As they get ready for the season, the club is delighted to have fresh players from a country with such a great rugby tradition.

Senior coach, Marc Minor believes they will make a difference.

“The two boys arrived a week ago, and they’ve been warmly welcomed by the club. They’re really excited about being here.”

He said they went through an extensive recruitment process, which included two committee members heading to New Zealand to interview players.

Wauchope Gazette administrator, Michelle McCudden also helped out by putting adverts in Fairfax Media publications there.

Marc said there were lots of applications.

“We were able to narrow it down to the best players in terms of skill, but also as far as fitting into the club culture.

“Fineeva Taufalele is an inside back and has played quite extensive representative rugby in New Zealand.

“Tipene Toi is a ten, who has also played rugby to a high level in New Zealand.

“Apart from their obvious skills and fitness, they are both nice guys, very polite, very willing to coach our juniors as well, so they will be a great asset to the club as a whole, on and off the field,” he said.

Training started last week, and anyone who wants to get involved on or off the field is invited to come down and say hello at Andrews Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm.