Crusaders halfback signs two-year deal with Magpies
Crusaders halfback Ere Enari will play for the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team for the next two seasons.
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union confirmed Enari's signing today. Astute Magpies fans will remember Enari (pictured above) produced some classy impact off the substitutes bench for Canterbury during their 20-19 loss to the Magpies at Napier's McLean Park last year.
Had Enari, 24, been introduced to the match earlier the Magpies may not have recorded their first win against the Cantabs since 1982.
Enari, who was educated at Tu Toa in Manawatu and Auckland's St Kentigern College before heading south to Lincoln University has been part of the Canterbury and Crusaders programmes since 2016. He played for the World Championship winning New Zealand Under-20s in 2017 and the fifth placed New Zealand Under-20s in 2016.
With outstanding Magpies halfback Folau Fakatava unavailable for this season's Bunnings NPC with a knee injury collected when playing for the Highlanders in Super Rugby Aotearoa Enari's experience will be a huge boost to the Magpies 2021 campaign.
"With the loss of Folau for the rest of the year and moving up to the Premiership Ere is a key acquisition to the squad. Ere brings with him immense experience having been involved with the Crusaders set up since he left school and has a desire to play and compete each week having battled through his own injuries as a young man," Magpies head coach Mark Ozich explained.
Enari will begin training with the Magpies later this month and is excited about his move north.
"I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to join such an awesome team of players and management in Hawke's Bay. It’s exciting and I can’t wait to contribute as much as I can to the foundation they’ve built so far and apply my trade. I’m ready to compete, and I look forward to doing that alongside a great team with huge potential,” Enari said.
“Ere will add real competition with our local halfbacks and provide great experience for both Connor McLeod and Zach Donaldson to call upon as they compete for positions in the 23 each week,” Hawke's Bay Rugby Union CEO Jay Campbell said.
The Magpies first game is a Ranfurly Shield defence against North Otago on June 30 at McLean Park. Their first NPC game is scheduled for Saturday August 6 against Taranaki at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park.
