Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union chairman Richard Hunt has never been short of advice for the New Zealand Rugby Union's board of directors.
Later this month Hunt hopes to be on the national body's board so his advice can be heard first hand. Hunt will challenge former All Black captain Graham
Mourie for the Central Zone position at the NZRU's annual meeting in Wellington on April 22. Hunt, a master of one-liners as well as short and sharp team talks in his Magpies coaching days, told SportToday it was time "provincial New Zealand had a say" at NZRU board level.
While Hunt, who played 147 first-class games for the Magpies from 1967-83, has done his homework and isn't short of support, he isn't "counting his chickens".
"People can say one thing before a meeting and come the day change their mind. I know all about those things from my days as a selector," said Hunt.
The Haulage Transport boss hopes provinces which Hawke's Bay has had a close association with. such as East Coast, Poverty Bay, Thames Valley and King Country support him. While Hunt is well known for his support of provinces which aren't Super 14 franchise bases, he believes their support is split at this stage.
"From what I hear once you make the board you spend a lot time listening for a while before jumping up to have your say. It's often only once you get there you fully understand why certain decisions have been made," Hunt said.
"It's important provincial New Zealand works together and if successful I look forward to working with other provinces for the good of our game ... from a Hawke's Bay point of view of course," he added.
Board members are elected for three terms, which Mourie has served, but can be given exceptional circumstances to seek a fourth term which Mourie has. In his case it is because he is the chairman of the International Rugby Board's rugby committee, he is one of only two former All Blacks on the board and the only member who has coached in the professional environment.
Also because of the manner in which the board was elected in 2002, Mourie has only served just over 7 1/2 years of his nine-year term.
