Lee to leave Hawke's Bay

On migration: Lee set to leave the Magpies for greener pastures

Hawke's Bay's Air New Zealand Cup quarter-final match-up against Waikato on Sunday looms as the final home match for inspirational captain Danny Lee.

The Blues scrum-half announced that he would be playing his last season with the Magpies to pursue other opportunities.

The announcement brings an end to the half-back's second stint with the province after he played a major role in rebuilding the team since it was promoted to the revamped competition in 2005.

"Danny has done a fantastic job since his return to Hawke's Bay and he goes with our very best wishes" said Hawke's Bay CEO, Mike Bishop.

"When we were promoted to the Air New Zealand Cup at the end of 2005 it was crucial that we brought more professionalism and experience at playing at the highest level to the squad environment for the challenge that lay ahead.

"Danny has provided all of that. His thoroughly professional approach both on and off the field has been a major factor in the Magpies successful transition to this level," Bishop continued.

Lee, who featured in two All Blacks Tests six years ago, made his debut for Hawke's Bay as a teenager in 1994 before making the provincial move to Counties Manukau and then Otago.

He then made his mark in Super Rugby playing for the Hurricanes, Chiefs, Highlanders and more recently the Blues.

"The fact that my first class career began with Hawke's Bay while still at school in 1994 and I have been able to come full circle and return here to play a part in the provinces re-emergence at Air New Zealand Cup level has fulfilled a long held ambition for me," Lee said.

"I wanted to return to my home province because I felt I had a something to offer and to be able to captain a team that has reignited the Hawke's Bay public's interest in rugby in the region has been a huge thrill."