Van Vliet takes reins

Rugby

Gun Eketahuna flanker Johan Van Vliet will captain the Wairarapa-Bush rugby squad in their 2013 Heartland Championship campaign.

Head coach Mark Rutene confirmed the appointment of Van Vliet yesterday, saying he was "very happy" with the way he had performed in the deputy role last season and as skipper for "friendlies" against United States Collegians and Wanganui this year.

"He is a top player who leads by example, in the end it was a pretty straight forward appointment," Rutene said.

The need for a new face in the captaincy role for Heartland games this season came through the serious arm injury suffered by the incumbent, Greytown prop Kurt Simmonds, in the Meads Cup semifinal with Wanganui last October. He has played no rugby at all this year as a consequence but hopes to return in 2014.

The vice-captaincy role for Wairarapa-Bush is likely to be taken by Tapaga Isaac, the midfield back who led Greytown to their Tui premier division grand final win over Eketahuna at Memorial Park last Saturday.

Rutene said he and assistant coach Paddy Gough had high hopes Wairarapa-Bush would again be right in the reckoning for Meads Cup honours this year.

He agreed settling on the 23-strong squad named yesterday, not only for the Heartland matches but for the Jeremy David Trophy fixture with Poverty Bay in Gisborne this coming Saturday and another non-championship game with Horowhenua-Kapiti at Levin seven days later, had not been an easy task for him and Gough.

"There was plenty of competition for most spots so there was always going to be some who were unlucky to miss out," Rutene said. "There were tough choices to make but that's the way you want it."

Simmonds was one of four leading players from last season's side not available for selection. Martinborough prop Wilba Davies and Gladstone lock Andrew McLean are also on the injured list and centre Jesse McGilvary is overseas.

Also unavailable were the impressive Brown brothers from Greytown, centre Teihana and loose forward Rihi, who are heading to England. The powerful running Teihana Brown would have been a strong contender for a midfield berth in the starting line-up.