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’s fortunes fell dramatically in 2017, from last year’s fourth position with six wins and a Meads Cup semi-final appearance, down to 11th on the table and a solitary win against East Coast who finished below them in last place. Injuries and form did affect the squad with 35 players used, only 16 returning from last year, and the depth was not adequate locally. Lack of fitness may have been an issue as well.

The new coach Joe Harwood discarded a number of the 2016 local regulars in Cameron Hayton, Andrew Smith and Richard Puddy, while elsewhere went Glen Walters (Wellington), Zac Guildford (Waikato) and Andy Humberstone had returned to England. Former Waikato/Counties Manukau. Thames Valley rep Armyn Sanders was an arrival in. Experienced campaigners Nick Olsen and James Goodger only appeared once due to injuries. Former All Black halfback Piri Weepu was a marquee signing, having returned from France. Although heavier than his All Black days, his experience was invaluable to the young team around him. He missed the final match due to a rib injury and then announced his retirement.

In a mobile forward pack that suffered with size and height in comparison to some other Heartland teams, the loose forwards Brendon Campbell, captain Eddie Cranston, Chris Raymond and Epeli Rayaqayaqa all functioned together quite well. Rayaqayaqa’s play, in particular, was quite outstanding. Lock Sam Gammie only made four appearances but exhibited good hard running in the tight.

Of the backs, 20-year-old wing Soli Malatai looked promising, and Tipene Haira appeared in four different positions. It was a blow- when concussion ended Sam Monaghan’s season early.

In November 2016 the union announced that from 2019 loan players would not be chosen and only local club players and players of origin would be selected for the representative team.

No player was called upon for higher honours.

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 2017 {Total Games}

#CAP		NAME	POSITION	CLUB	PL
475		Tavita A. Isaac	No. 8	Greytown	6
477		Nicholas Keith Olson	Fullback, Winger	Greytown	2
481		Andrew Robert McLean	Lock	Gladstone	10
505		Cyrus Charles Baker	Centre	College Old Boys 1 &2	10
515		lnia S.T. Katia	Fullback, Scrumhalf, Winger	Gladstone	10
516		Tipene T. Haira	Centre, First Five	Martinborough	8
518		James W.P.R. Goodger	Flanker, Loose Forward	Marist	1
522		Lachie J.M. McFadzean	Lock	Carterton	5
542		Jacko T. Hull	Prop	Carterton	3
545		Samuel Jack ‘Sam’ Monaghan	First Five, Fullback, Winger	Eketahuna	6
549		Robert Joseph Anderson	Centre	Eketahuna	6
559		Timothy Craig ‘Tim’ Priest	First Five, Fullback	Martinborough	10
562		Cory A. McFadzean	Fullback	Carterton	8
567		Brendon J.W. ‘BJ’ Campbell	Flanker, No. 8	Eketahuna	10
568		Chris C. Raymond	Loose Forward	Martinborough	10
573		Matthew H. ‘Matt’ Kawana	Prop	Pioneer	7
578		Eddie J. Cranston	Flanker, Loose Forward	Gladstone	10
579		Sam G. Gammie	Prop	Eketahuna	4
586		Nicholas J. Hohepa	Prop	Greytown	9
587		Daryl J. Pickering	Scrumhalf	Carterton	1
589		Elijah-James Pakoti	Hooker	Martinborough	10
590		Gerard Z. Faitotoi	Prop	Northern United 3	4
591		Piri Awahou Tihou Weepu	First Five, Scrumhalf	Arrived from overseas 4	9
592		Armyn C. Sanders	Centre	Martinborough	1
593		Hone J. Vella	Hooker	Carterton	4
594		Regan S. Pope	Lock	Greytown	8
595		Matt W.D. McCrae	Centre	Gladstone	2
596		Soli Malatai	Centre, Winger	Marist	10
597		Andrew Jones		2017	1
598		Jake Warren		2017	1
599		Reece Calkin	Scrumhalf	2018, 2017	1
600		Nikora V. Ewe	Centre, Winger	Pioneer	8
601		Jayden M. Mason	Prop	Pioneer	7
602		Chaz R. Matthews	Loose Forward	Greytown	2
603		Epeli Rayaqayaqa	Loose Forward	East Coast	6
604		Sosaia M. Tufui	Hooker	Petone 3	6
605		Pu’a Tafa	Hooker, Prop	Marist	2
606		Blane Kete	Prop	Greytown	2

1 Player of Origin    2 ManawatuRU   3  Wellington RU  4 Arrived from overseas