Mount Maunganui celebrate after winning the Baywide trophy last year. Photo / File
It seems almost absurd to have club rugby starting before the Cricket World Cup quarter-finals have been played but that is the changing face of the sporting landscape.
The new Western Bay local round for Premier and Development teams kicks off tomorrow with Central and Eastern Bay of Plenty starting their local rounds on March 28. The Bayfair Baywide competition begins on Saturday, May 2 and culminates in grand final day on July 25.
The Baywide round will feature the top six teams from Western Bay and three each from Central Bay and Eastern Bay.
The development teams of those 12 clubs will play alongside the premier teams.
In 2016 the 12 premier clubs will play-off to form three divisions of eight teams that will be the format for the future with the bottom four teams in Premier and Division 1 relegated and the top four teams in Division 1 and Division 2 promoted.
The decision to change the competition formats came after a Special General Meeting (SGM) last December. Three delegates from each of the Bay of Plenty sub unions came up with the new system that was voted in unanimously.
The return to a local round of club rugby is bound to please those supporters who are unable to travel across Bay of Plenty to see their team play.
It will also save clubs thousands of dollars in crippling transport costs.
Western Bay's top six teams to contest the Baywide round are Mount Maunganui Sports, Te Puke Sports, Tauranga Sports, Greerton Marist, Te Puna and Rangataua Sports. Central Bay have confirmed Whakarewarewa, Waikite and Rotoiti, while Eastern Bay clubs Opotiki and Paroa are in but the third place will be determined by placing in the local competition starting on March 28.
Mount Maunganui Sports
Coach:
Rodney Voullaire
Baywide finish 2014:
Champions
Players in: Leigh Hughs, Nic Hadelzos, Ben Mellow, Logan Gies, Brett Ranga, Melone Latailakepa, Jonty Wood, Pera Gibbs, Jake Holmes, Clayton Stewart, Owen Karati, Marnus Hanley, Brett Ranga (captain 2014 Thames Valley side)
Players out: Josh Sole, Chris Croadsdale, Taihe Smith, Cayden Matahaere, Sami Fisilau, Jackson Edwards.
Coach comment: It has been a great build up to the season with our sevens team Baywide champs. The squad is 80 per cent the same. We had a great year in 2014 and now the biggest challenge is to keep performing at a high level. The boys in the team all want higher honours which I suppose is an ingredient to our recent success. We are after another big year.
Te Puke Sports
Coach: Craig Jeffries
Baywide finish 2014: Semifinals
Players in: Bryn Uriarau (Poverty Bay), Conner Hirini (Marlborough), Curtis Deane (Rotoiti), Sean Peake (Rangiuru), Ryan Lambert (overseas), Dane Edge (Navy), Ayden Pitman (university), James Allen (university)
Players out: Junior Tofo Va'a (North Harbour), Elliot Hagen (Australia), Dan O'Rourke (Northland), Luke Keenleyside (injury), Carlos Savage (Touch World Cup)
Coach comment: Similar to last year with forwards largely unchanged. Tim Bond is a key with his elevation to cover at the Chiefs making his availability doubtful. Eru Wano at No 8 now in his second year so should be a big year for him. Ryan Lambert should also add a lot at loose forward. NZ Under-20s may take Dan Hollinshead and Aiden Ross who will be big losses if they are selected.
Tauranga Sports
Coach: Mike Rogers
Baywide finish 2014: Semifinals
Players in: Robey Leibrandt (hooker), Manuel Efaraimo (hooker), Ati Olive (lock), Wayne Ormond (lock), Jesse Acton (Number 8), Dan Crowther (7 Tasman), Thomas Allen (7), John Dodd (10), Jase Harvey (11), Dan Stroud (14), Ben Smith (15), Jesse Dodunski (15)
Players out: Pingi Tala'apitaga (Highlanders), Adam Robinson (retired), Beau Williams (injured), Santiago Sanchez (overseas), Geoff Berry (overseas), Steve Honey (overseas), Byron McGuigan (overseas), Paul Morris (injured).
Coach comment: We have a pretty well-balanced team this year. We struggle for a little bit of depth at prop and in the midfield but generally we are happy with our squad. Our big focus for 2015 is on effort and commitment and we will select our team based on these factors. We have had a couple of young players come through from our Development squad and we are excited to see how they perform at Premier level this year.
Greerton Marist
Coach: Kevin Lee (new)
Baywide finish 2014: Fifth
Players in: We have some new players but no big name players
Players out: Steamers reps Tino Nemani and Joe Tupe are recovering from surgery with unknown return dates to club rugby.
Coach comment: The key goal is for the team to build on last year's solid groundwork laid by coach Kane Parker. This weekend's opener against Te Puna will be a gauge on where we are locally.
Te Puna
Coach: Daniel Quate (new)
Baywide finish 2014: Sixth
Players in: Imad Reyal, Wally Mill, Louis Mikaere, Matakowhai Borell, Robert Dunne, Taane Tangitu, Richard Apanui, Jesse Church
Players out: Turoia Kuka, Martin Stevenson, Tyrone Heke, Jake Parangatai
Coach comment: Steamers Te Aihe Toma will captain the squad. We have a group of young players coming out of the BOP U19s and Otumoetai College First XV looking to really push on this season in Troy Webber, Keegan Long, Ryan Henstock and Resden Hirama. We have a strong squad with a good mix of experienced players and really talented youngsters. We anticipate there will be no easy games this year, starting with Greerton Marist this weekend who will be a big step up from our game against Waihi on Saturday. With a tour of France organised for the end of the year, it is an exciting time to be a part of the club.
Rangataua
Coach: Murray Ririnui (new)
Baywide finish 2014: Eighth
Players in: Kemble Frost (Tauranga Boys' College First XV), John Ririnui, Akira Mako, Tute Grant (Whaka), James Adington (Waikato)
Players out: Siaosa Longia, Alex Jessop and Ross Taurima.
Coach comment: The team is looking well apart from a few injuries that we have at this time of the year. Looking forward to playing the Mount at home to start the season and test ourselves against the defending champions.-Thanks to Amanda Thompson, Bay of Plenty Rugby.
Week 1, tomorrow
*Premiers: 2.45pm.
*Development: 1pm.
Mt Maunganui v Rangataua, Blake Park;
Te Puna v Greerton Marist, Maramatanga Park;
Te Puke Sports v Tauranga Sports, Murray Salt Stadium.
Timeline
WBOP: Premier and Development competitions begin March 14, final is July 25.
WBOP: Division 1, 2 Senior competitions plus Senior Reserves begin March 28.
EBOP: Premier, Development, Division 1 and 2, Senior competitions begin March 28.
CBOP: Premier, Development, Division 1 and 2, Senior competitions begin March 28.