Rugby: Shield's in safe hands

Trinity Spooner-Neera has his turn with the shield at the Hawke's Bay Airport yesterday. Photo / Duncan Brown

Memo to Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team manager Neil Weber ... don't panic, the Ranfurly Shield is in safe hands.

The Magpies' most experienced 2013 squad member, openside flanker Karl Lowe, grabbed the shield after yesterday's Napier parade and took it home. Lowe will return it to the team environment when the squad assembles for this morning's parade in Hastings.

"I just grabbed it and took it home. I haven't told Neil [Weber] yet," Lowe said after returning to his Hastings home last night.

Lowe, 28, a veteran of 92 first-class games for the Magpies since 2004, missed Sunday's 20-19 shield victory against Otago in Dunedin with his rib injury. So it was appropriate the Maori All Black and Hurricanes player got to be the first Magpie to "baby sit" the 99-year-old trophy in 44 years.

Originally Lowe had planned to watch Sunday's challenge at a pub but because it was Father's Day he decided to watch it with his three sons, Kyle, Kalani and Cage.

"I was jumping up and down and there was the odd swear word particularly during the last five minutes. When the final whistle blew the kids were crying ... they hadn't seen me like that before," Lowe explained.

"It was a pretty special moment. I'm so proud of the boys ... it was good to experience the challenge from a fan's view and see the boys leave everything on the field," Lowe said.

He has recovered from his rib injury and will be available for selection for the Magpies' first defence against Counties-Manukau at Napier's McLean Park on Saturday.

"I just have to train well and see if I get the nod. Brendon [O'Connor] and Tony [Lamborn] are playing so well at the moment," Lowe said referring to the other No7s in the squad.

At the other end of the experience scale the "baby" of the Magpies team 18-year-old Trinity Spooner-Neera, a non-playing reserve in Sunday's challenge, became one of the youngest shield winners.

"I was itching to get on. But at the same time it was pretty scary ... it was a nail-biter and exciting to watch," Spooner-Neera said as he reflected on his time on the pine at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

An All Black Sevens World Series winner, Spooner-Neera said Sunday's noisy 20,000-strong crowd brought back memories of his series final at Twickenham back in May.

"I couldn't hear a word on the field at Twickenham and it was the same for the boys out on the field on Sunday. Being a shield winner at my age is up there with the World Series win ... something to be proud of," Spooner-Neera said.

"Obviously with Zac [Guildford] and Telusa [Veainu] playing so well I have got to wait for something like an injury to happen before I get the opportunity to take the field. I still have to train hard out during the week just to make the 22," he explained.

A younger brother of fellow Magpies squad member Bronson Neera, who didn't make the travelling 22, Spooner-Neera said he had a couple of beers on Sunday night but like All Black prop Ben Franks didn't leave the team's hotel.

"Because I didn't play I thought I would do the respectful thing and Ben took off to join the All Blacks not long after we returned to our hotel after the game."

He intended to have another early night last night.

"We've got a gym session in the morning and I've got a chance to make the 22 for first shield defence."