Rugby: Neil Weber says goodbye Magpies

Magpies manager Neil Weber is leaving the Bay to take on the role as International Stevedoring Organisation general manager in Mount Maunganui. Photo/Paul Taylor

Here's an unexpected farewell story ... Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team manager Neil Weber is leaving the province.

Like most Hawke's Bay rugby fans, yours truly expected Weber to comfortably add another five years on to the role he took on in 2009. His passion and enthusiasm for the Magpies ITM Cup side is phenomenal, legendary in fact.

If one was to accidentally cut any part of Weber's body, black and white blood would flow, that sort of stuff. His ability to combine his Magpies manager's role with his fulltime Pan Pac operations manager's job was first class.

"Yes, it was a tough decision to make. But the opportunity I've got was too good to turn down," Weber said.

A former Magpies halfback, who played 49 first class games for the province from 1988 to 1993, Weber will finish his Pan Pac job on March 7 and start his International Stevedoring Organisation general manager's role in Mount Maunganui on April 1. Although he will be based at the Port of Tauranga, the Port of Napier and Marsden Point also come under his watch.

With the youngest of his and wife Ann's three children, daughter Ellen, on a gap year before heading to Otago University next year, Weber said it was the ideal time to be making a move.

"Ann loves it up at the Mount. It's the Gold Coast of New Zealand and we've been there for six of our last seven New Year's holidays," Weber, 49, said.

A nine handicapper at the Maraenui Golf Club, Weber will transfer to the Omanu club.

"I'll miss everyone at Hawke's Bay Rugby, the Maraenui golf club, Pan Pac and our street neighbours."

Weber rated last year's 20-19 Ranfurly Shield win against Otago, the 35-30 2011 Championship final win against Manawatu in Palmerston North and last year's 26-25 Championship final loss to Tasman in Nelson as the main highlights of his time as manager.

"Last year's final was fantastic. Although we lost it, we were the best team, played the better rugby and could have won it in the 80th minute. One more year in the Championship will be good for the younger boys in the Magpies.

"You don't want to go up to the Premiership and fight to avoid relegation. You want to go up and fight for the title ... the Magpies will be ready for that in 2015," Weber said.

While he has already purchased Chiefs and Waikato season tickets (his son Brad will again play for Waikato this year), Weber has targeted several Magpies games he will attend this year. One is the away game against Counties-Manukau, which is likely to be the Steelers' second Ranfurly Shield defence, another is the McLean Park encounter against Bay of Plenty, and another will be the pre-season game against Waikato, which will be the curtain-raiser to the Maddison Trophy final.

Applications for the Magpies manager's role close on Wednesday, February 26. The successful applicant will have a tough act to follow, just as tough as the player who becomes the regular No11 in the absence of France-bound former All Black Zac Guildford.

We couldn't let Weber sign off without getting him to name a couple of teams.

One is the best Magpies XV he played in and the other the best Magpies XV he managed.

It came as no surprise when he rattled off the names of his best playing XV.

It was the entire starting XV used in the 29-17 win against the 1993 Lions at his favourite ground, Napier's McLean Park.

However, he was quick to point out former Magpie lock John Bird and former Magpies first five-eighth Peter O'Shaughnessy, who is now the side's technical adviser, were both unlucky not to gain selection.

Both had retired from first class play prior to the 1993 international.

Features of the best Magpies XV he has managed include the bracketing of centurion, former Maori All Black and Hurricanes Super player Karl Lowe, and Blues player Brendon O'Connor for the openside flanker role, and Hurricanes rake Ash Dixon getting the nod ahead of former All Black hooker Hika Elliot.