The Chiefs regional Secondary Schools First XV competition has been extended after a highly successful initiation last year.
The competition kicks off this Saturday and runs through to finals play-off matches on Saturday June 1 to start the 2013 schools First XV rugby season.
It will be a two pool format with play offs this year, rather than the abbreviated knockout system used last year.
The top ranked schools in 2012 from Counties Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley and King Country will play in a two tier competition for the Chiefs Cup and the Chiefs Trophy.
Tauranga Boys' College open their campaign in the Chiefs Cup against Wesley College at Nicholson Field this Saturday at 12pm. Wesley College is one of New Zealand's foremost rugby schools and was made famous by old boy Jonah Lomu. They have won the Top Four First XV final four times.
Rotorua Boys' High School is the other Bay of Plenty team in the Chiefs Cup, and Trident High School from Whakatane and John Paul College from Rotorua will play for the Chiefs Trophy.
Chiefs High Performance Manager, Chris Tindall, believes the competitions are a huge boost to rugby development in the Chiefs region.
"It was great to get a Chiefs region-wide schools competition initiated last year," he said.
"It was highly successful in providing new competitive matches for schools against teams outside of their province and we received strong positive feedback from the schools.
"Following discussions with the schools and with support from the provincial unions, we have extended the competition from a knock-out format last year to two pools and play-offs format, so each team gets to play four matches.
"The positive support from all of the schools and the unions has again been vital to make the competition happen, with all of the top qualifying schools across the Chiefs region involved.
"First XV rugby plays a key part in the development of the best young players for the future. This initiative fits with the Chiefs working with our provincial unions to assist rugby development and build success in the Chiefs region."
The Chiefs Cup and Chiefs Trophy matches will provide a good viewing platform for the selectors as they choose 50 players to attend the Chiefs Region Schools Under-18 development camp being held from July 14 to July 18.
The inaugural winners of the Chiefs Cup and the Chiefs Trophy were Hamilton Boys' High School and Thames High School.
Chiefs Cup
Pool A
Wesley College (Counties Manukau); Tauranga Boys' College (Bay of Plenty), Hamilton Boys' High School (Waikato), St Paul's Collegiate (Waikato).
Draw (home team first)
Sat 11 May:
Tauranga Boys' College v Wesley College, St Paul's College v Hamilton Boys' High School.
Sat 18 May
Wesley College v St Paul's College; Tauranga Boys' College v Hamilton Boys' High School.
Sat 25 May
Hamilton Boys' High School v Wesley College, St Paul's College v Tauranga Boys' College
Pool B
Manurewa High School (Counties Manukau); Rotorua Boys' High School (Bay of Plenty); Cambridge High School (Waikato); St John's College (Waikato).
Chiefs Trophy
Pool A
Pukekohe High School (Counties Manukau); St Peter's School (Waikato); Trident High School (Bay of Plenty); Hauraki Plains College (Thames Valley).
Pool B
Rosehill College (Counties Manukau); John Paul College (Bay of Plenty); Thames High School (Thames Valley); Taupo Nui A Tia College (King Country).