Hawke's Bay Rugby Union
McLean Park
P.O. Box 201
Napier
Phone: 06 835 7617
www.sportsground.co.nz/magpies
Rugby in Hawke's Bay started in 1875 when the then Napier Football (Soccer) Club changed to adopting rugby rules. By 1878 Napier, calling itself Hawke's Bay arranged matches with Gisborne on a regular basis.
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union was formed in 1884 at a meeting of delegates from four clubs Napier, Union, Hastings, and Petane. Hawke's Bay administrators, Ernest Hoben and Francis Logan, were instrumental in the formation of the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1891 with Hoben, a Napier journalist who moved to Wellington, becoming the first secretary and Logan, a Napier lawyer, became a member of the inaugural three-man appeal committee who also served as the first New Zealand selectors.
Hawke's Bay was instrumental in the revival of interest in Ranfurly Shield creating what's become known as "shield fever" in the 1922-27 reign under coach Norman McKenzie. The Union also briefly held the Ranfurly Shield in 1934 having two successful defences. It later had another long period with the shield from 1966-69 under Colin Le Quesne. Hawke's Bay during these times, and throughout its 125-year history has produced some of the nation's most influential players.
In 1926, led by legendary All Black forward Maurice Brownlie with his brother Cyril and fellow All Blacks Alex Kirkpatrick, and "Bull" Irvine in the pack, Hawke's Bay boasted a backline of All Blacks from halfback Jimmy Mill through first five Lance Johnston, second five Bert Cooke, centre Jackie Blake, wings Bert Grenside and either utilities Lui Paewai or Tommy Corkill and fullback George Nepia, that beat Wairarapa 77- 14, Wellington 58-8, and Auckland 41-11.
Another All Black legend, flanker Kel Tremain, led Hawke's Bay in the 1960s era with fellow All Blacks Ian MacRae, Bill Davis, Blair Furlong, Neil Thimbleby and Mick Duncan in support. In all Hawke's Bay have produced 48 All Blacks who wore the famous Black jersey while currently representing the Magpies, the first being Hiroa Tiopira in 1893 and the latest being Zac Guildford in 2009.
