Hawke's Bay Rugby Union

""'Rugby team
teamname = Hawke's Bay Rugby Union

| fullname = Hawke's Bay Rugby Union| union = NZRU
nickname = Magpies
founded = 1884
region = Hurricanes
ground = McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand
capacity = 14,000
coach = Peter Russell
chairman = Richard Hunt
competitions = Air New Zealand Cup
pattern_la1=_black_hoops|pattern_b1=_blackhoops
pattern_ra1=_black_hoops
leftarm1=FFFFFF|body1=FFFFFF|rightarm1=FFFFFF|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000
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leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFFThe Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (HBRU) is the governing body of rugby union in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The union is based in Napier.

Representative Rugby

The representative team of the HBRFU is the Hawke's Bay Magpies. The team jersey are white with black hoops. The Magpies' home ground is McLean Park in Napier.

The Hawke's Bay were one of the strongest teams in the second division of the former NPC for many years prior to the formation of the Air New Zealand Cup, winning the second division title several times but never being able to make it in to the first division.

History

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union was founded in 1884. Hawke's Bay also have a very good Ranfurly Shield record with 21 successful defenses between 1966 and 1969 as well as 24 defenses from 1922 to 1927. In 1997 Hawke's Bay joined with Manuwatu to become the Central Vikings and subsequently won the 1998 second division NPC final against Bay of Plenty at McLean Park, Napier. Both Unions have since gone their separate ways, and are both foundation unions of the Air New Zealand Cup which started in 2006. In the past Hawke's Bay has produced some great All Blacks including Kel Tremain and George Nepia. Hawkes Bay also defeated the 1993 British Lions.

Hawke's Bay in Super Rugby

Hawke's Bay are currently part of the Hurricanes Super 14 franchise.

Current Super 14 Players

*Hikawera Elliot (Hurricanes)
*Michael Johnson (Hurricanes)
*Zac Guilford (Hurricanes)
*Bryn Evans (Blues)
*Danny Lee (Blues)
*Clint Newland (Highlanders)
*Ben Batger (Warratahs)

Club Rugby

Hawke's Bay in Air New Zealand Cup

Hawke's Bay made their their debut, along with Tasman, Manawatu and Counties-Manukau, in the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup which had 14 teams. The big signing for the Hawke's Bay was former All Black Danny Lee - who will be the captain [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10430012] and Nathan Mauger, brother of current All Black, Crusaders and Canterbury second-five-eight, Aaron Mauger. Hawkes Bay made their best effort to date in the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup winning many games even against bigger unions such as Wellington and Waikato. They were the fairytale story of the competition surprising everyone to reach the semi-finals where they were beaten by Auckland.

2008 Squad

Squad for the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup:

Forwards

* Ash Dixon
* Jamie Muir
* Hikarewa Elliot
* Josh Keys
* Tom Simpson
* Fakaanaua Taumalolo
* Matt Egan
* Bryn Evans
* Rob Evans
* Karl Lowe
* Adam Bradey
* Hugh Reed
* Michael Johnson
* George Naoupu
* Pama Petia
* Johan Snyman
* Peniasi Tokakece

Backs

* Chris Eaton
* Danny Lee
* Matt Berquist
* Dan Waenga
* Sam Giddens
* Jason Shoemark
* Mark Jackman
* Zac Guildford
* Israel Dagg
* Jason Kupa

Notable Players

Most Appearances

*158 - N.W. (Neil) Thimbleby 1959-71
*147 - HUNT R.J. (RICHARD) 1967 - 1983
*125 - HUNTER R.P. (ROBBIE) 1971 - 1982
*120 - STUART R.L. (ROBBIE) 1967 - 1980
*111 - CRAWFORD O. (ORCADES) 1988 - 2000
*108 - DAVIS W.L. (BILL) 1961 - 1971
*100 - CRAWFORD K.K. (KAARAN) 1964 - 1971
*100 - PAEWAI M.R. (MURDOCH) 1991 - 2003

Most Points

*1007 - J.B. (Jarod) Cunningham 1990-98
*631 - BISHOP I.R. (IAN) 1963 - 1972
*435 - SMALL A.G. (TONY) 1957 - 1965
*386 - O'SHAUGHNESSY P.G. (PETER) 1981 - 1990
*343 - COOPER M.J.A (MATTHEW) 1985 - 1989
*339 - GRENSIDE B.A. (BERT) 1919 - 1931
*311 - HUNTER R.P. (ROBBIE) 1971 - 1982
*304 - MANAWATU T.J. (TIM) 2001 - 2003

Most Tries

*74 - B.A. (Bert) Grenside 1919-31
*68 - HUNTER R.P. (ROBBIE) 1971 - 1982
*55 - DAVIS W.L. (BILL) 1961 - 1971
*50 - TREMAIN K.R. (KELVIN) 1962 - 1970
*45 - COOKE P.J. (PAUL) 1985 - 1989
*44 - SMITH D.B. (DENNIS) 1964 - 1970

Hawkes Bay All Blacks

*BOWMAN A.W. (ALEX) ("SNOW") *Cyril Brownlie *BROWNLIE J.L (LAURIE) *Maurice Brownlie *COLLINS W.R. (BILL) *COOKE A.E. (BERT) *COOPER M.J.A. (MATTHEW) *CORKILL T.G. (TOM) *DALTON D. (DOUG) *DAVIS W.L. (BILL) *DUNCAN M.G. (MICK) *EVANS D.A. (DOUG) *FRASER H.F. (HARRY) *FURLONG B.D.M. (BLAIR) *GEMMELL H.W. (SAM)

*GRENSIDE B.A. (BERT) *HIGGINSON G. (GRAEME) *Norm Hewitt *IRVINE W.R. (BULL) *JACKSON E.S. (EVERARD) *KIRKPATRICK A. (ALEX) *McCORMACK J. (JIM) *McNAB J.A. (JACK) *MACRAE I.R. (IAN) *MATAIRA H.K. (HAWEA) *MILL J.J. (JIMMY) *George Nepia *ORMOND J. (JIM) *PAEWAI L. (LUI)

*REID S.T. (TORI) *RYAN P.J. (PAT) *Mark Shaw *SHELFORD F.N.K. (FRANK) *SOMERVILLE G.M (GREG) *STEERE E.R.G. (DICK) *STUART R.L. (ROBBIE) *SWAIN J.P. (TUNA) *TAYLOR K.J. (KEN) *TAYLOR N.M. (MARK) *THIMBLEBY N.W. (NEIL) *TIOPIRA H. (HIROA) *Kel Tremain *WILLIAMS R.N. (RUEBEN)

External links

* [http://www.hbmagpies.co.nz Official site]
* [http://www.magpierugby.com Unofficial fan site]