Wairarapa-Bush goes Dutch in new selection

Dutch international Bert Vigurrs has been included in the Wairarapa-Bush rugby squad to prepare for a non-championship match against a Hawke's Bay XV in Napier on the Monday of Queen's Birthday weekend.
Vigurrs, who plays mainly at first five, arrived in the Wairarapa region last week and will make his debut for Greytown-Tuhirangi in their senior first division club game with Marist at Memorial Park, on Saturday.
It will be the ideal chance for Wairarapa-Bush selector-coach Peter Russell to judge his readiness to play at representative level as he is almost certain to be marking Patrick Rimene, who was the regular first-five for Wairarapa-Bush in their NPC third division campaign last season .
Another newcomer in the Wairarapa-Bush squad is former Marlborough looe forward Rob Dick. He joined up with Gladstone at the start of the club season but has missed several games through injury. However, he has been a standout player for them over the past couple of weeks and it would be no surprise to see him selected in the 22 which will travel to Napier.
Eketahuna prop Angus McMillan has been rewarded for a series of solid displays at club level by being one of seven front rowers named in the squad , among them being Joe Harwood, who has been making a fine impression as a loose forward for Carterton but whose past appearances for Wairarapa-Bush have mainly been as a hooker.
The retention of Wellington-based lock Jason Russo is no surprise considering his sound display against the Wellington XV last week. Russo played for Carterton last season and the former national league basketballer has obviously bulked up since then. He and Steve Wilkinson are the only locks named today but Russell indicated that one other would be included by the weekend.
Apart from Viggurs the most interesting selection in the backs is that of young Greytown-Tuhirangi winger Tavita Isaac, who did well at colts level last season and has continued on in the same vein in club games this year.
There are some interesting names too amongst those who have not been selected, such as Eketahuna duo Hamish McKenzie and Steve Olds, who have both been in grand form for their club, and experienced Greytown-Tuhirangi prop Jon Tanner.
Selector Russell said all three were still in the mix but because they had yet to commit themselves to a full representative season they were not considered for the Hawke's Bay match.
"We've got a big season ahead of us and it's important we encourage players who are totally committed to playing for us,' he said.
The Wairarapa-Bush squad for the Queen's Birthday Monday game will attend training sessions next Monday and Wednesday.