The Magpies have secured the services of former Napier Boys High School and current Chiefs hooker Tyrone Thompson.

Thompson has signed on with his home province for the next two seasons following a stint playing for Wellington in the Bunnings NPC after leaving school in 2018.

“I am excited to be able to return to Hawke’s Bay, the place where I grew up and a chance to play in front of my family and friends” Thompson said.

Another driving force for wanting to return to Hawkes Bay is the opportunity to again play alongside some High School teammates and former opposition.

“I am hoping to again play alongside Gimmy and Frank” Thompson added referring to former Napier Boys teammates Josh Gimblett and Frank Lochore who both made their Magpies debuts in 2021 “As well as guys like Lincoln, Folau, Danny and Devan who were playing for Hastings Boys when I was at school”

21-year-old Thompson is a former New Zealand Secondary School representative and has played 18 times for Wellington over the last two seasons gaining selection for the Chiefs Super Rugby squad for the 2022 season.

Magpies head coach Josh Syms sees the addition of Thompson as a valuable recruit for what will be a solid looking 2022 squad. “We are really excited to have Tyrone back in the province for the 2022 season. Tyrone is one of New Zealand’s rising rugby talents, and a home-grown Hawkes Bay boy to boot.”

“With the departure of Ash Dixon, it’s so great that we can add Tyrone to our roster, his style of play will complement both Jacob (Devery) and Kianu (Kereru-Symes) and will provide us with another robust ball carrier where he is lethal with ball in hand.” Syms added.

Hawke’s Bay Chief Executive Jay Campbell was excited about Thompsons return saying ‘Tyrones agent made contact late last year asking about the possibility of returning and that his motivation was simply to wear the black and white hoops and to play in front of his whanau and friends. It’s always brilliant when our home bred players want to return home and its testament to the culture that Josh and his team are creating here that have many reaching out’