Rugby: Steamers' ITM Cup schedule

STEAMER: Bay of Plenty Steamers Hooker Nathan Harris with the ball versus Southland at Bay Park Stadium. PICTURE/Andrew Warner

It may be some time away, but Bay of Plenty Rugby fans can look forward to an exciting 2015 ITM Cup campaign this winter involving afternoon match-ups with traditional rivals and neighbours.

The team will open their campaign at home against North Harbour on Friday, August 14 at 8.05pm.

Week 3 will prove to be a big week for Bay of Plenty, hosting their midweek fixture against Southland on Wednesday 26 August and finishing the week in an afternoon match up hosting neighbours Waikato.

A Ranfurly Shield challenge is also on the schedule, should Hawkes Bay still be the holders, on Saturday 19 September at McLean Park in Napier.

All teams host five of their 10 games, and play one of those 10 games on a Wednesday evening (either home or away). In week one, there will also be two Friday night matches to accommodate the Bledisloe Cup Test the following night at Eden Park.

The top four teams, in each of the premiership and championship, at the end of the week nines round of competition, will proceed to semifinals on October 16 and 17.

The winners of those then head to the finals the following weekend to determine the ITM Cup Premiership winner, and the team who will be promoted from the Championship.

Bay of Plenty's home games for 2015 are North Harbour, Southland, Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington. Away games for 2015 will be at Tasman, Counties Manukau, Hawke's Bay, Northland and Otago.

Bay of Plenty's draw for the 2015 ITM Cup:
Week 1: vs North Harbour at TBA - Friday, August 14, 8.05pm
Week 2: vs Tasman at TBA (away) - Friday, August 21, 7.35pm
Week 3: vs Southland at TBA - Wednesday, August 26, 7.35pm
Week 3: vs Waikato at TBA - Sunday, August 30, 2.35pm
Week 4: vs Counties Manukau at ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe - Sunday, September 6, 4.35pm
Week 5: vs Taranaki at TBA - Saturday, September 12, 5.35pm
Week 6: vs Hawkes Bay (Ranfurly Shield) at McLean Park, Napier - Saturday, September 19, 2.35pm
Week 7: vs Northland at Toll Stadium, Whangarei - Friday, September 24, 7.35pm
Week 8: vs Wellington at TBA - Sunday, October 4, 4.35pm
Week 9: vs Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin - Friday, October 9, 7.35pm
Semifinals: Friday, October 16 - Saturday, October 17.
Finals: Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24.