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

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	Wairarapa-Bush	14 - 16	Match Center
Sat 14 Oct	2:30 pm	H	Heartland Championship (S/F) Meads Cup	Mid Canterbury	30 - 17	Match Center
Sat 07 Oct	2:30 pm	H	Heartland Championship - Meads Cup	Wairarapa-Bush	28 - 22	Match Center
Sat 30 Sep	2:30 pm	A	Heartland Championship - Meads Cup	North Otago	37 - 49	Match Center
Sat 23 Sep	2:30 pm	H	Heartland Championship - Meads Cup	Mid Canterbury	46 - 08	Match Center
Sat 16 Sep	2:30 pm	A	Heartland Championship	Poverty Bay	30 - 41	Match Center
Sat 09 Sep	2:30 pm	H	Heartland Championship	South Canterbury	11 - 05	Match Center
Sat 02 Sep	2:30 pm	H	Heartland Championship	Horowhenua-Kapiti	46 - 03	Match Center
Sat 26 Aug	2:30 pm	A	Heartland Championship	King Country	23 - 23	Match Center
Sat 19 Aug	2:30 pm	H	Heartland Championship	Thames Valley	65 - 18	Match Center
Sat 12 Aug	2:30 pm	A	Pre-Season (non-first class)	Taranaki “Dev.” – “XV” – “B”	20 - 12	Match Center
Wed 21 Jun	2:30 pm	H	Pre-Season (non-first class)	East Japan	36 - 26	Match Center
Wed 14 Jun	2:30 pm	H	Pre-Season (non-first class)	Taranaki “Dev.” – “XV” – “B”	11 - 47	Match Center
Fri 28 Apr	2:30 pm	H	Representative	Canada ‘A’	07 - 30	Match Center

APPEARANCES For Wanganui RFU (2006)

2006 Players

			Position	PL
	Amini Niukula		Wing	6
	Andrew Evans		Flanker	8
	Andrew Slight		Lock	9
	Asaeli Tikoirotuma		Winger	9
	Ateria Ateria		Fullback, Wing	10
	Brendon Bartley		Fullback	9
	Brett Turner		Hooker	10
	Cole Baldwin		Flanker, Hooker	10
	Dan Clavelle		Prop	6
	Daniel Aldworth		Flanker, Lock	10
	Daniel Rolls		Halfback	1
	Denning Tyrell		Midfield Back	11
	G. Kennard		Lock	1
	Jaco Barendse		Wing	1
	Josh Edwards		Halfback	1
	Lance Devane		Prop	1
	Leon Mason		Five Eighth	9
	Logan Vaughan		Midfield Back, Fullback	10
	Marcel Halbert			0
	Matthew Gilbert		Lock, No. 8	10
	Michael Fitzgerald		Lock	9
	Mike Thompson		Prop	10
	Nemia Adrole		Loose Forward, Lock	7
	Ngaphere Huia		Prop	7
	Pati Fetuia		Centre	10
	Paul Belliss		Flanker, Lock	3
	Peter Rowe		Flanker	11
	Qio Vucago		Flanker	5
	Ricky Alabaster		Halfback	6
	Robert Hughes		Fullback	1
	Sheldon O’Hagan		Prop	9
	Steelie Koro		Five Eighth	9
	Terry Tanoa		Loose Forward	5
	Timoci Ului		Flanker	3
	Vaan Rauhina		Hooker	1
	Willie Kabakaba		Hooker	1
	zPenalty Try			0