Tomorrow sees the start of the 2012 Baywide rugby season. Senior sports reporter Greg Taipari takes a look at the teams competing in this year's premier division.
Te Puke Sport
2012 Coach: Craig Jefferies
2011 Premier finish: Baywide Premier Champions
Player Gains: Jack Wilson (Christchurch) Beau King, Chub Hale (Hautapu) Issac Taki (Colts) George Oram (England)
Player Losses: Victor Pettersen (return to Sweden) Huhgo Bernard (return to France) Roger Birken (return to UK) Lance Gibson, Jono Murphy, Craig Donovan.
They were last year's team of nobodies - this year they go into the competition as defending champions. Te Puke Sport have several new faces to their line up including coach Craig Jefferies, Christchurch's Jack Wilson and Englishman George Oram.
When Sport made the final against Whakarewarewa they weren't given a hope in hell of taking the final but the team - then coached by Jeremy Cotter had a strong sense of self belief in one another, and it showed when they came from behind to win the premier title 21-18, ending 21 years of heartbreak.
Whakarewarewa
2012 Coach: Kevin Lee
2011 Premier finish: Second
Player Gains: Courtney Mika, Tyson Ripia, Maurice Stone
Player Losses: Hayden Baird, David Marinkovich, Henry Kershaw, Wade Pereira, Nicholas Holt, Asher Semu, Eljah Wilson-Haira.
Last year's bridesmaid - the Kevin Lee-coached side will be looking to go one step better. It's been a mixed pre-season for the red and blacks with the team losing the Geyser Land Shield and Banner final to Rotoiti last weekend.
They don't have their key playmaker Kelly Haimona for the start of the season, with the big hard-running first-five still on an overseas contract. However the team still has plenty of experience to call on with the likes of Harold Koia and captain Greg Gillies.
Mt Maunganui
2012 Coach: Marty Bourke
2011 Premier finish: Third equal
Player Gains: Greg Pleasants Tate, Mike Kainga (Both 2011 NZ U20 reps) Zar Lawrence, Scott Bradley (Sydney)
Player Losses: Reggie and Shane Manu (WA) Paul Teitjens, Colin Bourke (Japan) Mike Delany (Japan) Dan Waenga (Hawkes Bay) Leighton Price (Taranaki)
While it is business as usual for Mount Maunganui coach Marty Bourke, he has added a number of new recruits to the team who finished third-equal last season.
Two notable gains were Greg Pleasants Tate and Mike Kainga, who both were selected for the New Zealand Under-20 team last season. NZ Sevens player Zar Lawrence has returned to play for the Mount, with Scott Bradley from Sydney also joining the premier team.
Tauranga Sports
2012 Coach: Mike Rogers
2011 Premier finish: Third equal
Player Gains: James McGougan, Steve Honey (returning) Bron Lett (Otago) Bob McGregor (Canterbury) Nic Thompson, Jeff Cave
Player Losses: Cullum Armstrong (UK) Kent Rae (retired)
Tauranga Sports, who have won the Baywide premier title five times since their first success in 1999, have retained the nucleus of last year's side. The young inside back trio of Josh Hall, Nick Evemy and Lewis Hancock should again prove a handful for the other contenders.
A potent loose forward combination of Carl Axtens, Dan O'Rourke and Jeff Thwaites could play havoc in opposition backlines.
Greerton Marist
2012 Coach: Murray Ririnui
2011 Premier finish: Division One Champion
Player Gains: Simon Peake (Rotorua)
Player Losses: Marcus Hughes, Alan Burr (overseas)
Premier newcomers Greerton Marist, who won promotion to the top echelon courtesy of winning the Division One title, have a new coaching team in charge. Murray Ririnui is the sides new head coach and he will be assisted by well-known Western Bay rugby identity Ben Skudder.
Rangataua
2012 Coach: Rodney Voullaire
2011 Premier finish: Fifth
Player Gains: Mitchell Cunningham (USA) Josh Pettett (UK) Hannibal Tata.
Former Bay of Plenty representative Rodney Voullaire has taken up the head coach duties at Rangataua. The Western Bay team has become genuine top-four contenders in the last couple of season, and just missed a semi-berth by a whisker last season, finishing in fifth position on the Baywide standings.
Opotiki
2012 Coach: Mike Smith
2011 Premier finish: Sixth
Player Gains: Maika Smith, Andre Biddle, Adrian Clay (2011 Opotiki Colts)
Player Losses: Te Hata and Te Amo Wilbore, Jimmy Thompson, Wiremu Cookson.
Eastern Bay representatives Opotiki had a solid season last year, finishing in sixth place in the preliminary competition. New team additions include 2011 Colts Maika Smith, Andre Biddle and Adrian Clay.
Rotoiti
2012 Coach: Wayne Ormond/Joe Fenton
2011 Premier finish: Seventh
Player Gains: Craig Langveltd
Bay of Plenty Rugby legend Wayne Ormond is one half of the player/coach unit at Rotoiti, teaming with Joe Fenton. The 2004 Ranfurly Shield winning skipper, could provide the coaching resolve to turn his team into genuine championship contenders. Evidence of the lakesiders new determination was provided, when Rotoiti defeated archrival Whaka in the Rotorua Banner final last weekend.
Te Puna
2012 Coach: Vaughan Bidois
2011 Premier finish: Eighth
Player Gains: Daniel Quate, Marty Stevenson, Te Aihe Toma, Tipu Clarke
Player Losses: Gray Gardiner, Taimania Tata, Tipu Clarke.
Te Puna have recruited two top-quality players in former schoolboy star Te Aihe Toma and New Zealand Sevens player Lance MacDonald. The team, who wear the blue and black uniform with pride and respect, will be captained by former Steamer forward Aiden Kuka.
Waikite
2012 Coach: Stephen Jones
2011 Premier finish: Ninth
Player Gains: Still recruiting
Player Losses: Mike Richards, Craig Langveltd, Para McGarvey, Anthony Flint
Waikite completed their primary mission last season of remaining in the premier ranks after promotion in 2010. The Rotorua side, who have a proud tradition in Baywide rugby previously winning Baywide silverware, finished in ninth place last season.
BOPRU Draw, March 24
Premier: (2.45pm) Rangataua v Te Puna, Te Ariki Park; Mount Maunganui v Te Puke Sports, Blake Park; Rotoiti v Waikite, Emery Park; Whakarewarewa v Tauranga Sports, Puarenga Park; Opotiki v Greerton Marist, Princess Street Reserve.
Division One: (2.45pm) Marist St Michaels v Poroporo, Marist Park; Whakatane Marist v Te Teko, Rugby Park; Ruatoki v Ngongotaha, Tuhoe Park; Reporoa v Kahukura, Reporoa; Paroa v Rangiuru, Lawson Park.
Colts: (1pm) Rangataua v Te Puna, Te Ariki Park; Mount Maunganui v Te Puke Sports, Blake Park; Marist St Michaels v Tauranga Sports, Marist Park; Opotiki v Greerton Marist, Princess St Reserve; Rotoiti v Waikite. Emery Park; Whakarewarewa v Kahukura, Puarenga Park; Ruatoki the bye.