Rivals tune up for cup action

Four teams will renew old rivalries tomorrow as they build up to the start of the Stan Meads Cup.

With just two weeks to the kick-off in the championship, the eight representative teams are going through their final preparations in order to win the mid North Island regional trophy.

This weekend two traditional matches will see Eastern Bay of Plenty and King Country B in action.

The Eastern Bay team will play their annual fixture against East Coast in Opotiki, with King Country B meeting Taranaki Under 20 at the Clifton Rugby Club in Taranaki. In addition Thames Valley B are playing Northland Under 20s at the Hauraki North Club grounds today.

The Stan Meads competition, which is in its second year, came about after Neil McRae from the King Country Rugby Union endeavoured to find a better and more meaningful competition, for the King Country B team as well as the revival of the Peace Cup.

McRae came up with the concept of a competition between the Chiefs' sub-union teams and King Country and Thames Valley B teams and initiated discussions with the Te Awamutu and Hamilton sub-unions and the Thames Valley Union.

After initial discussions the decision was made to establish a new competition encompassing Chiefs' franchise sub-unions and the Thames Valley and King Country B teams.

The Peace Cup has been kept alive, with the long-time trophy being a challenge prize on offer during the competition.

It was fitting that one of the real rugby legends from the heart of the new regional competition, agreed to have the trophy named in his honour.

Stanley Thomas Meads played 30 games for the All Blacks, which included 15 test matches. In addition with brother Colin, he took King Country to new heights in provincial rugby in New Zealand.

Stan Meads Cup Draw 2012 (home teams first)

Week One (August 18) Piako v King Country B. Hamilton v Western BOP, Te Awamutu v Central BOP (Peace Cup), Thames Valley B v Eastern BOP.

Week Two (August 25) King Country B v Hamilton, Western BOP v Piako, Eastern BOP v Te Awamutu, Central BOP v Thames Valley B.

Week Three (September 1) Western BOP v King Country B, Piako v Hamilton, Central BOP v Eastern BOP, Thames Valley B v Te Awamutu

Week Four (September 8) Stan Meads Cup Semifinals (Top Four) Stan Meads Bowl Semifinals (Second Four)

Week Five (September 15) Finals Day in Te Awamutu