Rugby: Brendan Mahony seeks re-election as Hawke's Bay union chairman

Brendan Mahony's experience should see him re-elected to the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's board tonight. Photo/File

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union chairman Brendan Mahony is seeking a 16th consecutive year on the union's board.

The union's chairman since 2011 and a director since 2004, Mahony, 67, retires by rotation at tonight's annual meeting in Napier but will seek re-election.

The Napier businessman said several factors contributed to his decision.

"Some experienced directors are standing down. Because it is a pretty new board we need someone with a bit of experience ... most of them have only had 20 months," Mahony explained.

"Helping the Magpies return to the Premiership is one of the reasons and continuing the drive to get the union's Community Training Centre at Napier's Park Island is another," Mahony said.

"We will need to get out of our McLean Park base before too long and our Magpies Gym at Onekawa has passed it use-by date."

If the former St John's College first XV player and former Napier Marist club premier flanker is successful in being re-elected to the board he will seek the chairman's role again.

The chairman will be appointed at the new board's first meeting.

"Some people might say I'm too old for the role but I have heard some of the clubs still want me there. Having my own business with other people doing a lot of the work means I've got time and that's a commodity a lot of people don't have," Mahony said.

"It's just about time for the New Zealand union to sort out another broadcasting deal. It's important there is a strong voice from the provinces with that so we get a good share ... we don't want to become the poor cousins," Mahony added.

During Mahony's time at the helm the Magpies have had two Ranfurly Shield tenures, won two Mitre 10 Cup Championships and provided three World Cup-winning All Blacks.

Another of his highlights was the hosting of an All Blacks test against Argentina at McLean Park in 2014.

His most challenging year was 2017 which saw dwindling crowd figures at Magpies home fixtures and four board members, former All Blacks captain Taine Randell, Simon Tremain, Dan Druzianic and Kevin Atkinson, resign.

At last year's annual meeting Hastings Rugby and Sports delegate Jack Sanders called for change.

"The chairman has been there for some time - we need change, we shouldn't stand still," Sanders said.

Mahony will be one of four candidates for two directors positions at tonight's meeting as former president Peter Fleming of Waipukurau, who has been a director since 2011, is retiring by rotation and won't be seeking re-election. Fleming was the union president from 2008-10.

The other candidates are Taradale club delegate Peter Davis, who played 87 first class games for the Magpies between 1983 and '93, Central club president Tony Mackie and MAC club chairman and delegate Anthony Morley.

Two co-opted board members positions will be up for grabs tonight.

Union finance chairman Mike Smith, who will present his second and final financial report, will step down to focus on his Magpies manager's role and former New Zealand and Hurricanes director Steve Lunn will retire by rotation and seek re-election.

Lunn and the Napier Old Boys Marist club's director of finance, Craig Riddiford, are seeking these positions and nominations will be accepted until the start of the meeting.

The most experienced Magpie, former All Blacks prop Neil Thimbleby, who played 158 first class games for the Magpies between 1959 and '71, will be re-elected unopposed as the union patron.

Union president Paul Daniel will also be re-elected unopposed for a third consecutive year.