Maddison Trophy
Premier men's rugby
We've seen teams pulling on pink jerseys in Super Rugby and we've seen it in the NRL.
Today we'll see it in the sixth round of Hawke's Bay's Tui Maddison Trophy premier club rugby competition when Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports host Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical clash at Park Island.
"It's all part of Pirate's Tackle Cancer Day," Pirate captain and first five-eighth Aayden Clarke said as he tried on his pink jersey for size yesterday.
Clarke's team will wear the jerseys in the match and, tonight, they will be auctioned during a fundraising function at the Pirate club.
Former Magpies lock and Pirate player Ash Johnson's wife, Nicole, and Christine Reid, the wife of the Pirate team's assistant manager Charles Reid, are battling cancer and the money raised will assist them as well as 4-year-old Kingston Karangaroa, a grandson of club stalwart Hawi Karangaroa, who has been diagnosed with a form of leukaemia and has been undergoing treatment in Auckland's Starship Hospital.
"This is an annual event for the whole club driven by the premiers.
"We chose cancer for this weekend because it's so close to home ... in the future there may be other priorities and next year it will be a different colour and a different cause," Clarke said.
The former Magpie pointed out the Pirate club's All Black fullback Israel Dagg had donated his jersey from the France test in New Plymouth.
Bids can be made for this on Trade Me and they will close at 8 o'clock tonight, when the auction ends.
"Zac and Hika have also donated jerseys from the Crusaders and Chiefs, respectively, and there will also be plenty of raffles," Clarke said, referring to two of his former Magpies teammates, Zac Guildford and Hika Elliot.
Clarke agreed his eighth-placed team have had a disappointing Maddison Trophy campaign and he was hoping today's cause would inspire the hosts to an upset win against the third-placed Tech outfit.
"We can still play for pride. Hopefully the cause won't take our minds off the task. At the same time, we know Tech will be looking to perform well before losing several of their players to the Magpies' pre-season Saracens XV games," Clarke added.
Today's other match at Park Island will see Hawke's Bay Insurances Napier Old Boys Marist host Clive. Other games will see unbeaten competition leaders MAC host Carters Frame and Truss Taradale at Flaxmere's Ron Giorgi Park, IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports host Central at Elwood Park in a Challenge Shield encounter and Progressive Meats Havelock North host Hawke's Bay Seafoods Tamatea at Anderson Park.
The following players have been selected for Saracens XV fixtures against Manawatu in Palmerston North on July 17 and Bay of Plenty at Napier's McLean Park on July 24. They will be unavailable for club play after today's games:
Forwards: Jody Allen, Brendon Edmonds, Max Lahiff, Kelly Petrowski, Jason Long, Jesse MacDonald, Josh Te Whata-Colley, Michael Allardice, Johan Schoonbee, Tom Parsons, Mark Abbott, Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Tony Lamborn, Mark Atkins.
Backs: Chris Eaton, Sheridan Rangihuna, Ihaia West, John Semple, Adam Bradey, Billy Ropiha, Bronson Neera, Trinity Spooner-Neera, Penikolo Latu, Mikey Vuicakau, Gillies Kaka, Tamati Samuels.