Rams look to strong start

A new-look Rams team will take to the field to open their 2012 Wairarapa-Bush senior first division rugby campaign against Bush Sports at Pahiatua on Saturday.

Not only will they be operating as the Rams, rather than their former title of Masterton Red Star but, for the first time, they will be wearing a specially-designed jersey.

The front of the strip features the black and white stripes of Red Star, the back has kept the all black of the old Masterton jersey, while the sleeve shows off the Rams logo.

It was in 1996 that the Red Star and Masterton clubs merged and the Rams name was actually suggested back then, derived as it was from the letters RS for Red Star and MA for Masterton.

Initially the idea got little traction but, six years ago, it resurfaced when the Masterton Red Star JAB teams decided to take on the Rams title and now the senior first and senior reserve sides are following suit.

With the change of name and uniform also comes a new coaching structure.

Rams have appointed former Wairarapa-Bush skipper John Cummings to the position of coaching co-ordinator while Chris Osborne and Gary Warren are joint coaches of their senior first team and Anthony Holman and Brent McGlashan will take charge of their senior reserves.

On the playing front, the disappointing news for the Rams' premier line-up is that star flanker and last season's captain Chris Senior will miss the first few weeks of the club season because of a broken hand.

They do, however, have a number of promising Wairarapa-Bush age group reps in their pack, including hooker Lance Buchanan, prop Daniel Gilmore, No 8 Carl Thompson and flanker Francis Kenner.

The experience of utility back Heemi Tupaea will be an asset for a Rams backline in which talented five-eighths Pua Tufa and exciting youngsters such as halfback Mark Cummings, wing Sam Davies and fullback Matt Handerson seem sure to shine.

The Masterton and Red Star clubs have a proud record in Wairarapa-Bush rugby; Masterton being formed in 1876 and Red Star in 1885. Between them, they have produced 10 All Blacks and won the senior title 44 times.