New Wairarapa-Bush rugby coaches Graham Cheetham and Lofty Stevenson will have an early chance to assess the skills of "fringe" players keen to play for them in 2007. A Wairarapa ?Bush XV is due to meet the Mexted Academy XV at the Rugby Institute in Palmerston North on February 15 andCheetham said it was likely to contain very few of last season's NPC first division championship-winning squad. Rather, it would be made up mainly of members of the Wairarapa-Bush Maori side which is preparing for an early-season tournament, plus players who have yet to make their mark on the representative scene.. "It's a good opportunity for those who haven't played at the higher level to show they are capable of doing so," Cheetham said. Those opposing the Wairarapa-Bush XV are currently receiving tuition at the academy run by former All Black Murray Mexted, well-known these days as a television broadcaster. Cheetham and Stevenson were pleased at the response to a second fitness training session held last month with 24 players in attendance. That was a substantial increase on the number attending a similar session a few weeks earlier and Cheetham was happy with their enthusiasm and fitness. "Fitness is a key issue if players want to succeed on the rep scene and it does seem that message is getting through," he said. Cheetham acknowledged that the later start for this season's inter-club competitions, which won't get under way until April 14, could create a problem for club coaches here. With most other unions kicking off their club competitions two weeks earlier the gap between the last of their pre-season games and the start of competition play would probably be longer than usual. "Coaches usually like to have the last of their warm-up games the week before the season begins but that's going to be difficult to arrange now," he said. It also means Cheetham and Stevenson having less time to sort out players for a trial match they are planning for early May. Form there will obviously play a big part in the naming of their side to play a Wellington XV in the annual Jimmy Cotter Trophy match later that month.
