Rugby: Another Magpie to leave the nest

Japan Bound: Magpies lock Mark Abbott will head to Japan after the Super season. Photo/File

Another huge blow ... there's no other way to describe Hurricane Mark Abbott's departure from the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team.

Lock Abbott, 27, who has played 45 first-class games for the Magpies since 2013 confirmed yesterday he will start a two-year contract with Japanese Top League team Coca-Cola Red Sparks when the Hurricanes' Super Rugby campaign ends in July.

Last month fellow Hurricane, frontrower Ricky Riccitelli, announced he would be returning to his home province of Taranaki and another of the Magpies key 2016 forwards, experienced Hurricanes and Maori All Black frontrower Ben May, has yet to make a decision on his availability for the Magpies.

The Magpies 2016 MVP Geoff Cridge will miss the Canes Super season with his knee injury and his Mitre 10 Cup game time could be limited if his recovery period doesn't go to plan. Another of the Bay's Super Rugby locks, Chief Michael Allardice, has yet to play a first-class game this year as he has still to get the all clear for his knee injury which prevented him from playing for the Magpies last year.

"It was a massive decision for me to leave the Bay. I muddled over it for a while," Abbott said.

"I've really enjoyed my time in Hawke's Bay and the opportunities the Magpies have given me. The people in Hawke's Bay have really looked after me and it's going to be sad leaving. While there is a chance I could return to the Bay, who knows where I will be in two years."

"I've loved what I have done in New Zealand with the Magpies and the Canes. I've been pretty lucky but I'm ready for a change. It's time for me to experience a different culture and lifestyle.

Former Wellington Lions coach Earl Va'a will coach the Coca-Cola Red Sparks. Former Magpies utility back Andrew Horrell was on the Red Sparks' roster last year.

"I don't know if there will be any other Kiwis there and it is going to be a completely new experience for me. I have yet to learn the Japanese language and doing that from scratch over there will make it an enjoyable experience."

The Japanese club's motto is Have Guts Have Glory. There's no doubt Napier Old Boys Marist club player Abbott has got guts and he's had his fair share of glory with two Ranfurly Shield tenures with the Magpies and a Super Rugby title with the Canes.

This week is bye week for the Canes and it followed last weekend's 41-15 win over the Highlanders in Wellington.

"The Highlanders had done it tough but we knew we had to be right on our game. They never stepped down and we were pretty happy to get that result going into bye week."

The consistent Abbott again shone with his shift in his second starting XV appearance of the season. As is the norm with Abbott he didn't talk himself up.

"I missed the first game of the season because I was at my brother's wedding down in Christchurch. I was just happy to be out there and contributing to the team."

He hopes to still be in the starting XV when the Canes host the Brumbies at Napier's McLean Park on April 21. It will be a surprise if he isn't.

Magpies co-coach Danny Lee agreed Abbott's departure will be a huge loss.

"Mark was one of the standout players in what was a pretty poor season from us last year. We had a few shining lights and he was one of them. I remember when he first turned up here without any promises of a contract. He took his opportunity to train with the wider training group and made every post a winner from then on with huge commitment."

"Mark will be the first to admit he does not have the X Factor but he makes up for that with his character and work ethic. His work ethic was something the younger boys looked at and it encouraged them to work harder," Lee added.