A manager resurrecting the Hawke's Bay Unicorns - former coach Dion Te Ahu, when he was appointed coach of national competition side Mid Central Vipers in 2015. Photo / NZME
A manager resurrecting the Hawke's Bay Unicorns - former coach Dion Te Ahu, when he was appointed coach of national competition side Mid Central Vipers in 2015. Photo / NZME
Rugby league's Hawke's Bay Unicorns will back be on the park this month for the first time in four years in a new season that starts with the first round of the 2021 club competitions on Saturday
.
One of the longest-standing representative team names in New Zealand rugby league,with a history dating back over a century, Hawke's Bay hasn't fielded a men's representative side since 2017.
But a squad named by new coaches Ihaka Waerea and Colin Hokianga and manager and former coach Dion Te Ahu after a trial last week are now preparing for games against Manawatu and Taranaki in Palmerston North on August 21.
The one-day "Tri-Series" is being staged to select players for the Mid-Central Vipers team to play in a four-team NZRL North Island Championship tournament in Rotorua on September 25-26.
The winner of the tournament will play a South Island championship winner in a national final at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, on October 2, targeting promotion to the National Premiership in 2022.
All of those chosen in the training squad are expected to play in the club competition at Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park over the next two months.
There are five Premier teams and five in the Reserve grade, targeting places in the finals to be played on October 2.
Historic club Omahu Huia and more recent establishment Bridge Pa each have a team entered in each grade.
Omahu played in both finals last year but were beaten by Dannevirke club Aotea in the Premier match and MAC in the Reserve grade showdown.
While most rugby league in New Zealand is played in the winter, the Hawke's Bay competition has been run in the August-October window for more than 20 years, avoiding a clash with club rugby competitions such as the Maddison Trophy and enabling some players to participate in both sports.
But there has been rugby league earlier in the winter for age grades, including representative team tournaments.
The draw for the opening round of the 2021 Hawke's Bay club rugby league competitions is at Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park tomorrow
is:
Premier (2.45pm): Napier Panthers v Bay Bulldogs, Omahu Huia v Bridge Pa, Tamatea a bye.
Reserve (1pm): Manu Pacifica v MAC, Omahu Huia v Clive Cougars, Bridge Pa a bye.
