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

The 2010 Lochore Cup winners disappointed in 2011 with only one competition win – over bottom placed Horowhenua Kapiti. New coaches Mark Rutene and Steve Thompson relied on local players apart from hooker ]ake Tipene and Origin player Trent Vatselias who scored nearly half the team’s points.

Nick Olson was a fine finisher on the wing and was selected for the Heartland team but forced to withdraw owing to injury. First five-eighth Zeb Aporo did play for the Heartland XV Matt O’Connor was the usual halfback but Inia Katia gave some spark when he came off the bench. Three-quarter Michael Vuicakau had his moments but generally the backs received little quality ball. Jesse McGilvary, Sam Mitchell, Hemi Tupaea and Tommy Harmon were other backs to appear regularly.

Number eight Joss Tua-Davidson led the team with Andrew McLean, Brandon Young, Dan Griffin, Brendan Walker and Kurt Simmonds being experienced players. Johan Van Vliet, James Goodger, Wilba Davies and Campbell Lawrence were newcomers to appear regularly.

While the Georgia RWC squad was using Memorial Park as a training base the union played two home fixtures at the Carterton club ground.

Higher honours went to:
New Zealand Heartland:  Z.A.Aporo

2011 Pre-Season Match Record: Played 1 ; Won 1 ;
Points : For 14 ; Against 13

2011 Heartland Match Record: Played 8 ; Won 1 ; Lost 7
Points :For 170 ; Against 231

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 2011 {Total Games}

#CAP		NAME	POSITION	CLUB	PL
415		Brendan Hiona Walker	Prop	Eketahuna	8
422		Daniel Joseph Griffin	Lock	Eketahuna	6
436		Thomas Harmon	Centre, Winger	Pioneer	9
457		Heemi Nerehana Tupaea	Centre, Fullback	Masterton Red Star	8
464		Zebulan.A.T.M.’Zeb’ Aporo	Scrumhalf	East Coast	7
466		Jared Abraham Hawkins	Flanker	Martinborough	3
471		Kurt Michael Simmonds	Prop	Greytown	9
477		Nicholas Keith Olson	Fullback, Winger	East Coast	8
481		Andrew Robert McLean	Lock	Gladstone	9
483		Brandon Charles Patrick Young	Lock	Eketahuna	7
484		Joss Arama Tua-Davidson	Loose Forward	Eketahuna	8
487		Samuel Rei Mitchell	Centre, Winger	East Coast	8
490		Rupeni Junior Tamani	Flanker	Eketahuna	8
502		Jesse Rowan James McGilvary	Winger	East Coast	9
506		Tereina Tekiri Puwai Rimene	Prop	East Coast	3
508		Campbell John Lawrence	Hooker, Prop	Eketahuna	8
509		Johannes Jan Arie van Vliet	Flanker	Eketahuna	9
510		Matt Thomas O’Connor	Scrumhalf	East Coast	8
511		Dan R. Porter	Winger	Gladstone	3
512		Michael R. Vuicakau	Centre	Gladstone	7
513		Greg Dennes	Winger	Martinborough	1
514		Wilba David Rhys Davies	Prop	Martinborough	8
515		lnia S.T. Katia	Fullback, Scrumhalf, Winger	Gladstone	8
516		Tipene T. Haira	Centre, First Five	Pioneer	4
517		Trent Edward Frank Vatselias	Fullback	MSP – Wellington RU	8
518		James W.P.R. Goodger	Flanker, Loose Forward	Marist	8
519		Lee Ewe	Pioneer	Pioneer	5
520		Jake Tipene	Hooker	Bush – Manawatu RU	5