Rugby: Magpies embrace draw

The Magpies are embracing the 2016 Premiership draw having moved up from the Championship last season, beating Wellington in the final.

Take a bow Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team coaches Craig Philpott and Danny Lee.

The draw for the Mitre 10 Premiership had only been out for a couple of hours yesterday and the pair had already nailed one of the toughest hurdles. The Magpies are scheduled to play Premiership champions Canterbury in Christchurch on September 11 and Southland in Invercargill four days later.

"With that short turn around we're looking at staying in Christchurch after playing Canterbury and then travelling to Invercargill. We're just looking at the financial side of it and whether it will work. Logistically there's no point in coming home between those games," Lee said.

"There may be changes because of injuries and form but otherwise we don't expect the squad to change too much for both games."

Another feature of the draw is the fact Waikato have saved the Magpies for their last Ranfurly Shield defence of the season.

"During the last couple of years we held the shield for a considerable period. Waikato have obviously decided to give everyone else a shot before us. Although Waikato will have a young team this year it will be a very good one.

"Hopefully they will keep the shield until it's our turn but they will have a few tough games. At the same time we know we could get another opportunity if one of their earlier challengers take it off them and we get a shot at them," Lee said.

North Harbour, Manawatu and Canterbury are all scheduled to have challenges before the Magpies.

Lee pointed out winning the Premiership has been the Magpies wider training group's major focus.

"We're going up to the Premiership to win the competition. We maintain we're capable of doing it."

Lee stressed how keen his troops were to enhance McLean Park's fortress-like reputation. Last year the Magpies lost only one of their 10 home first class fixtures.

Another of their focuses last year was improving their away record and they did this with just one away loss, against Canterbury. Maintaining this success rate on the road will be another priority.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's commercial manager Jay Campbell is rapt with the home fixtures which will see the Magpies host Wellington in the first round, Counties-Manukau during week three, Auckland in week four, Tasman in week six and Bay of Plenty in week nine.

"We've got many of the big dogs coming and there's a good spread with home games from August 20 to October 15. Kicking off the season with a rematch of last year's Championship final is a marketer's dream," Campbell said.

Counties-Manukau is the side the Magpies took the Ranfury Shield off two years ago, Auckland were beaten Premiership finalists last year, Tasman were beaten Premiership semifinalists last year and Bay of Plenty were beaten by the Magpies in last year's Championship semifinals.

Magpies draw:

* Saturday, August 20, 5.35pm: v Wellington at McLean Park.
* Saturday, August 27, 4.35pm: v Taranaki at Yarrow Stadium.
* Thurday, September 1, 7.35pm: v Counties-Manukau at McLean Park.
* Wednesday, September 7, 7.35pm: v Auckland at McLean Park.
* Sunday, September 11, 2.35pm: v Canterbury at AMI Stadium.
* Thursday, September 15, 7.35pm: v Southland at Rugby Park.
* Saturday, September 24, 7.35pm: v Tasman at McLean Park.
* Saturday, October 1, 5.35pm: v Manawatu at Central Energy Trust Arena.
* Saturday, October 8, 7.35pm: v Waikato (RS) at FMG Stadium.
* Saturday, October 15, 5.35pm: v Bay of Plenty at McLean Park.
* October 21-23: Semifinal TBC.
* Saturday, October 29, 7.35pm: Final TBC.