League: Origin comes to Town and Country

It's not quite State of Origin but try telling the players that.

Bay of Plenty District Rugby League will hold their first Town versus Country representative match in Rotorua tomorrow, with players selected from their respective club teams.

The City team includes players from Rotorua, Reporoa and Taupo while the Country team covers Tokoroa, Mangakino and Putaruru.

City coach Moehewa Armstrong said it was a great occasion for the players, with the game set up a lot like State of Origin. "It is kind of like State of Origin, mate against mate," he said.

A second Town versus City match will be held in mid July, with both games doubling as a trial for the Bay of Plenty Rugby League side.

However, Armstrong said despite it being a trial match, most the players were looking forward to the game for a different reason.

"I think the rivalry will come first and being selected for the Bay will come second."

Armstrong said he would have a squad of about 20 players for tomorrow's match.

Country coach Riki Nicholls, who coaches Forestland (Tokoroa) in the local competition, said he was given a list of names by selectors in Rotorua to put in his side. "They gave me a piece of paper and I threw it away," he said.

It was rich having guys tell him how to pick his side when they were from the Town district.

"There is definitely a bit of rivalry," he said. "We have been sending texts back and forward, like I hope you guys are ready - you have no idea what is coming."

Nicholls said he would bring a squad of 20 players to Rotorua tomorrow for the game, with his side having spent the past two weeks training together.

Nicholls proclaimed his side the underdogs going into the game tomorrow.

The game kicks off at 2.30pm tomorrow at Puketawhero Park.