Old Boy Mason Emerson who has been playing wing for the Magpies has signed a two-year contract with French Division 2 club Valence Romans and will leave for France in the next couple of weeks. Emerson’s last game for the Magpies was their Ranfurly Shield defence against North Otago bringing his tally of games for the province to 48.

Mason said that leaving the Magpies would be difficult but the prospect of playing and living in France was an exciting one although Hawke’s Bay would always be home. Magpies coach, Mark Ozich, said Mason was an outstanding rugby player who was popular with the team and although they would be sad to lose him, he went with their best wishes.

Both Ozich and Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union chief executive, Jay Campbell, hoped that the lure of taking his appearances for the Magpies up to 50 would bring Mason back to the team at some stage.
 

Article added: Wednesday 30 June 2021