Hawke's Bay Rugby Union
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
record with 24 defenses from 1922 to 1927, 21 successful defenses between 1966 and 1969 as well as 2 defenses in 1934. 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
.
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. He insisted the club remained very serious about joining the club in the future. Hawke's Bay would be New Zealand's sixth team if they were to join Super Rugby.
2008 Maddison Trophy Champions-
Progressive Meats Havelock North Premiers.
2008 Intercity Cup Winners and Pat Ryan Memorial Trophy Winners-
Turks Bar Havelock North Colts.
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.
franchise.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in the Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
region of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The union is based in Napier
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
.
Representative rugby
The representative team of the HBRFU is the Hawke's Bay Magpies. The team jersey are whiteWhite
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
with black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
hoops. The Magpies' home ground is McLean Park
McLean Park
McLean Park is a sports ground in Napier, New Zealand. The two main sports played at the ground are cricket and rugby. It is one of the 10 proper cricket grounds of New Zealand....
in Napier.
Hawke's Bay were one of the strongest teams in the second division of the former NPC
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
for many years prior to the formation of the Air New Zealand Cup
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
, winning the second division title several times but never being able to make it back in to the first division.
History
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 ShieldRanfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...
record with 24 defenses from 1922 to 1927, 21 successful defenses between 1966 and 1969 as well as 2 defenses in 1934. 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
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
. 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
Central Vikings Rugby Union
Central Vikings Rugby Union was a New Zealand rugby union team that played in two seasons of the NPC from 1997-1998. The team featured current and future All Blacks, as well as a former All Black in coach Frank Oliver.-History:...
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
Kel Tremain
Kelvin Robin "Kel" Tremain is a former All Black and Hawkes Bay rugby player, a flanker. He played 38 tests for New Zealand between 1959 and 1968, scoring a total of 27 points....
and George Nepia
George Nepia
George Nepia was a Māori rugby union and rugby league player. He is remembered as an exceptional full-back and one of the most famous Māori rugby players. He was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2004 he was selected as number 65 by the panel of the New Zealand's Top...
. Hawkes Bay also defeated the 1993 British Lions
1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1993 the British Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand. This tour followed the Lions' 1989 tour to Australia and preceded their 1997 tour to South Africa. It was the last Lions tour in the sport's amateur era....
.
Super rugby application
In 2009 Hawke's Bay announced they intended to apply to join the Super 14Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
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. He insisted the club remained very serious about joining the club in the future. Hawke's Bay would be New Zealand's sixth team if they were to join Super Rugby.
Club rugby
Havelock North Rugby Club2008 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 in Air New Zealand Cup
Hawke's Bay made their debut, along with Tasman, Manawatu and Counties-Manukau, in the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup2006 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2006 Air New Zealand Cup is a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Friday 28 July 2006, and the Grand Final was won by Waikato on 21 October 2006....
which had 14 teams. Hawkes Bay made their best effort to date in the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup
2007 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2007 Air New Zealand Cup was a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Thursday 26 July 2007, and the Final, in which Auckland defeated Wellington, was held on Saturday 20 October....
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.
Current squad
Hawke's Bay in Super Rugby
Hawke's Bay are currently part of the Hurricanes Super 14Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
franchise.
Current Super 14 Players
- Sona TaumaloloSona TaumaloloSona Taumalolo is a Tongan born New Zealand-based rugby union player. He currently plays for Hawke's Bay and internationally for Tonga. His position of choice is loose-head prop. He is known for his aggressive style of play both in ball carrying and tackling.-Early life:Sona Taumalolo was born in...
(Chiefs) - Hikawera ElliotHikawera ElliotHikawera Elliot is a New Zealand Maori rugby union player, he currently plays for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition and for Hawke’s Bay in the ITM Cup.-Rugby career:...
(Chiefs) - Anthony PereniseAnthony PereniseAnthony Perenise is a rugby union player who plays at prop for Bath Rugby in the English Aviva Premiership.Perenise previously played for the Hawke's Bay Magpies and the Samoa.-External links:...
(Hurricanes) - Bryn Evans (Hurricanes)
- Karl LoweKarl LoweKarl Lowe is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He currently plays at Openside Flanker for the Hurricanes.-Career:...
(Hurricanes) - Chris Eaton (Hurricanes)
- Daniel KirkpatrickDaniel KirkpatrickDaniel Kirkpatrick is a professional rugby player who plays for Hawke's Bay in the Air New Zealand Cup and the Blues in the Super 14. He also played for New Zealand under 20 who won the World Cup in 2007. He was educated at Napier Boys' High School from 2002-2006. Kirkpatrick cites Perry Gordon as...
(Hurricanes) - Kahn Fotuali'i (Crusaders)
- Zac Guildford (Crusaders)
- Israel DaggIsrael DaggIsrael Dagg is a World Cup winning New Zealand Rugby union player who plays for the Crusaders in the Super 15 and the All Blacks. He has also played for the New Zealand Sevens team. He is of Maori descent, on his mother's side....
(Crusaders) - Luke RooneyLuke RooneyLuke Rooney is an Australian professional rugby union footballer for RC Toulonnais in the Top 14 competition as of 2012. His previous teams include Melbourne Rebels and the Penrith Panthers.-Rugby League:...
(RebelsMelbourne RebelsThe Melbourne Rebels are a professional rugby union team based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They made their debut in SANZAR's Super Rugby tournament in 2011. They are the first privately owned professional rugby union team in Australia...
)
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 – Pawai M.R. (Murdoch) 1991–2003
Most points
- 1007 – J.B. (Jarod) CunninghamJarrod CunninghamJarrod Cunningham was a New Zealand rugby union fullback, who died from Motor Neurone Disease.Born in Hawke's Bay, Cunningham played for his home town rugby club from 1990 to 1997, during which time he was trialed for the All Blacks in 1993, but was kept out of the side by Andrew Mehrtens...
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
- 388 – Ahipene V.M. (Victor Manu) 2004–Present
- 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. (RobbieE) 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
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External links
- Official site
- Unofficial fan site
- Hawke's Bay rugby (NZHistory.net.nz)