FIVE Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby players will have an extra incentive to make the Hurricanes playing squad of 23 on April 21 next year.
That's the date Investec Super Rugby's defending champions will take on the Australian Conference champion Brumbies in a 7.35pm clash at Napier's McLean Park. Hurricanes officials along with Napier City Council representatives and Hawke's Bay Rugby Union CEO Mike Bishop announced the fixture when the Super Rugby trophy visited Taradale Intermediate School yesterday.
Locks Geoff Cridge and Mark Abbott, loosie Hugh Renton and frontrowers Ricky Riccitelli and Ben May were all named in the Hurricanes 2017 squad last week. Of the five Abbott is the only one who has played for the Canes on McLean Park in the past. It will be the first time the two-time Super Rugby champions Brumbies have played in Napier and the Canes' 10th first-class outing in the Bay.
It will be the Hurricanes' third home match in Napier in four years after high-scoring and well attended wins over the Bulls and Highlanders in 2014 and 2015 continued the club's history of success at the Hawke's Bay venue. Bishop said the match was an important one for the province.
"We are genuinely excited to host the defending champion Hurricanes in our town and when you consider their form over the past two years I'm sure our fans can't wait to see them running on to McLean Park.