Football
Top level youth football will be coming to Wairarapa next year, with newly-formed Heartland Wairarapa set to accept an invitation from New Zealand Football to join the ASB Youth League.
Chairman Bob Francis is delighted there is an opening for Heartland Wairarapa to enter the competition, which he sees as an important step in the quest to have a senior ASB Premiership side based in the region.
"This invitation is great news for Wairarapa sport and shows the strength of football in the area," Francis said. "We have written to New Zealand Football asking for clarification on a couple of points but, basically, we are now moving forward to formalise our organisation, appoint coaches, recruit players and put plans in place ready to kick off in the new year."
Francis said there was already tremendous interest from players based in Wairarapa and elsewhere, and Heartland Wairarapa did not anticipate any major issues in putting together a competitive squad of 30 in good time.