MEET YOUR LOCAL RUGBY CLUB NEW COACH KEEN TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE

Gladstone’s Premier side struggled a bit last year, but still managed to make the semi-ÿ nals, “which is pretty good considering the rebuilding we had to do at the beginning of the season, says club president Andrew McKay.

This year the club will again be ÿ elding Premier and Reserve teams.

“We’ve got the same situation again, building player numbers up a little bit, but we’ve got a core of committed players and we will get going as the season goes along.”

A big change for the Premiers are two new coaches - Stan Wright as head coach and Charlie Bargh as assistant coach.

The Reserves coaches are Shaun Pollard and Rob Allenson.

Steve Thompson has retired from many years as coach of the Premier side but is now the club’s patron.

He also continues his commitment to the beautiÿ cation of the Gladstone Sports Complex, and organised the clean-up of ° ood damage to the grounds a few months ago.

“As always, we are extremely grateful for the support that we receive from our loyal sponsors – without them we simply would not be around as a club and their support both ÿ nancially and in other ways all helps to ensure we can continue to be a vital part of the rural Gladstone community.

“Likewise our supporters are a loyal bunch and we look forward to having a strong presence on the side-lines at all Gladstone games again in 2022.

“We can’t wait for the 2022 season to commence and look forward to catching up with all members of the Wairarapa Bush rugby community again in the coming months,” says Andrew.

The retirement of Steve Thompson from coaching the Gladstone Premier side left big boots to ÿ ll, but new head coach Stan Wright looks like he will ÿ t into them quite comfortably.

Stan played 318 ÿ rst class games over 15 years as a prop, including for Auckland, Northland, Auckland Blues, Leinster in Ireland, French side Stade Français, and the Cook Islands, where he grew up. It was in France where Stan ÿ rst started coaching and he was forwards coach for the amateur Irish Rugby team Suttonians. In 2016, Stan coached the Under 20s Cook Islands team. He moved to the Wairarapa with his family in that year, attracted by more a˛ ordable homes and good schools, and presently runs his own building company with 15 sta˛ .

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Stan has previously played for Pioneer and Marist but it was co-coach of this year’s Premier side and Masterton building inspector Charlie Bargh, who tempted him into playing for Gladstone last year.

Stan is hoping not to have to play this year but is prepared to get back on the ÿ eld if numbers are short.

He has one main coaching goal:

“The purpose of coaching is for players to ÿ nish the season better players than they were when it started that’s my philosophy. Hopefully the rest will take care of itself.”

Stan has been impressed by the Gladstone club since he joined it last year.

“Gladstone has a rich history and a good culture. It’s a real family club. Everyone mucks in when the call goes out for a working B.”

Marist is the traditional home for Stan’s rugby playing family, and his son Stan Junior is captain of the Marist Premier side.

Stan himself, is happy to help any team by sharing his knowledge, whether it is Wairarapa-Bush or another club.

“Rugby has set me up for life, so am happy to help anyone. There’s no point in leaving everything I have learned in my head - I’d rather share it around.”