper Hutt – Wellington RU	9
477		Nicholas Keith Olson	Fullback, Winger	East Coast	8
478		Richard William Puddy	Hooker, Prop	Gladstone	5
479		Aaron William Cook	Prop	Gladstone	1
480		Joseph Edwin Nuku	Flanker	Marist	3
481		Andrew Robert McLean	Lock	Gladstone	3