Rugby: Local players eager to catch eye in Wasps fixture

Steamers head coach Clayton McMillan.

Top local rugby players wanting to make the 2015 Bay of Plenty Steamers team will get another chance to put their hand up during a match in Katikati tomorrow.

Steamers head Coach Clayton McMillan and assistant coach Rodney Gibbs have named a team to play in a Wasps versus Cavaliers match at Moore Park in Katikati tomorrow at 3pm.

The majority of the Wasps team have come from the Steamers wider training group while the Cavaliers fall under the Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union.

The wider training group consists of contracted players and those that have been performing well throughout the Baywide club season.

On the back of good performances in last week's trial in Rotorua, Jone Lagibola, Jonah Bainavalu, Elijah Nicholas and Wade Pereira have also been rewarded with selection.

In addition, the Wasps fixture will be the first appearance for Shahn Eru and Terrence Hepetema, who are both now playing for Te Puna, having arrived recently from Italy and the United Kingdom. Whaka's Whaimotu Craft-Chemis will also make his first appearance returning from injury.

The trial does not include players involved in Investec Super 15 or the World Rugby U20 Championships.

The Wasps versus Cavaliers match will be one of the last opportunities for players to put their hand up for the 2015 Steamers ITM Cup team. The team will be named mid-July ahead of two ITM Cup pre-season matches against Auckland (Friday, July 31 in Whakatane) and Manawatu (Thursday, August 6 in Tauranga).