RUGBY CLUB
Wairarapa Bush Rugby Referees Association
“We need referees forall grades,so whether youwanttoreferee aSenior 1ST or your child’s JAB match, refereeing will get youfitand give youthe best view on the park,”saysGraeme Reisima, spokesperson forthe Wairarapa Bush RugbyReferees Association. AndGraeme should knowhe startedrefereeing waybackin1992. There’smuch to be proud of in provincial club rugby. Communityrugbystatistics published at the end of 2024 revealed,for example,asix percent increase in players nationwide compared with 2023. The number of registered coachesincreased by 10%, female players by 15%, and teenage male players by fivepercent
On the other hand,the number of active communityrugbyreferees decreased by three percent in 2024 compared with 2023. Graeme says this national trend is evidentinWairarapa’s statistics, too.
Somestalwartreferees remain committed
Peter Debney wasawarded aLife Membership awardatthe end of 2024.
Andlong-time referees Chris Jefferies and Alistair Payne officiated2024’ssemis and final forthe ‘Moose’Kapene Memorial Cup. Chriswas congratulatedlatein2024 for refereeing his 200TH premier game -a huge commitment.
Chrisrefereed the Marist vPioneer semifinal last year.Veteran lock forMarist,Peter Beech, wasfull of praise forhis refereeing, saying “hehad areally good game”and thatChris’s approach “helped us playsome expansive rugby”.
Alistairrefereed the Cartertonv Martinborough semi-final,aswell as the final battle forthe 2024 ’Moose’Kapene Cup. It washis 10TH straightpremier final Wairarapa Times-Age sports reporterChris Cogdale (Coggie) has written that“Alistair
lets the game flow. He’s got agreat feel for the game and is respectedbythe players.”
Forthe 2024 Hodder-SeffertCup, Andrew Stringer refereed the Eketāhuna vEast Coastgame,while Mike Wakefield refereed Gladstone vTuhirangifor the 2024 Ryan Cup.
Graeme reflectsonhow vastly experienced Wairarapa’s referees are, but says“we’re an ageing bunchofvolunteers”. He’s keen to convinceanother twotothree new volunteers ayear to come on boardand referee.“Weprovide extensivetraining and mentorship,”he says,“and there’sgreat camaraderie in the Referees Association.”
Youcan make acareer out of refereeing thesedays, Graeme points out. He’s also keen to praise Wairarapa’s rugby public.“We arewelltreated,appreciated, thanked,and supported,”Graeme says Forall those rugbyplayers outtherewho have hung up their boots -there’sacall out foryou to step up into refereeing.Even if it’s partway through the season -even if it’s only forafew games ayear -there’s always room formore.
WEBSITE
waibush.co.nz/wp/rugby-refereesassociation
SECRETARY
Alistair Payne: M 027 664 3292
E apayne@waicol.co.nz
SPOKESPERSON
Graeme Reisima: E reisy@xtra.co.nz
APPOINTMENTS
PeterDebney: P 06 370 8419
E pa.se@xtra.co.nz CONTACTS:
Wairarapa Times-Age thanks Graeme Bowden, Photographer,for supplying manyofthe photos forthisfeature. Photos in this feature aresuppliedbyGraeme unless indicated otherwise on the page.
Graeme
photographer Examples
his sports, portraits,and commercial photographycan be viewedat www.graemebowden.co.nz.
MEET YOUR LOCALRUGBY CLUB 2025
Pioneer Rugby Football Club
RichardCarroll, former Presidentofthe Pioneer RugbyClub as well as apast and currentsupporterofthe club in many other roles,has handed over the President ‘baton’toDean Goodin.
Dean’s abig name in Wairarapa’s cricket scene, andisnow about to make asplash in ourrugbyscene too, building on his involvementinrugbyfor manyyears as a player, refereeand volunteer.He thanks Richardfor his years of service to Pioneer 2024 was agood year forthe club as it battled its waytothe semi-finals to face off against Marist.It’sbeen observedthat the Pioneer culture haschanged over the last half adozenyears,and the team has been winning games. In the last three years,they’ve beeninthe topfour.Inthe semis last year,Marist won53toPioneer’s 17. Pioneer foughthardbut sufferedfrom some niggly injuries.Added to which, “Marist wasbigger than us,”says Dean. In one exciting matchduring last season, Pioneer achieved aconvincing win: 50 points to MastertonRed Star’s 18. The likes of first-fiveReece Calkin,midfielder Shayne Harmon, and winger NikoraEwe created havoc. Sports reporter, Coggie, wroteatthe time thatthe “loose forwards Jonte Miller andHimiona Haira[also] mademetres aroundthe breakdown”.
Keeping all those greatplayers,and also recruiting other solid players toothis year, Dean says thatthe club is putting together agood side,coached by Victor Thompson, Charlie Bargh,and their excellent assistants.Victorhas been with the club for20years as aplayer, acoach and,for the last four years,asHead Coach. “Aswell as numbers,we’re focusing hard on the fitness and fastness of the players,” Dean says.“Theboysare training hardon playing an expansivegame and moving the ball.”
RichardDahlberg, lifemember,and former Manager then President, is one of four generations in his family who’vebeen deeply involved with the club.“We’re proud of it,”he told the Wairarapa TimesAge last year.“Pioneer is steeped in Māori historybut the club is also very inclusive, with manywell knownpākehā players too.”
Pioneer has become acommunityhub forfamilies and people of all ages.“Lots of kids who mightotherwise be running wild arecoming down to the club and putting on their boots,”he is reportedassaying
Theclub has reinvented itself as apositive, uplifting placefor young people and the community. “It’sall about building and supporting the community.”
Dean adds that“Pioneer is not just arugby club.We’re aplacefor people to also play netball,rugbyleague,and even darts We’rea welcoming,family-friendly club. Anyone can come in and have ago.”
CONTACTS:
CLUBROOMS 20 Colombo Road,M
PRESIDENT
Dean Goodin: M 027 773 3256
E dean@wairarapacricket.co.nz
CLUB CAPTAIN
TimNathan: M 027 243 5840
E Martim30e@gmail.com
SECRETARY
Cheryl Cavanagh E cheryl.cava@xtra.co.nz
PREMIER COACH
Victor Thompson: M 027 800 8565 E vic@goldendrop.co.nz
Tuhirangi RugbyFootball Club
In true Wairarapa style,the Tuhirangi RugbyClub carries out its fundraising by shearinglambs and launching boatsatthe Ngawi Big 3fishing competition. Funds go towardsclub resourcesfor JAB teams composed of children from Kahutara, Pirinoa and Martinborough schools
“The funds help us keep things affordable so all kids can playrugby,”saysScott Dormer,Club Manager and alocal dairy farmer.“Team sports benefit thegrowth and developmentofchildren.
Local sheep and beef farmer and Club Captain, MitchKelly,has playedwiththe team formorethan adecade.And Scotty Macdonald,one of the club’s committee members,comes in foramention. “He’s one of the main guysinthe background. He does alot of work forthe club to keep it goingand has foralong time now,”says club secretaryScarlett Boyle Scarlett says it wasnatural forher to get involved with the club.Her husband Jim grew up in Pirinoa, has been partofthe club sinceplaying Rippa, and has playedever since. Their twoboysalso playfor Tuhirangi, Jim’s dad usedtoplayfor the club,and Jim’s mum does the cooking forhome camps.
Local farmer and long-timePresidentofthe club,Ken Aburn, pulled on asenior Tuhirangi rugbyjersey wayback in 1983. He played his 500TH game forthe club in 2023 when Tuhirangisoundly beatMartinborough 69-0.
CONTACTS:
CLUBROOMS CommunityHall,M
PRESIDENT
Ken Aburn: M 027 444 8172 E kjaburn@slingshot.co.nz
CHAIR
Daniel Phillips: M 027 308 8219
MANAGER
Scott Dormer: M 027 312 2172
E scott.dormer@hotmail.co.nz
CLUB CAPTAIN
MitchKelly: M 021 871 535 E Mjkelly.1993@gmail.com
SECRETARY
Scarlett Boyle: M 027 635 1274 E trfc@hotmail.co.nz
JAB ORGANISERS
Malcolm &Steph Jaspers: E stephjaspers@gmail.com
Initially aloose forward, Ken reportedly gave thatup about 20 years agoand now plays lock,although he says he doesn’t get as much playingtime as he used to.AsClub President, however, Ken’s understanding of the game and of the local farmingcommunity, helps keep the club flourishing.
sterton
Main Road, Pirinoa
MEET YOURLOCALRUGBY CLUB 2025
Wairarapa Wāhine Toa RugbyFootball Club
Starting out with an unaffiliatedWairarapa Wāhine Toa team in 2022,the team achieved official rugby club status in 2023, affiliatedto Wairarapa Bush RugbyUnion. It wasthe first and only stand alone women’s club in the North Island.
Wairarapa Wāhine Toaremains the only local women’s rugbyclub,but its opportunities have broadened.Playing in the ManawatūPremier Women’s Rugby Championshipsmeans the team gets six to nine games in the season, withan opportunityfor its players to jointhe ManawatūAcademy.
“We’re very fortunate to have our coaching team of Stacey Grant, Phoenix FiuPoufa and Craig Stapleton,”says Committee spokesperson Andrea Jackson. “Our coaching team brings awealth of rugbyexperienceand passion.”
One of the goals of Wairarapa Wāhine Toaasanincorporated societyis to recruit people with the rightskills to the Committee.“We encourage women to grow both on and off the field at Wairarapa Wāhine Toa,”says Andrea. “They can go on to be leaders in the Committee space, as well as in coaching,refereeing, and rugbygovernanceatanationallevel.”
Sports reporter, Coggie,reportedin July last year thatWairarapa Wāhine Toa finished the 2024 season in styleasthe team scored a“brilliantlength-of-the-field trywithtime almostuptoscore,”winning the game 24 to FreybergOld Boys’21. This might have been Wāhine Toa’sonly win of the ManawatūPremier Women’s RugbyChampionships, butitwas an impressiveone.FreybergOld Boys had wontheir previous encounter83-12. Former headcoach, BrentGare, was
well satisfied with the team turning a “70 pointdeficit into athree-point winunbelievable.”
Thewordisout about Wāhine Toa. Between 2023 and 2024, the club tripled in sizewith three new all-girl junior teams competing in 2024, and withhopes to grow the club further in the nearfuture. “We’re building apathway from JAB through to Senior club,Heartland representativeteams,and beyond,”Andrea says
CONTACTS:
CLUBROOMS
Presidents Room, Solway Showgrounds
WEBSITE sporty.co.nz/wairarapawahinetoa
COMMITTEE
Andrea Jackson: M 027 447 6884 E wahinerugby@gmail.com
SECRETARY
Marcus Anselm: E wahinerugby@gmail.com
COACHING TEAM
Stacey Grant, Phoenix FiuPoufa, Craig Stapleton: E wahinerugby@gmail.com
JAB DELEGATE
Kendyl Walker M 020 4001 78843
E wahinerugby@gmail.com
Featherston RugbyFootball Club
TheFeatherston RugbyClub turns 147 this year.Its strongand proud historyhas been givennew lifewith arefreshed committee, together with committed (new and returning) volunteers
To broaden its accessibility, the club has partnered with othersports codesvia the Featherston Sports Hub initiative. This sees the rugbyclub workinginpartnership with Athletics,Netball,Cricket,Football/ Soccerclubs,and others to increase participation in sportand promotethe positiveattributes of sport.
Vice-PresidentRitchie Wardssaysthat “hereinFeatherston,rugbyisnolonger just about 15 men or women on afield, it’s about bringing peopletogether in a safe, positiveenvironment. They can letoff somesteam and be partofa family too.”
TheFeatherston RugbyClub is pulling out all the stopstosee if it can put together anumber of teams in 2025. In the ideal world, the club would like to have amen’s senior reservesaswell as Under-13s, Under-10s,Under-8s,and Rippa. Club Patron Nifo Ili“our numbers aregood forall teams but new players arealways welcome.”
In Featherston, rugbyisknown as away forchildren to learnsocial skills,learnhow to problem solveand weigh up decisions, and make lifelong friends.“It’s also agreat physical workout thatisgood forour bodies and our mental health,”Ritchie says
Theclub givesaspecial thank youtoits sponsors,supporters,and volunteers. Without these,Featherston would not have aRugbyClub
Johnston Street,Featherston PRESIDENT
Marc VandeLoo: M 021 544 545
E featherstonrugby@gmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT &SECRETARY
RitchieWards: M 027 408 7704
E secretary.featherstonrugby@gmail.com
MANAGER
Livvy Hardman: M 027 357 3773
E o.hardman21@hotmail.com.nz
JUNIOR MANAGERS
Lisa Johnson: M 027 371 6211
Nifo Ili: M 021 232 9091
E nifoili13@gmail.com
PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY THE WAIRARAPAWĀHINE TOARUGBYCLUB.
MEET YOURLOCALRUGBY CLUB 2025
Masterton Marist RugbyFootball Club
Last year’s club rugbyfinal sawMastertonMarist clash against Carterton- losingby the slimmest of margins.In fact, the team’s onlylosses during the 2024season were to Carterton: a35-19 defeat inthe Lane Penn Cupand the 27-26 defeatinthe final forthe ‘Moose’Kapene Cup.
Marist has been aconsistent performer in Premier rugbysincethe early 1990s, developing some very good young players in an experienced team thatboasts a strong forwardpack and aback line described as ‘silky’
ItsSenior APremiers were 2020 champions of the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Senior Premier competition,holding the ‘Moose’Kapene Cupand the TuiCup.In the same year,the club also wonthe Pat ShannahanSenior Club Playerofthe year
Long-time President, MichelleBeaverwho hasbeen involved with the club for decades -reinforcesthe messagethat “it’s the communitythatreally leads our club,”includingsupporters,volunteers, sponsors,parents of the JAB players, and entireextended families thatplayinthe Senior grade.Her message is echoed by Club Manager,MarkBrown, and long-time JAB delegate,Blair Gard’ner
Tom Campbell,one of the co-captains forthe team in 2024, has movedonto ateaching jobinChina, and SamSiaosi is taking more of aleadership role this year.Some of the younger guyswho have playedwith the club forfive or six years arealso steppinguptotake on leadership roles
KieloLologa remains headcoach, and he’s joined this year by assistantcoachesPeter Beech and Dave Maugatai. PeterBeech has playedlock forthe club in previous years,but is taking on the role of coaching the forwardpack this season.
“We have afew things to work on this season,”Peter says,“including
strengthening our defensivegame -which is alwaysstrong -evenfurther.We’ll be working on our conditioning and giving one-on-one feedback to challenge the boys to takethe next step up.”
He says thatclub rugby comes first,but promoting the boys to play forWairarapa Bush is importanttoo
It’s another good squad this year,Peter says,and the numbers arelooking good, although younever know whatmight be around the corner in relation to injuries “We’re luckythough,”hesays. “Marist has acoregroup of greatguyswecan call on. We’relooking forwardtoanother year of greatclub rugby, with our boys getting out thereand representing Marist both on andoffthe field.”
Awhānau-friendlyclub,Marist’s clubrooms areall about bringing people together,fostering
CLUBROOMS
Trust House Memorial Park, Dixon Street,Masterton
WEBSITE:
sporty.co.nz/mastertonmaristrfc
PRESIDENT Michelle Beaver: M 027 581 2179
E michellebeaver@xtra.co.nz
CHAIR
TerryO’Brien: M 027 451 0678
E info@wairarapascrap.co.nz
SECRETARY
Kylie Milligan: M 027 480 4003
E keenmilligan@xtra.co.nz
JAB DELEGATE
Blair Gard’ner: M 027 346 0468
E gardner.blair@gmail.com
MEET YOURLOCALRUGBY CLUB 2025
Eketāhuna RugbyFootball Club
“TheEketāhuna RugbyClub is in good heartand we’re excited about the season ahead,”says Manager Steve Penn, “but that’stemperedby the factour club is exposed to trends in the rural sector, and these can still potentially impactour players.”
Theclub has about 30 players to pull from, about athirdofwhom areforestry workers who have come to New Zealand from Fiji. Some arereturning to the club this year and there’sSekove Rova who has been selectedfor the pre-season Bush squad,“as well as manyother greatFijian players.”Steve’skeeping his fingers crossed the club can keepthem.
There’slots of local players,too, manyofwhom have experience at ahigh level.Club CaptainSam Gammie,for example,has acouple of seasons under his belt of captaining Wairarapa Bush. BJ Campbell has been in the Wairarapa Bush team for acouple of seasons recently,as well as playing with the team previously. Ashton Coates playedfor Wairarapa Bush last year,and Benazzi Ward was selectedtoplayfor Hurricanes Heartland Under-20.
Last year,Eketāhuna met East Coast in the final forthe Hodder-SeffertCup narrowly losing13-12inw conditions.“We sawsome roots rugbyplayedinthe AnthonyRowden wasrep saying.“The boys foughth were unable to get over take the win.”Only aweek that, Eketāhuna achieved over MastertonRed Star,d plaguedbyinjuries
Anthony playedrugbyfor from an early age, and is the club andhis team. St Gladstone “manyyears ago he’sfully behindEke’s rugb on the 2025 season.
CONTACTS:
CLUBROOMS 89 Alfredton Road,Eketahuna
WEBSITE sporty.co.nz/eketahunarfc
PRESIDENT Blair Percy: P 06 375 0525
E bfpercy@hotmail.com
SECRETARY
Adrienne Dempsey: M 027 5705696
E abeaglen@xtra.co.nz
CLUB CAPTAIN
SamGammie: P 06 375 8413
E gammiesam@gmail.com
HEAD COACH
Anthony Rowden
PREMIER MANAGER
StevePenn: M 027 448 1221
E steve@nzr.nz
tahuna
Greytown RugbyFootballClub
Chair of the GreytownRugby Club,Andy Homes,says his family has alwaysbeen supportiveofGreytownrugby. Hisfather,who sadly died about 18 monthsago,was a lifemember of the club. Andy is also alifemember,after starting with the club aged only five.
He says he’s proud of the boys who keep turning up to play, some of whom go on to playfor the Hurricanes Under-20s,or forthe Hawke’s BayorWellingtonscenes, although he says “we’re sorry to lose them”.
Brendon Allen has coached and been aref forthe JABs sinceabout 2020. Hismiddle son Arthur,now aged 11, and youngest Alex,aged eight,are both in the JABs Back in the day, Brendon’s dad coached Brendon and his brother in Greytown’s JABs.Brendon is happytobeinvolved with the Greytownclub with his sons,as his dad wasbeforehim.
TheGreytownclub has eightJAB coaches (two dedicatedparents per team) and four teams,“or possibly even five, this year,” Brendon says.Despitethe competition from other sporting codes, Greytown is having aresurgenceofinterest in rugby. “Girls areintegratedwith the boys and
thereare quiteafew girlsinthe Under-6 Rippas,withasimilar number in the Under-8s.Manyare skilled andquite exceptional,”he says If he has one message in his role as Greytown’s JAB coach, it’s “bring your kids along and get involved.It’sareal privilege to watch the kids become moreskilled at the game and grow as people as they progress from Rippa to Under 13s.”
Coach PeterRussell wasbornand bred in
Greytown. Nowcoaching at the Greytown club,Peter has well over adecade of professional rugbycoaching experience around the country.
He’s supportedbyassistantcoach (Brent Wilson) and technical advisor (Jonathon Tanner), and describes the club’s secret tosuccess as acombination of good players with discipline and leadership,a good structure, good coaches,and good governanceoffthe field
OOMS Street,Greytown 774 5078 (President)
WEBSITE o.nz/greytownrfc
EMAIL E greytown.rugby@gmail.com
PRESIDENT Jenna Telford: M 027 774 5078
CHAIR
Andy Holmes: M 027 444 1168
PREMIER COACH
PeterRussell: M 021 277 2096
SECRETARY
Tana Isaac: M
Greytownlast wonthe Championship in 2021 beating Cartertoninthe final.“The club is strong,wehaveastrategy and reasons to play. We’relookingforward to the season,”Peter says He talks about howthe club has survived fordecades,with its 150TH Jubilee to be celebrated in 2026, and has all the success factors to help it survivefor manymore.
Gladstone RugbyFootball Club
Established in1902, the Gladstone RugbyClub is proud of its historyand its achievements,winning three Senior Reserve and 11 Premier titles over the years,with amajorityofplayers coming from within the rural farming communityand surroundingdistricts.Strong communitysupporthas helped the club succeed.
2024 sawthe club withdraw its Premier team from the Premier competition leaving just one team playing in the Reserve grade.With anumber of players retiring altogether and somemoving to playinother Premier teams,the remainder stayedtoplayfor the club
Although some thoughtthe club would fall by the wayside and mightevenfold, Club President, SteveThompson, says “the supportfromwithin the club from theplayers and their partners,wives and
supporters createdafamily atmosphere which grew the club’s supportimmensely This supportshowedatthe finals which ended in averyclose final win against the reigning champions Tuhirangi.”
Stevesays2025 has seen other players retiring and the searchfor new players will be afocus forthe committee.“Like other clubs, player numbers arenot jumping out at you, so while we areplaying Reserves, we arebetter to grow and maintain our playing group and continue to build a
successful club with atrue countryclub atmosphere.”
TheGladstone JAB teams arewell supportedbytheir parents,coaches and families,led by CharliePost,and remain an importantpartofthe club.This season, therewill be twoUnder-6 Rippa teams,anUnder-8, Under-9, Under-11, and Under-13. Steverecalls attending last year’s end-of-year JAB eventand waspleased to see so many parents and grandparents enthusiastically supporting children’s rugby
Gladstone Club is looking forwardto performing competitively at all levels in 2025.
SteveThompson: M 027 449 9363 E casrthompson@gmail.com
Andrew Smith and Rodney Kjestrup
CathThompson: M 029 245 1976
SENIOR RESERVES COACH
SteveThompson JABs
Charlie Post: M 021 655 560 E gladstoneJAB@gmail.com
MEET YOURLOCALRUGBY CLUB 2025
Martinborough RugbyFootball Club
Martinborough Rugby Club is excited to introduce Michael Bing as our new club president. Having playedfor the past six seasons,Michael has builtstrong relationships with the players and wider rugbycommunity, making him agreat fit to leadthe club into this new chapter.
This season also sees the introduction of younger members to the committee, bringing fresh energy and new ideas to the club while maintaining its strong traditions
Their involvementisalreadyadding a new dimension to howthe cluboperates, and Michael says “we’re excited about the direction we’reheading”.
Amassivethank youmust go to Fiona Beattie,hesays, whose tireless workmuch of it behind the scenes -has been absolutely paramounttothe successand smooth running of the club.
“The effortshe puts in oftengoes unnoticed,but we all benefit from her dedication.”
On the coaching front, clubstalwartand true Martyman James Bruce will once again lead the Premier side,continuing his deep commitmenttoMartinborough
rugby. Meanwhile,Martinborough’s reservegrade team is in greathandswith new coach RobynWalker,supportedby Hatarei Brownand atalentedgroup of young players.
“With this strongcoaching team, our reserves areshapingupfor agreat season.”
With solid leadership on and off the field, Martinborough RugbyClub is in great shape for2025.
Michael says,“we’relooking forwardtoan exciting year ahead!”
East Coast RugbyFootball Club
A small ruralsports club,the East Coast Rugby Football Club wasestablished in 1953. It prides itself on being an integral partofahardworking,rural Wairarapa communityaswellas being family-oriented. Regular fundraisers take placetohelp supportthe club and players including crutchingbees, firewood,and social gatherings.
Andthe club is underpinned by solid, committed sponsors who make itall possible,year on year.RossWakeling, Presidentofthe club forfive years now, particularly thanks Phil Keinzleyfrom Keinzley Agvetfor his supportofthe club, and extends his thanks to all the local supporters and sponsors as well In 2024, the faith of those supporters and sponsors paid off,with East Coastmeeting Eketāhuna in the mud andwinning 13-12 to take the Hodder-Steffert Cup.
“The squadovercameinjuries last year to build on the growth trajectoryfrom the year before,”Ross says.“We’vebeen through the bottom of acycle and we’re on the wayup.”
Numbers of players forthe East Coast team arequietly rising ahead of the upcoming season. Ross says they’re
looking better than they were this time last year.“We’rereceiving interest because of the team’s greatperformancefromlast year.”
Ross started his involvementwith the East Coast RugbyClub when he played in theJABs. Born and bred in the region,he went on to spend10to15years playing inthe Seniors beforecoaching and,now, focusing on the club’s governance.
When asked about the squad’sstrategy for2025, he says it’s to get “two teams on the paddock everySaturday.”With encouraging signs as thenumber of players grows, and withthe momentum from last year’s achievements already evident, Ross says the only thingthat could slowthe club down nowisinjuries“and they arealwaysabig unknown”.
CLUBROOMS
Whareama, LangdaleRoad, Masterton
WEBSITE
sporty.co.nz/eastcoastrfcwairarapa
EMAIL E eastcoastrfc@gmail.com
PRESIDENT Ross Wakeling
SECRETARY Dar Rameka
CLUB CAPTAINS
Lisa Wyeth and DennisGriggs
PREMIER COACH
Guy Williams
RESERVE COACHES
T.K. Karaitiana, AaronMatenga, and RichardPuddy
Carterton RugbyFootball Club
SteveHurley,Presidentofthe CartertonRugbyClub,says the team is taking nothing for grantedafter its three-peat in which it wonthe ‘Moose’ Kapene Cupthree years in arow.
“We’ve lost afew really good players,” Stevesays, “with some moving out of the area, others laid lowfrominjuries,and yet others being picked up by other clubs.But three or four new players have come on board, and we’regetting good numbers.”
tevery year,nomatterwhat happened in the past,the team has aclean slate.The boys work ildtheir confidenceonagame basis.“They win each game,each ys,“rather than thinking about competition.”
nal match, which Carterton Marist by one point, Mike (then aged 40) and his then son (Will) both played.
In his first year out from Rathkeale,Will came on in the second half as aprop replacement. Mike (who, in an interesting twist, playedfor Marist formost of eer) movedtothe Carterton eightyears ago.He’sbeen
reportedassaying thatGarth Thompson is afantastic coach and thatthe managementteam is equally impressive. Will Kloeg is one of four Cartertonplayers who went on in 2024 to play in the Wairarapa BushUnder-20s,the others being Josh Collyns,Miti Waqa, and Cyrus Wilson. Miti is not playing forCarterton this year,but the others are. Stevesaysthe JABs arelooking really
good.“Everyyear we have about 100kids. JABs arealwaysstrong at Carterton-we have averygood group of parents.”
Theclub is looking forwardtoa successful ‘older-times’match held early in the season to honour and celebrateold timers while also commemorating anywho mighthavepassed away during the year Allpast members and players areinvited tothe day, along with their families,and food is served.
As part of itscommunityfocus,Carterton is holding ahome game on Friday25April, Anzac Day. Stevesaysthat“gate takings from our Anzac game aredonatedtothe RSA. Last year,wecollectedand donated $800. We’ll be playing foranAnzac Trophy, tobe provided by the RSA.”
CartertonRugbyClub is very much a communityclub.It’sagreat placefor socialising and having fun as well as having the opportunitytobepartofa
season of excitingrugbyaswell as other games.The club has been joined by CartertonNetball,sothe club has boosted its activities and events,particularly during pre-season training and the off-season. Stevesaysthatit’sgetting harder to attract younger players into rugby -something he’s awareofacross all sporting codes, not just rugby- “but Carterton’sstill doing okay.”
MEET YOURLOCALRUGBY CLUB 2025
MastertonRed Star Rugby Football Club
2024 wasamassiveyear for the Masterton RedStar RugbyClub
Afteralengthyabsencefromthe premier level of rugbythe club officially returned to the top-tier competition,marking a historicmilestone forthe club and its passionate supporters.The returnto top-level competition is not just avictory on the scoreboardbut also atriumphant momentfor the club’s loyalsupporters, manyofwhom have stood by theirteam through thick and thin.
MastertonRed Star RugbyClub was formed in 1996 when the Masterton Rugby Club andthe RedStar Rugby Football Club merged to form -whatis knowncolloquially as -the RAMS. Both the clubs had along proudhistory(with theMastertonClub formed in 1876 and RedStar in 1885) as well as producing 10 individual AllBlacks,110 Wairarapa Bushrepresentatives,and 43 Senior A Championship titles
Thelast time MastertonRed Star achieved Wairarapa Bush Champion status wasin 2009 (with aresounding 26-3 win), and the club is working hardtoget back to the top of the table this year
TheRAMSnewfound confidenceafter theclub’sfirst win of the season and first premier win since2012, with a32–19 defeatofGreytown. Coach Chris Senior reflects on finallyknocking off that drought-breaking victorylast year
“The feeling thatcame from thatfinal whistle wasindescribable. At thatmoment
wereflected on the long journey.It was also at thatmomentwe felt like we actually belonged,thatthe dream had come true.We’ve faced some tough times, but the dedication of the players,coaches, club committee,and supporters hasbeen unwavering.Thisreturntothe topisproof of whatcan happen when younever give up on your dreams.”
During the season, Chris told the Wairarapa Times-Age the team was building momentum year on year.Sports reporter, Coggie,reported Chris as saying the team aimed to “make the topfour”in the 2025 season
ClubCaptain PeterBresaz has said that, “the club hasaculture of giving back -its thatsortof‘one club’attitude thatwill only seeusgrowstronger.This club spirit is evident, forexample,inthe addition of a netballteamfor 2025 -ateam largely made up of the wives, partners,and daughters of the rugby boys.”
Chris notes that“oneofthe strengths of the MastertonRed Star RugbyClub is its strong culture both on and off the field Senior players pitch in and help coach the JABs,acting as role models forthe kids.It’s greatfor the players,too,torealise they are role models.”
He goes on to saythat“2025 will be a new challenge.Last year we were the unknowns,and teams took us lightly.This year,however,thatwon’t happen. The boys have boughtintothe vision, and they’reready to face the challenge again
CLUBROOMS
10 HerbertStreet,Masterton P 06 377 0012
We know it’s going to be tough, butwe’re not here just to make up the numbers.We want to showwe belong at this level.”
The club is working hardtodevelop asquad thatisnot just talented, but cohesive. Andisalso working hardto have aSenior Reservesteam in 2025. This is described by Peterasanimportant pathwayfor the older players to give back and forthe younger players to gain the skills necessarytocompeteatthe higher level
MastertonRed Star boasts acohesiveclub and ateam composed of young guysin their 20s all of whom, nevertheless,have considerable experience. Theclub also has upgraded amenities and is lucky to have “a very loyalbunch of supporters,”Petersays.
The RAMS is ateam to watch. They’reup forthe season ahead
GROUNDS
Colombo Road,behind the hospital
WEBSITE ramsrugby.co.nz
PRESIDENT Barry Todd: M 021 408 961
E bazrobtodd@hotmail.com
CLUB CAPTAIN
PeterBresaz: M 027 226 4186
E petebresaz@gmail.com
PREMIER COACH
Chris Senior: M 021 106 7934
E seniorc@chanelcollege.school.nz
TEAM MANAGERS
Seth Po’ona: M 021 0860 6784
E sethpoona@yahoo.com
Paul Waitere: M 0273268335
E paulwaitere@gmail.com
SECRETARY
Tania Lindop: M 021 0225 2994
E mstnredstarrugby@gmail.com
