Rugby: Schoolgirls kick off Bay contest

Bay of Plenty's finest female rugby players will clash over the coming months in a round robin competition between the top eight sides the province has to offer.

The action kicks off with an afternoon's footy in Opotiki on August 4, when all eight teams will square off in four matches to kick off the competition.

The Bay of Plenty Secondary School side will face Rangitaiki in the opening match at noon, before Paroa play Waimana, Waikite face Opotiki and East Coast clash with Mount Maunganui.

Former Black Ferns star Exia Edwards said the growth in the number of teams from last season's four was encouraging in just the second year of a revitalised competition.

"We are looking at making it sustainable and building it so that we have a stronghold of players in the Bay," Edwards said.

The union has not had a team in the national provincial competition since 2005, with Edwards believing the growing club competition was the best way to rectify that.

The Eastern Bay looks to be the stronghold of the women's game in the province, with defending champions Opotiki one of four Eastern Bay teams in the competition.

The landscape has changed along with expansion though, with Opotiki losing five players to Waimana and Paroa picking up players from Rangitaiki.

Bay of Plenty Women's Club Competition draw for August 4:

BOP Secondary v Rangitaiki (Opotiki, 12pm), Paroa v Waimana (Opotiki, 12.30pm), Waikite v Opotiki (Opotiki, 1.45pm), East Coast v Mount Maunganui (Opotiki, 2.15pm)