Waitohi to defend senior club title [Marl Express]

For the record, the Waitohi Rugby Club is very much up and running and the team plan to mount a spirited defence of their premier club title this season.

That's according to the Tohis' new club president, Robin Beattie, amid rumours of player defections, unavailabilities and retirements. Beattie wanted to scotch those rumours and assure everyone the club is in good hands.

Beattie, who coached the Lyttelton rugby side into senior ranks in the early 1980s, moved to Picton 20 years ago and finally succumbed to pressure to get involved with Waitohi in January.

While there had been off-season defections, as there have been in most clubs, he said he's confident the Picton-based club will field a good side at premier club level.

"When I took over as president there were all sorts of rumours going around that we wouldn't have a premier side. That wasn't going to happen.

"A lot of misinformation about players changing clubs, not playing. We will definitely have a team and a bloody good one."

Nathan Peipi will be sole coach of the premier side this year after his co-coach from last year's championship-winning team, Troy Looms, moved to England.

Returning from overseas are their two stars from last year, utility forward Vernon Fredericks and first-five Daniel Hawkins, while utility forward Daniel Karena, who made the Canterbury B team last season, is back home as is his younger brother, Gannon Karena, from Perth as well as forward Mark Hodren, back from navy duties.

The news is not so good down the grades. A lack of personnel means Waitohi won't have a division two team, and playing numbers in the teenage age group are low.

Beattie said the teenage catchment for Waitohi is Queen Charlotte College, which has a good under-16 team playing.

He heads an enthusiastic committee which has changed personnel and structure in the off-season.