A training session at the Carterton grounds tomorrow night could decide whether Wairarapa-Bush will become a force on the national rugby sevens scene.
Kicking off at 7pm it will be run by a key member of the world championship-winning New Zealand sevens team Lote Raikabula, who plays for Carterton inthe WBRFU's Tui Cup premier division competition, and if there is sufficient interest practices will be held weekly.
Raikabula is not focusing on players who are part of the union's 15-a-side representative squads, rather he wants to look at others whose skills could be better suited to the sevens game.
But he also sees the teaching of techniques such as the ability to utilise pace, evade tackles and pass accurately under pressure being useful for all forms of rugby.
WBRFU spokesman Doug Bracewell welcomed Raikabula's enthusiasm to have Wairarapa-Bush compete successfully at sevens and he urged players to take up the "huge opportunity" to learn from one of the best exponents of the sevens game.
Raikabula has been part of the New Zealand sevens squad since 2006 and has also played 15-a-side for East Coast, Manawatu and Hawke's Bay.
Meanwhile, the Eketahuna women's team were beaten 35-7 by Wainuiomata in their Wellington premier division match at Wainuiomata on Saturday and the Ruamahanga colts were defeated 38-18 by Marist in their Manawatu competition fixture.
Returning from a long injury break Niko Dahlberg was a standout performer in a Ruamahanga pack which mostly gave as good as they got but the backs failed to fire. Try-scorers for Ruamahanga were Cody Thompson and Andre Kauika.
