Talent galore eyeing Wairarapa-Bush

The spin-offs from Wairarapa-Bush's success in the NPC third division rugby competition last season are already being seen.
Selector-coach Peter Russell confirmed today that a "very healthy" number of players from outside of the area had made inquiries about the possibility of joining clubs in the Wairarapa-Bush region next season.
Russell said many of these players were on the 'fringes" of selection for the A teams in their own regions and would be valuable acquisitions for Wairarapa-Bush when they contest the revamped NPC second division competition in 2006.
" There are some very talented players amongst them??and a lot of them are in positions where we need to boost our depth," he said.
Russell said the attraction of a union like Wairarapa-Bush to these players was that they would be able to play at full inter-provincial level rather than having to play for B teams in the unions in which they currently reside.
"Under the new rules they have to play club rugby here to be eligible for our rep side and that hasn't been a problem at all," Russell said. "It will certainly boost the standard of play at club level so there will benefits all-round, won't there?"
Russell said the would-be newcomers were also well aware that Wairarapa-Bush had been allocated a Ranfurly Shield challenge by the holders, Canterbury, on July 11 and that too was seen as a plus.
"A lot of players never get the chance to play in a Shield game so that's an obvious attraction too," he said.
Just two of last year's successful Wairarapa-Bush side, skipper Mike Robinson and hooker Rob Foreman, are definite non-starters for next season, Robinson having retired and Foreman transferring to Manawatu.
Questions marks still exist too over the availability of Dutch international Bart Viguurs who was such a sensation at fullback during the third division campaign but Russell is optimistic he will be back.
The 2005 Player of the Year, lock Tomasi Kedarabuka, now seems certain to return from Fiji for another season in the Wairarapa-Bush colours and wingers Esava Teko and Marika Kau, both of whom played their club rugby in Wellington last season, have indicated they will be joining Wairarapa-Bush clubs for next year.
Russell said the enthusiasm amongst last year's squad was such that many of the players were already asking for fitness programmes so they could start their preparatory work for 2006.
"Everybody seems to be excited about what the new season will bring," he said. "They are chuffing at the bit to get going."
Russell is delighted too with the draw for the NPC second division series next season, a draw which pits Wairarapa-Bush against two of the lesser rated sides, Buller and West Coast, at home in the first two games and then has them travelling away to East Coast and back home to play likely second division favourites, North Otago.
"The draw does give us a good chance to get early points on the board and that's very important," he said. "Starting well can mean everything to a side and we've certainly been given the chance to do that."