| Full name | Hawke's Bay Rugby Union | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Magpies | ||
| Founded | 1884 | ||
| Location | Napier | ||
| Region | Hurricanes | ||
| Ground(s) | McLean Park (Capacity: 22,000) | ||
| Chairman | Richard Hunt | ||
| Coach(es) | Peter Russell | ||
| League(s) | ITM Cup | ||
| 2011 | 2nd (Championship Division) | ||
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The 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.
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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.
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 back in to the first division.
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union was founded in 1884. This makes it the oldest Provincial Rugby Union outside the four main centres. Hawke's Bay have a very good Ranfurly Shield record with 24 defenses from 1922 to 1927, 21 successful defenses between 1966 and 1969 as well as 2 defenses in 1934.[1] Hawke's Bays glory days came long before the NPC was founded. As such Hawke's Bay does not have a very flattering record in either that competition or the Air New Zealand Cup. The best position the have managed in either is 3rd. Hawke's Bay dominated the second division of the NPC before the Air New Zealand Cup was set up. 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.
In 2009 Hawke's Bay announced they intended to apply to join the Super 14 competition, when it was announced a fifteenth franchise was to be created. However in August 2009 the club's chairman Richard Hunt announced they were withdrawing their bid because they had not had sufficient time to present a business plan.[2] He insisted the club remained very serious about joining the club in the future.[3] Hawke's Bay would be New Zealand's sixth team if they were to join Super Rugby.
Havelock North Rugby Club 2008 Maddison Trophy Champions- Progressive Meats Havelock North Premiers. 2008 Intercity Cup Winners and Pat Ryan Memorial Trophy Winners- Turks Bar Havelock North Colts.
Hawke's Bay made their debut, along with Tasman, Manawatu and Counties-Manukau, in the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup which had 14 teams. 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. They repeated this form in the 2008 and 2009 seasons where they were again beaten semi-finalists. This form in back to back seasons attracted warranted attention and many Hawke's Bay players were awarded with Super 14 contracts, both for the Hurricanes and elsewhere.
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.
Hawke's Bay are currently part of the Hurricanes Super 14 franchise.
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Israel Dagg
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