Wairarapa-Bush wingers Cameron Hayton and Nathan Hunt have been named in the New Zealand Heartland championship rugby team to undertake a two-match tour of Samoa next month.
And they would have been joined in the national side by prop Kurt Simmonds but for the Wairarapa-Bush captain breaking his right armin the Meads Cup semifinal match with Wanganui at Cooks Garden last Saturday.
Simmonds has since had a steel plate inserted in the arm and will be out of action for several months.
Hayton and Hunt made their debuts for Wairarapa-Bush this season after showing outstanding form at club level, Hayton for Gladstone and Hunt for Martinborough.
A former New Zealand University rep, Hayton was troubled by a leg injury towards the closing stages of the Heartland campaign, but before that had emerged as one of the most dangerous attackers in the squad, mixing pace with a decent swerve and nifty footwork.
Hunt, who was a leading try scorer in Perth last season, didn't have the same opportunities to shine as Hayton early in the championship but came on strongly towards the end, and was the star act in the semifinal with Wanganui last weekend, using his pace to score one brilliant try and coming close to another.
It is unfortunate that Simmonds should close what was a bumper season for him on such a bum note. He captained Greytown to win the premier division club rugby title and was an inspirational leader for Wairarapa-Bush.
The national Heartland side is to gather in Auckland next week for a match against New Zealand Marist and will then leave for Samoa where they will play their NPC champions on November 6 and Samoa A on November 10.
Meanwhile, top-ranked Wairarapa-Bush referee Chris Jefferies will be an assistant referee for the Lochore Cup final between Buller and South Canterbury in Westport on Saturday. Last weekend saw him fill the same role in the Meads Cup semi between East Coast and North Otago at Ruatoria.
