Tua Davidson’s turn to be loan man out

Hopes of the NZRFU having a change of heart over the eligibility issues surrounding outstanding Wairarapa-Bush flanker Joss Tua-Davidson have been dashed.
Tua-Davidson was initially included in this season's Wairarapa-Bush rugby squad as a "local player" but that situation changed dramatically in the week leading up to their Heartland championship opener against West Coast in Greymouth when the NZRFU notified he did not fit that criteria.
Rather they saw Tua-Davidson as a "loan player" because of him playing his club rugby for Bush Sports in the Manawatu competition and a WBRFU appeal against that decision has received a negative response.
In a letter to the WBRFU an NZRFU spokesman said: " The NZRFU player eligibility regulations make it clear that a "local player" means a player who is registered with a club competing in a competition under the control and jurisdiction of that provincial union.
"I understand that Bush Sports players are registered with the Bush Rugby Club through the Manawatu Rugby Union and that Bush Sports is affiliated to the Manawatu union and pay an affiliation fee to the Manawatu union. Bush Sports also play in the Manawatu club competition.
"Accordingly it seems clear that in terms of the NZRFU's player eligibility regulations Bush Sports player are "local players" of the Manawatu provincial union. and should a player from Bush Sports wish to play for any other provincial union, apart from Manawatu ,then Manawatu needs to loan that player to that other union."
Tua-Davidson missed the West Coast match as a direct consequence of the NZRFU ruling but negotiations with the Manawatu union were successfully completed soon after to have him remain with the Wairarapa-Bush squad under the "loan player" provisions.
That gave Wairarapa-Bush four "loan players" in total, and provided an extra headache for selectors Kelvin Tantrum, Neil Foote and Steve Hurley as only three are allowed to be named for any one Heartland game.
Drawing the short straw in the shock win over Meads Cup holders Wanganui last weekend was wing Junior Togia and it will be Tua-Davidson who will again miss out for the third pool match against East Coast at Ruatoria on Saturday.
Coach Tantrum understands questions will be asked over the wisdom of that move, particularly in view of Tua-Davidson's huge contribution in the Wanganui victory, and he said the reasons were two fold
Firstly because Tua-Davidson had not been able to attend training this week because he is working in the Hawke's Bay region and, secondly, because of an intended slight change in the tactical approach.
"It's frustrating to have to choose between such talented players but we've gone for what we think will suit the team best in this particular game," Tantrum said. "But, yes, we would love to have Joss....who wouldn't".
Tantrum wants Wairarapa-Bush playing a more expansive style of rugby against East Coast than they did against Wanganui with the idea being to take full advantage of the edge they are likely to have on the score of fitness.
In the two hefty defeats they have suffered in their opening two Heartland games this season East Coast have competed strongly in the first half but faded away in the second.
"They seem to have run out of steam in the second half and hopefully we can make that happen again," Tantrum said.
Tua-Davidson's absence means Corey Reid will move from lock to flanker for the Ruatoria match while Tomasi Kedrabuka will return to the middloe row after missing the Wanganui game through a shoulder injury.In the backs Togia comes in for Tommy Harmon on the wing.
The Wairarapa-Bush team is:Nick Olson; Heemi Tupaea, Saiosi Anamani, Sam Mitchell, Junior Togia; Byron Karaitina; Nick Risdon; Nathan Rolls;
Chris Senior, Tomasi Kedrabuka, Andrew McLean,Corey Reid; Kurt Simmonds,
Ben Pereira, Jared Brock.Reserves: Api Matenga, Sele Tugaga, Tommy Harmon, Richard Puddy, Nick Beavon, Tim Fleming, Joe Feast.