Rugby: Aspiring player ready for game day

The Hits Breakfast Show co-host Adam Green with Briar Hales, 10, who won the helicopter ride into McLean Park on Sunday with Unison. Photo/ Warren Buckland

The final game of the Magpies 2017 season is only one day away and fans are getting excited.

The Hawke's Bay rugby team take on the Manawatu Turbos tomorrow afternoon at 4.35pm where they hope to keep the K.R. Tremain Memorial Trophy for another year.

One of these young fans, who will be arriving at the do-or-die game in style after winning Unison's Helicopter Fly in Competition, is counting down to kick-off.

Aspiring Black Fern Briar Hales was announced by Adam Green from The Hits as the winner at the Magpies meet and greet at the Napier Sound Shell on Thursday, which also happened to be her 10th birthday.

The 10-year-old is a passionate Magpies supporter and considers rugby one of her favourite hobbies, playing for the Napier East D Grade this year.

"I love going to watch the games as I can learn from them different skills. My favourite players are Jonah and Tiaan as I am the ball girl for them when they play for Clive."

Briar has been playing rugby for five years and enjoys tackling the most. She hopes to one day be running out for the Hawke's Bay Tuis before playing for the Black Ferns.

She has decided to take her dad, Dean, in the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter with her on Sunday and the duo will land on the field at McLean Park before the start of the game in front of hundreds of supporters.

"I am looking forward to mostly just flying around."

Magpies commercial manager Jay Campbell said tickets sales were going well and they were heading towards their largest crowd of the season.

The team initiated the "Pack the Park" campaign calling for the community to get behind them. They have sold some $7.50 grandstand tickets and, so far, more than 5000 tickets had been purchased.

Gates open at 2.30pm with a curtain-raiser between the Hawke's Bay Ross Shield and Wai Bush under-13 sides. There would also be the usual game-day activities including Rippa Rugby, face painting and giveaways and prizes to be won.

The Big Barrel are running the halftime challenge through an Undie Run.

Tickets can be purchased via: www.ticketdirect.co.nz/event/season/1518 or at the gate on the day.