Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union chairman Richard Hunt became the province's first New Zealand union board member in nine years on Thursday.
Mr Hunt, who played 147 first-class games for the Magpies between 1967 and 1983, beat Hurricanes' chairman Paul Collins 53-36 for the Central Zone seat made vacant by Jock
Hobbs' resignation back in December.
He has been elected for the remainder of Mr Hobbs' term, which ends in April next year.
"My election will give Heartland unions and provinces a voice on the board," Mr Hunt said. "They are the people who elected me."
While he admitted to being "chuffed for Hawke's Bay", Hunt still regards helping the Bay union gain premier division status in 2006 as the highlight of his time as a rugby administrator.
"I want to see the continuation of what made New Zealand rugby ... 26 provinces. They are the backbone of New Zealand rugby and it's important they remain strong."
Thursday's New Zealand Rugby Union annual meeting was Hunt's second crack at gaining a berth on the board. Last year he was beaten 51-38 by former All Black captain Graham Mourie.
Mr Collins was recommended by the national union's appointments and remuneration committee, but this didn't sway Hunt from standing.
New Zealand union chairman Mike Eagle said he would be disappointed if Mr Hunt's election was the result of a push by the smaller unions to redress a perceived lack of support for them at board level.
However, Mr Eagle said it was clear there was some dissatisfaction with the board's voting and governance procedures after a motion from the Auckland union seeking a review of some of the board's constitutional matters was passed unopposed.
Steve Lunn was the last Hawke's Bay administrator to be on the New Zealand union's board and his stint ended in 2002.
One of Hunt's former Magpies team-mates, former All Black and Hawke's Bay union life member Ian MacRae, was elected unopposed as vice-president. "It's pretty exciting and it's great to be recognised by your peers," he said.
Mr MacRae said he will continue in his role as the Bay union's club competition manager until the end of the season. He replaces one of his former All Black team-mates Bryan Williams as vice- president of the national body.
Mr Williams was elected president after former All Black manager John Sturgeon's two-year tenure ended.
