Rugby: All Steamers hopefuls are on trial

Greerton Marist first-five Tim O'Malley is a contender for the Steamers No 10 jersey. Photo/File

The old-fashioned trial game has been brought back by the Bay of Plenty Steamers in a move that is sure to delight rugby purists.

The trial will be held at Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke on Wednesday, June 11, at 7pm. The last time an official trial was held was in 2009.

As well as the high performance squad, 15 top performing players from the Bayfair Baywide premier club competition have been invited into the trial squad.

"It is great that we have been able to bring back this trial game," said Bay of Plenty Rugby Union CEO Mike Rogers.

"This will provide an opportunity for players in contention for the Steamers to go head to head and assist the Steamers coaches in making their decisions on who will make the final squad.

"We are pleased that all premier clubs are represented in the squad. This year's Bayfair club competition is the most evenly contested we have seen for a number of years and is showcasing a number of players that deserve an opportunity to make the Steamers squad for the ITM Cup."

Rogers says it is important all players realise they are still in with a chance.

"No one is a Steamer as of today. That is the message we are sending really clearly that everyone has the opportunity to make the Steamers, whether it is an 18-year-old Dan Hollinshead or Aidan Ross, versus a 25-year-old Teddy Stanaway.

"They are all on the same page and I think that is a big philosophical change for players to understand that they actually have to earn the jersey.

"That is paying dividends for us and I think the ITM Cup now is getting younger and younger, which is flowing right through senior club rugby and through to First XV.

"It is a credit to the development of our schools over the last few years, and not just Tauranga Boys' and Rotorua Boys'. In the Otumoetais and Bethlehems you can see quite a significant improvement in the way they are operating, and that is great for us to have more schools that are competing, producing more local talent. If you talk to the players, they can see a pathway and how it is working."

Following the trial, the squad will be narrowed down to play three-way games with the Chiefs and Harlequins on June 17. The final Steamers squad will be announced at the end of June.