Wairarapa Bush had a disappointing season, finishing bottom of the first division and being relegated for 1988. A number of records were set in the first match of the season, against Horowhenua, and the side looked good when it beat North Auckland and drew with Waikato.

However, crushing defeats were inflicted by Auckland and Otago although Wairarapa Bush welt not disgraced in either the Canterbury or Wellington games.

A serious blow was the loss through injury early in the season of the two best backs, Marty Berry and Charlie Kaka. As a result, Stewart Cruden played second five-eighth while Ivan Karaitiana was also moved to midfield. These two did their best but naturally lacked the ability of the men they had replaced and the backline suffered accordingly.

Mark Benton played steadily at fullback and again scored over 100 points for the season, Veteran wing Greg Karaitiana is still an elusive runner and his tries in the Wellington match were exciting ones. Philip Rutene and Bernie Lett combined well and both gave good service.

The Wairarapa Bush pack was a very strong one, especially in scrummaging and mauling. Apart from Auckland, it was not really mastered by the opposition all Season. Brent Anderson and Craig Sims were two strong locks who won more than their share in the lineouts and worked solidly in the tight. Anderson’s selection for the All Blacks were well deserved.

Robbie McLean, Motu Tua and Brian Styles formed a tough front row. McLean’s selection for the tour to Japan came as a major surprise, however, especially as he was in his first year of first-class rugby. Captain Brett Harvey, Tom Hullena and Peter Sargent were an effective loose trio who were always close to the ball.

Wairarapa Bush players who appeared above provincial level in 1987 were :
New Zealand: Anderson, McLean.
New Zenland Trials: Berry, Anderson, Harvey.
Central Zone: Anderson, Harvey.
New Zealand Colts: Sims.