• Falcon's return boost for Magpies and Clive

Falcon's return boost for Magpies and Clive

Bet against Clive Rugby and Sports making the semifinals in Hawke's Bay's Maddison Trophy premier club competition at your peril.

Clive are fourth on the points table after three rounds and the chances of remaining in the top four received a boost yesterday when Hawke's Bay Rugby confirmed Clive's third-generation Magpie Tiaan Falcon (pictured above) will be returning home to play for the Magpies in the 2021 Bunnings NPC and will be available for Clive.

Falcon, 23, provided quality impact off the subs bench in the final when Clive last won the Maddison Trophy in 2018.

A former New Zealand under-20s and Chiefs utility back, Falcon, has scored 82 points in 28 first-class appearances for the Magpies. He is a son of former Magpies loosie Gordon Falcon and grandson of former Magpies loosie Ray Falcon who are both former Maori All Blacks.

A Lindisfarne College product, Falcon, has been playing with Japanese club side Toyota Verbiltz in the Japanese Top League and has negotiated a release to play for the Magpies in their upcoming NPC campaign before returning to play for Toyota again in the 2022 competition. 

Falcon who played the last of his 28 games for Hawke’s Bay in the gut-wrenching 2019 Championship Cup 12-7 final loss to Bay of Plenty in Rotorua said yesterday 

"I am really excited about coming home to join the Magpies. For as long as I can remember all I wanted to do was play for the Magpies so to be able to have the opportunity to return to the team this year is massive for my family and myself. I look forward to getting back to Hawke's Bay, playing for Clive and working hard to build on the success the Magpies had last year."

While Falcon has made himself available for the Magpies Ranfurly Shield defence against North Otago at the end of the month, he still needs to complete his 14 days of managed isolation. In his brief time with the Magpies, Falcon has shown his versatility with significant performances in the first five, midfield and fullback positions.

Head coach Mark Ozich is excited to see the young accomplished goalkicker returning to the Bay. 

Ozich was delighted to have Falcon return confirming "it’s great to have Tiaan back in the Black and White hoops as he will add valuable experience despite being so young and will certainly increase the competition within the squad for positions."

HBRU CEO, Jay Campbell added: "Tiaan is an outstanding young man both on and off the field who has already won a Junior World Cup, played Super Rugby and two seasons in Japan and yet is still only 23. There is no doubt Tiaan is an exceptional talent and the Hawke’s Bay public had only just seen glimpses of that before he left, so I am excited to see him return to push for a place in the 2021 starting side.” 

Falcon is expected to make himself available for Clive in the remaining rounds of the Maddison Trophy once his stint in managed isolation comes to an end. 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. 

Meanwhile, the Magpies Wider Training Group squad will have their second match of the season when they take on Wairarapa Bush at Masterton's Memorial Park on Monday.  The squad's starting XV will be confirmed at tomorrow's Captain's Run.

The full Magpies Wider Training Group squad for Monday's 2pm match:
Joe Apikotoa, Shamara Brooks, Jacob Devery, Dom Devine, Mason Emerson, Harry Godfrey, Trent Hape, Andrew Hayward, Kienan Higgins, Joel Hintz, Josh Kaifa, Paula Latu, Frank Lochore, Tupou Ma'afu Afungia, Iakopo Mapu, Elijah Martin, Lincoln McClutchie, Xavier McCorkindale, Connor McLeod, Tianua Poto, Dennon Robinson-Bartlett, Hemaua Samasoni, Jonty Stewart, Gene Symington, Hugh Taylor, Jordan Thompson-Dunn, Will Tremain, Anzelo Tuiitavuki, Jay Tuivaiti, Nathan Tweedy, Jayden Walker.

The Wairarapa Bush team is:
Moomoo Falaniko, Aseri Waqa, Nikora Ewe, Tipene Haira, Sakapo Aisea, Sam Morison, Daryl Pickering, Jake Goodger, Johan van Vliet, Eddie Cranston, Peter Beech, Vesi Luatua, Lewis Bush, Henry Wilson, Tupou Lea'aemanu.
Substitutes: Terongo Tekii, Jeremiah Mapusua, Dominic Herlihy, BJ Campbell, Ryan Knell, Tuakana Riwai-Couch, Pua Tafa, Fiula Tameilau, Oakland Dene-Pene.