Season over for Samu

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The 2015 club rugby season is over for departed Utiku Old Boys player Samu Kubunavanua after the talented fullback/winger has not been granted permission to play for Integrity Motors Pirates today.

The incumbent Steelform Wanganui fullback left Utiku three weeks ago, wishing to move to the town club, with a transfer request being made to the Wanganui Rugby Football Union.

Kubunavanua was on a stand down for the last two weeks of games, with Utiku opposing the club transfer, making today the only match the Fijian flyer could have possibly played for his new club this season.

WRFU club liaison officer Paul Kenny said yesterday the transfer had still not gone through.

There has been a dispute over what kind of agreement Kubunavanua made with Utiku after the club arranged for him to come over from Fiji last year.

"The club's have to sort out their independent stuff, but we're not approving it at this stage," said Kenny.

"Even if he was cleared to play [today], he would not have been able to play in the finals."

The Tasman Tanning Premier semifinals are next weekend and players are only eligible to compete for their current club if they have played a minimum of five games during the year.

Kubunavanua has played more than enough Utiku club games to retain his place in the Wanganui representative team, and can register to join Pirates for the 2016 season.

"It will just go back to square one next year," said Kenny.

Pirates and Utiku meet this afternoon at Memorial Park in the final round robin match of the year, with Pirates looking to secure a home semifinal if they win.