Union looking for entertainers

The Hawke's Bay Magpies are staging a Magpies Got Talent contest to find entertainers to enhance the game-day experience at Mitre 10 Cup games.

The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union has embarked on a search for new talent just weeks before the Magpies' first game in this year's Mitre 10 Cup.

But rather than looking for more beefy props, loose forward aggressors, twinkle-toed inside backs or flying wingers, the targets are singers, dancers and other performers to warm up the crowds at McLean Park in Napier on game day, or, more specifically, game night.

To find budding soloists, buskers, choirs, dancers, bands and other performers, the union is staging Magpies Got Talent, an audition for which will take place in the Water Bar @ Bluewater on July 28 in a change of date made to avoid a clash with boxer Joseph Parker's next telecast bout a week earlier.

Union commercial and marketing manager Jay Campbell hopes Magpies Got Talent will also be a knockout, saying: "We are looking for people to give the whole game-day experience some real flavour. Some talent to help create a real vibrant atmosphere."

Some registrations have already been received, including some with videos of performances, and one from as far south as Dannevirke.

The performers are wanted for the Magpies five home games at McLean Park, Napier, against Wellington starting at 5.35pm on August 20, Counties Manukau starting at 7.35pm on September 1, Auckland starting at 7.35pm on September 7, Tasman on September 24 starting at 7.35pm, Bay of Plenty, starting at 5.35pm on October 15, and hopefully a semifinal and a final.

The audition on July 28 is also at night, starting at 6.30pm, and with some Magpies expected to display some of their talent from beyond the footy field.