The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union is making a bid for a liquor licence which could overcome some of the issues surrounding event-by-event special licences.

Former chief executive Hugh Henderson allays any fears of Wellington encroaching on the patch of Central Districts Cricket in a bid to boost its membership.

In terms of softball breeding, Brooke Eden is a thoroughbred. Shane Hurndell reports.

The Melbourne Storm forward from Hawke's Bay took time out on Friday to share words of wisdom with the first two members of a youth leadership academy called Tu Ake Rangatahi.

Bill Dalton, son of an All Black and more used to watching rugby union games at McLean Park, home of the Ranfurly Shield, said: "We were the events capital of Hawke's Bay.

As advance messengers, Melbourne Storm rugby league players Slade Griffin and Dayne Weston were delivering all the right messages yesterday as they rounded-off a series of visits.

Forget any 25-point winning margin for the Melbourne Storm in tomorrow night's NRL clash at Napier's McLean Park.

It was a nervous time for Paula Gallagher yesterday as she awaited the arrival of a special edition Melbourne Storm rugby league jersey.

Nick Anderson jetted off to the nine-day Los Angeles Special Olympics in the United States last Thursday to compete in golf.

Jesse Ryder was a foregone conclusion and the contracted list of players for the Central Districts Stags in the 2015-16 domestic season this week confirmed that.