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Regional rugby

Page 19 – Wairarapa Bush rugby

Wairarapa Bush Football Union logo

While now a rugby backwater, in its heyday Wairarapa was a provincial powerhouse. Between 1927 and 1929 Wairarapa defended the coveted Ranfurly Shield 12 times during two tenures. The Wairarapa Rugby Union, based in Masterton, was formed in 1886. A separate Pahiatua-based Bush Union was established in 1890. In 1971 the two unions amalgamated to form the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union. 

When a National Provincial Championship (NPC) was established in 1976 Wairarapa Bush was placed in the second division. The province was promoted to the first division in 1981 but relegated in 1987 before eventually falling into the third division. When the provincial competition was restructured in 2006 Wairarapa Bush was placed in the semi-professional Heartland Championship. It won this competition (and the Meads Cup) that year, while in 2010 it took out the Lochore Cup contested by the fifth- to eighth-ranked Heartland teams. Along with East Coast, Poverty Bay, Hawke’s Bay, Wanganui, Manawatu, Horowhenua-Kapiti and Wellington, Wairarapa Bush is part of the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise.

Highlights of Wairarapa rugby

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How to cite this page

'Wairarapa Bush rugby', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/regional-rugby/wairarapa, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 27-Oct-2015

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Community contributions

1 comment has been posted about Wairarapa Bush rugby

What do you know?

Mariana Mutu

Posted: 13 Sep 2011

I have a story about a work colleague who now in his 60th year is a testament to rugby players of the past. One, who worked hard, played hard and was able to indulge in his other passion 'hunting the elusive stagg and boar'.
Quenten (Joe) Hansen grew up in Manawatu, then Greytown with 3 other brothers Garry, Blue, and the late Brent. They spent their lives growing up on a rural property in the Manawatu before shifting to Wairarapa where he eventually met his wife Carol and settled down with their two boys, Jamie and Andrew.
He started his work career at Woodman’s School in Golden Downs Nelson, which led to a career in NZ Forest Service. In 1987 NZFS combined with Wildlife and Lands & Survey to become Department of Conservation, were he is a current employee, valued for his wealth of experience and local knowledge of anything.
He’s got so many stories of his 'Rugby' past as many as his hunting stories, I’m sure he could write a book. Playing for rural club Tuhirangi as 'prop' and then being selected to play for Wairarapa Bush in the 1970’s 80’s with many other greats Andy Earl, Jack McGlashan, the late Roy Couch, Chris Kapene (Moose) and Bill Rowland, to name a few. Team comradeship was vital for on and off the field success where it is a must that each had your team mates back. Playing in mud up to your calves, leather ball cleaned, polished with dubbin every week, stripe scrubbed clean, lace up square black leather boots polished with black nugget, and for days after the games you would still be washing mud out of our ears. Those were the days, where you had the freedom to express yourself in the only manner that was acceptable on the field, through muscle, grit and hard rucks, with the odd flashy run from the backs.
This Wairarapa Hard Man was able to combine 'all things important' in his life during his rugby playing years with family, work, rugby and hunting only wishing he had extended himself further to reach the next goal. Players today feel there is not enough time to do it 'all'. Yet here is an example of a hard working man able to achieve all those things. Give yourself the time and space to work it all in. 'I have no regrets I have met some great people through playing rugby and still keep in touch with them today'.