David Buick. PHOTO/FILE
SHEARING
Wairarapa shearer David Buick has been recalled to the New Zealand shearing team for a four-test series against Wales in Britain.
Buick replaces Hawke’s Bay shearer Cam Ferguson, who shore the first two tests of the tour either side of his third placing in last week’s world championship final in France.
Ferguson, who spent three nights in hospital with back injuries after a road crash in Southern Hawke’s Bay in late April, decided to withdraw from the rest of the tour after some indifferent form at the Great Yorkshire Show in England last Thursday.
Shearing Sports New Zealand chairman Sir David Fagan and team manager Ken Payne confirmed Pongaroa farmer Buick accepted the invitation without hesitation.
Hawke’s Bay’s Roland Smith and Buick will now shear the series against Wales at Cothi on Friday, Lampeter on Saturday, the Royal Welsh Show on July 22 and Corwen three days later.
New Zealand has not won any of the annual series in Wales since 2011, but Wales are yet to have a single test match win in their reciprocal tours Down Under.