When energetic Taranaki flanker Darryl Fale joined the Hurricanes in 1999 he had not missed a first class game since first wearing the amber and black uniform of Taranaki in 1997.

Fale played for the Hurricanes for one season as a back-up loose forward, behind No 8 Filo Tiatia and flankers Kupu Vanisi and Andrew Blowers. His selection followed an outstanding 1998 NPC season playing at openside flanker.

However, with Vanisi and Blowers playing in every game his opportunities were limited to two appearances - the first game of the season as a substitute and the other a starting role against the Sharks in East London in place of Tiatia, who otherwise played in every other match.

Nevertheless, Fale's form for Taranaki in 1999 and 2000 was solid; in 2000 he formed competitive partnerships with fellow contemporary and future Hurricanes loose forwards Neil Crowley, Campbell Feather and Brent Thompson.

Fale went on to take up refereeing at club level in Taranaki.