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Wellington Rugby League last week won a hotly contested place in the code's premier competition, the Bartercard Cup, beating out the Wainuiomata and Porirua clubs. CHRIS MIRAMS looks at the bid.
LORRAINE at Mitre 10 in Wainuiomata has heard it. So has Kerry the barman at one of the local pubs, the Fitzroy, and so too have drivers at the taxi company. All have heard their customers talk of the disappointment after Wainuiomata lost its Bartercard Cup franchise last week to the local governing body, Wellington Rugby League.
Across in Porirua, where the Pumas were also dumped, the Porirua City Council's head of recreation and sport, Gary Simpson, echoes the community's sentiments.
"There was a feeling of loss because the Pumas worked hard to get where they were and there were a number of people who did their best for them," Simpson said. "We want to see Porirua people playing on as big a stage as possible."
The Bartercard Cup is the premier competition in the game and has been going two years. It's based around clubs and the concept is to build depth in the game and provide the opportunity for players to ready themselves for the professional ranks.
Last week New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) cut Wellington to one team and gave WRL the two-year licence. Manawatu and Taranaki were given...