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Counties Manukau Rugby celebrates past players day at Navigation Homes Stadium on Saturday night and we welcome all former players of the Union.

Three decades ago, Counties Manukau travelled down to Palmerston North to play Manawatu on 9 September 1992. The Ross Cooper-coached Steelers beat Manawatu 35-0 that day with skipper Errol Brain scoring two tries, Lino Foa’i, Carlos Hasson and Mark Cooksley also dotting down. Dean Sheppard kicked two conversions and two penalties.

Some of those famous players will be in attendance on Saturday night and we salute them along with all of the other men and women that have represented this union dating back to 1955.

We are proud of our Union’s history and have adopted the catchphrase #prideinthehoops as something that ties us together.

A significant amount of work has gone on by Union staff going back through history and attempting to allocate each player their official playing number in the order that they represented the province.

From the very first team in 1955 through until the side that runs out onto Navigation Homes Stadium tomorrow night, every player has their unique number that recognises their contribution to the hoops.

Former Steelers halfback Michael Scott has led the charge in tracking down a number of former players to help fill in the gaps and make sure every player is included.

“Personally, I think it is huge,” Scott said of the importance a personalised playing number means to players.

“Counties Manukau Rugby has been a big part of my life and has been a big part of many of the players that have played here over the years. It is good to know where you sit in the history and the order.

“A few guys I’ve spoken to are really keen to know what their number is and everyone has been really supportive of the initiative.”

The final list of the player numbers is yet to be announced but work is almost complete.