Iro gets the nod for bigger things

The outstanding talents of Wairarapa-Bush rugby star Sylvanus Iro have been recognised at a higher level.
The Greytown-Tuhirangi loose forward has received a scholarship to attend the International Rugby Academy high performance course, to be held in Palmerston North from Sunday, June 25 to Friday, July 14.
Iro will receive expert tuition from former top-line loose forwards such as Josh Kronfeld, Graham Mourie, Liam Barry, Jamie Joseph and as well as big names in the coaching world like Wayne Smith, Laurie Mains, Nick Mallet, David Nucifora, Steve Hansen and Eddie Jones.
Week one of the course is based on the theme "where you are, where you could be and how to get there."
It will involve a range of topics such as team building and team culture, mental toughness, rugby intelligence and basic skills like passing, taking the ball into contact situations, vision and decision making, evasive running and defensive skills.
The theme for week two is "the individual, his position and the role."
This will include video analysis of individual skills, conditioning programmes, position-specific assessments, media and presentation skills and goal setting.
Week three will be about "the team" with the emphasis there being on team patterns, situational rugby and a match analysis session concentrating on the relationship between team and coach. An actual match involving the course participants will also be played with a debrief to follow.
Meanwhile. the first series of matches in the Wairarapa-Bush premier division main championship round will be played on Saturday with Eketahuna at home to Gladstone, Pioneer hosting Greytown-Tuhirangi and Carterton at home to Marist.
The full draw is:-
Premier division A: Eketahuna v Gladstone, Eketahuna at 2.30pm (T.Roseingrave; G.Hall); Pioneer v Greytown-Tuhirangi, Park Sportsground at 2.30pm (J.Kendal); Carterton v Marist, Carterton at 2.30pm (A,Stringer; T.Nancekevill).
Premier division B: Masterton Red Star v Puketoi, Memorial Park at 2.30pm (G.Moorcock); Martinborough v East Coast, Martinborough at 2.30pm (D.Goodin; B.King).
President's grade: Pioneer v Marist, Park Sportsground at 1pm (no referee appointed); Greytown-Tuhirangi v Masterton Red Star, Greytown at 1.30pm (R.McKay); Gladstone v Carterton, Gladstone at 1pm (N.Burt); Eketahuna v East Coast, Eketahuna at 1pm (G.Hall).
Under-19: Greytown-Tuhirangi v Stokes Valley, Greytown at 1pm (C.Jefferies); Martinborough v Marist St Pats, Martinborough at 1pm (B.King).
First XV: Kuranui v Wellington 2 XV, Kuranui at 2.30pm (M.Brown).
Under-15: Wairarapa College v Rangitikei, Wairarapa College at 10am (B.Whale).
Open grade college: Chanel v Rathkeale 2, Chanel at 10.30am (D.Hands); Kuranui v Wairarapa 3, Kuranui at 10.30am (S.Watts); Rathkeale colts v Wairarapa Grassroots, Rathkeale at 10.30am (G.Peters); Makoura a bye.
Junior grade college:Rathkeale A v Wairarapa Black, Rathkeale 4 at 9.30am (no referee); Chanel v Wairarapa Gold, Chanel at 9.30am (G.Perry); Makoura v Kuranui, Makoura at 9.30am (no referee); Wairarapa Blue a bye.