Wairarapa Bush players pull out of NZ Universities match

Several players named in the extended Wairarapa-Bush rugby training squad to prepare for a friendly against New Zealand Universities at Memorial Park, Masterton, next Tuesday have made themselves unavailable.

Head coach Mark Rutene said yesterday about "half a dozen" had indicated they were not yet prepared to make the commitments necessary for playing at representative level.

"It's a bit disappointing but at least we know where they stand," he said.

"I guess some of them might have a change of heart as things progress but, right now, they are out of the picture."

Rutene is unsure just how many players he and assistant coach Paddy Gough will field for the NZU match which came about through a desire by NZU to organise a warm-up before they took on Japan four days later.

But with the fixture not given first-class status, the likelihood is they will go with at least 26 or 27 players and use rolling subs throughout the 80 minutes.

Which in Wairarapa-Bush's case will be advantageous in helping decide the composition of their line-up for their non-championship fixture against fellow Heartland side, Horowhenua-Kapiti, to be played at the Cake Tin on May 26 as a curtain-raiser to the Hurricanes v Rebels Super 15 encounter.

Interestingly, the three Wellington imports already training with the Wairarapa-Bush squad, front rower Eric Fry, loose forward Taylor Mokate and midfielder Titapu Pairama-Lewington, will be on hand for the NZU match but will be unavailable for the Horowhenua-Kapiti game because they will be in action for Old Boys University in Wellington club rugby that weekend.

That trio are, however, far from being the only new faces in the Wairarapa-Bush team next Tuesday.

One of Puketoi's Fijian recruits, Epeli Rayaqayaqa, will be wearing the provincial colours for the first time and, judging by the impact he has made on on the club scene, should add considerable spark to the backline.

The same could be said of Gladstone's Guy Wood and Cameron Hayton, while lock Lachie McFadzean (Carterton) and hooker Adam Marshall (Martinborough) will be wanting to make every post a winner up front.