Club rugby: Talent influx reflects new provincial status

The first fruits of Bay of Plenty's premier rugby status are about to be harvested on Saturday, when club rugby in the union kicks off.
The Steamers qualified for the top-seven division of the new-look national provincial competition this year and clubs have benefited, picking up some decent talent from unions that missed out.
North Harbour hooker Manu Saula has joined Whakarewarewa, Rangataua have attracted classy Northland flanker Matt Clutterbuck, while Tauranga Sports have nabbed Otago first-five Chris Noakes, who could cover Mike Delany's absence if needed.
Manawatu's Paul Teitjens has also come home, joining Mount Maunganui.
There has been a decent turnover at most clubs, although Rangataua and Whakarewarewa look to have made the biggest moves after narrowly missing out on the Baywide semifinals last year.
Though they've lost Trent Vatselias (Wellington) and Chris van der Flugt (overseas), Whakarewarewa have picked up Rotoiti wing Elijah Wilson-Haira, Waikite halfback Chris Miller and Rangataua utility Akira Mako.
They won last week's pre-season Banner final, beating Rotoiti 19-11, and have bolstered their depth with players like Jeremy O'Brien (Christchurch) and Shaun Coutts (Te Awamutu).
Rotoiti have also been boosted, however, enticing former Steamers wing Teu Nafe to the club, while star No8 Siegfried Fisiihoi is back after being deported last year.
Rangataua have grabbed Tauranga Sports halfback Daiyu Ishimori and impressive Te Teko midfielder Luke O'Brien, one of the competition's top try-scorers last season. They've also lost Mako, wing Ash Mason and fullback John Ririnui but coaches Aramahou Ririnui and Matua Parkinson should be confident of an improved start to the season.
Defending champions Tauranga Sports, winners of the last four Baywide titles, have lost a heap of experience, with key forwards Kent Rae, Brett Johnson and Alan Davis all having retired.
Flying wing Matt Hodson has gone to England, Steve Honey has moved to Wellington and Ishimori is with Rangataua.
Coach Mike Rogers is in a rebuilding phase, though he's got some outstanding talent to work with, picking up Reporoa pair Ricoh Flavell and Carl Axtens, Tauranga Boys' College forward Jeff Thwaites and first-five Noaks.
Former flanker Scott McCormick has returned after four years away from the game, veteran midfielder Murphy Taele has arrived from France and coaching director Craig Sandlant has attracted Portuguese representatives Nuno Penecosta and Francisco Appleton to the club.
Tauranga will launch their season tomorrow against last year's beaten finalists Te Puke, who have also collected some useful players in the off-season.
They've brought back Swedish lock Viktor Pettersson - who last played for the club in 2008 - as a blindside option, while Mount halfback Andy Lee has also joined them. Bay under-20 player Ricky Green has come up from Reporoa, along with flanker Matt Powdrell, who has been at Otago University.
Coach Jeremy Cotter is hopeful of bolstering his stocks further when overseas competitions finish, with Bulgarian international Ivan du Plé and Samoan lock Leepi Tuhai having contacted the club.
Tauranga Boys' hooker Nathan Harris has also graduated from schoolboy rugby and will be putting pressure on incumbent Simon Chisholm, who could emerge as a propping option.
Te Puke's losses are considerable, however, with experienced players Luke Perrott, Conrad Donaldson, Haydon Sievwright, Matt Burt and Mark Walton all currently unavailable, while Dan Goodwin is still battling his ankle problems.
Mount Maunganui look to have the most losses this year, with Cory Aporo (North Harbour), Luke Katene (Canterbury) and Ted Tauroa (Waikato) departing, Zion Nordstrom, Grant McQuoid and Steven Wallace retiring and Chad Tuhoro (Te Puna) and Andy Lee (Te Puke) switching clubs.
They've managed to gain Teitjens and Matt Golding (Christchurch) but coach Marty Bourke said it will be a struggle.
"This year is going to be tougher than normal - we've lost a few guys and the new NPC format will take any Bay of Plenty reps we have left," Bourke said.
"In saying that, a lot of the guys have been working hard in the off season and are in better condition than historically."
Premier draw: Opotiki v Whakatane Marist (Rugby Park, Whakatane), Mount Maunganui v Whakarewarewa (Blake Park), Waikite v Rotoiti (Bellvue Road), Te Puna v Rangataua (Maramatanga Park), Tauranga Sports v Te Puke Sports (Tauranga Domain).