We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Wanganui Rugby Union.
We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series from the season’s 1934 through to 2007 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin
Back to Year by Year Index click here
2006 Status:
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Heartland.Championship |
Founded 1888 – Affiliated 1892
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President:
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W.D.Coogan |
Chairman:
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D.R.Hoskin |
Chief.Executive.Officer:
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H.A.R.Elgar |
Coach:
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M.D.Haig |
Assistant Coach:
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G.R.J.Lennox, J.M.Caskey |
Main ground:
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Cooks Gardens , Wanganui |
Capacity:
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15,000 |
Colours:
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Royal Blue, Black and White |
As Wanganui marched unbeaten through the championship rounds they emerged as the best balanced team in the contest and favourites for the Meads Cup trophy. However, in the final at Wanganui, against Wairarapa Bush, the visitors took advantage of the wind and had built a 16-0 lead by halftime. Wanganui replied in the second half with two tries to come back to 14-16 behind and the final minutes were played in desperation, Wanganui trying to score the winning points before the whistle sounded and Wairarapa Bush defending valiantly. The elements were not kind for open rugby, it was a hard slog and Wanganui came up short in the end. But it had been an excellent season for Wanganui and the style of play revitalized support for the team. Milton Haigs reputation as an astute coach had grown significantly by season’s end.
Halfback Denning Tyrell led the team with Leon Mason at first five-eighth and the solid pairing of Steelie Koro and Logan Vaughan in midfield.These players distributed the ball quickly to the team’s most potent try scorers — the threequarters. Pati Fetuia equalled the union record for a season with 14 tries, Asaeli Tikoirotuma scored nine and dangerous running fullback Alena Ateria scored seven. It was crowd pleasing rugby and other backs also made valuable contributions – Brendan Bartley, Qio Vucago and Amini Niukula.
Brett Turner and Cole Baldwin were the hookers used with Mike Thompson and Sheldon O‘Hagan solid props. Andrew Slight and Michael Fitzgerald were the regular locks. A trio of hard Taihape farmers in Matthew Gilbert, Peter Rowe and Daniel Aldworth formed an uncompromising loose forward trio and Rowe and Aldworth were rewarded, along with four other members, with selection for the Heartland XV to Argentina.
Higher honours went to:
New Zealand Heartland: Aldworth, Mason, O’Hagan, Rowe,Thompson,Vaughan.
2006 Results
Sat 21 Oct | 2:30 pm | H | Meads Cup Final | ![]() |
14 - 16 | Match Center |
Sat 14 Oct | 2:30 pm | H | Heartland Championship (S/F) Meads Cup | ![]() |
30 - 17 | Match Center |
Sat 07 Oct | 2:30 pm | H | Heartland Championship - Meads Cup | ![]() |
28 - 22 | Match Center |
Sat 30 Sep | 2:30 pm | A | Heartland Championship - Meads Cup | ![]() |
37 - 49 | Match Center |
Sat 23 Sep | 2:30 pm | H | Heartland Championship - Meads Cup | ![]() |
46 - 08 | Match Center |
Sat 16 Sep | 2:30 pm | A | Heartland Championship | ![]() |
30 - 41 | Match Center |
Sat 09 Sep | 2:30 pm | H | Heartland Championship | ![]() |
11 - 05 | Match Center |
Sat 02 Sep | 2:30 pm | H | Heartland Championship | ![]() |
46 - 03 | Match Center |
Sat 26 Aug | 2:30 pm | A | Heartland Championship | ![]() |
23 - 23 | Match Center |
Sat 19 Aug | 2:30 pm | H | Heartland Championship | ![]() |
65 - 18 | Match Center |
Sat 12 Aug | 2:30 pm | A | Pre-Season (non-first class) | ![]() |
20 - 12 | Match Center |
Wed 21 Jun | 2:30 pm | H | Pre-Season (non-first class) | ![]() |
36 - 26 | Match Center |
Wed 14 Jun | 2:30 pm | H | Pre-Season (non-first class) | ![]() |
11 - 47 | Match Center |
Fri 28 Apr | 2:30 pm | H | Representative | ![]() |
07 - 30 | Match Center |
APPEARANCES For Wanganui RFU (2006)
2006 Players
  | Position | PL | ||
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Amini Niukula |
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Wing | 6 |
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Andrew Evans |
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Flanker | 8 |
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Andrew Slight |
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Lock | 9 |
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Asaeli Tikoirotuma |
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Winger | 9 |
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Ateria Ateria |
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Fullback, Wing | 10 |
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Brendon Bartley |
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Fullback | 9 |
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Brett Turner |
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Hooker | 10 |
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Cole Baldwin |
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Flanker, Hooker | 10 |
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Dan Clavelle |
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Prop | 6 |
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Daniel Aldworth |
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Flanker, Lock | 10 |
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Daniel Rolls |
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Halfback | 1 |
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Denning Tyrell |
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Midfield Back | 11 |
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G. Kennard |
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Lock | 1 |
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Jaco Barendse |
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Wing | 1 |
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Josh Edwards |
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Halfback | 1 |
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Lance Devane |
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Prop | 1 |
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Leon Mason |
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Five Eighth | 9 |
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Logan Vaughan |
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Midfield Back, Fullback | 10 |
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Marcel Halbert |
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0 | |
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Matthew Gilbert |
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Lock, No. 8 | 10 |
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Michael Fitzgerald |
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Lock | 9 |
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Mike Thompson |
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Prop | 10 |
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Nemia Adrole |
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Loose Forward, Lock | 7 |
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Ngaphere Huia |
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Prop | 7 |
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Pati Fetuia |
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Centre | 10 |
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Paul Belliss |
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Flanker, Lock | 3 |
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Peter Rowe |
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Flanker | 11 |
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Qio Vucago |
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Flanker | 5 |
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Ricky Alabaster |
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Halfback | 6 |
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Robert Hughes |
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Fullback | 1 |
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Sheldon O’Hagan |
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Prop | 9 |
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Steelie Koro |
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Five Eighth | 9 |
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Terry Tanoa |
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Loose Forward | 5 |
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Timoci Ului |
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Flanker | 3 |
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Vaan Rauhina |
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Hooker | 1 |
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Willie Kabakaba |
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Hooker | 1 |
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zPenalty Try |
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0 |