The return of Featherston means a bye will be operating in Wairarapa-Bush senior first-division rugby this year.
Featherston have fielded only a third-division side in recent seasons but a growth in the number of players willing and able to play at the top level has encouraged them to again enter thepremier competition.
This means 11 teams will now be playing there and Featherston will have the bye when first-division play gets under way at the earlier-than-usual date of March 19, a situation forced by Heartland championship and World Cup commitments.
The draw for March 19 is: East Coast v Pioneer at Whareama, Greytown v Carterton at Greytown, Martinborough v Eketahuna at Martinborough, Masterton Red Star v Marist at Memorial Park, Puketoi v Gladstone at Puketoi, Featherston a bye.
Most of the senior first-division sides will have new coaches this season with only Mark Donaldson (East Coast), Steve Thompson (Gladstone) and Trevor Hawkins (Martinborough) back on deck from last year. Defending champions Carterton are being coached by Steve Hurley, Eketahuna by John Gavin, Greytown by Albert Matthews, Marist by Deon Mitchell and Jack Waru, Masterton Red Star by Chris Osborne, Pioneer by Tereina Henare, Ben Fox and Dave Ewe, Puketoi by Jamie Fowler and Featherston by Gary Smith.
