Rugby: Women kick off comp in style

In tandem with the establishment of women's sevens in the Bay of Plenty is the revitalisation of the Bay of Plenty women's rugby competition.

Three club teams and a Bay of Plenty secondary schoolgirls team kicked off the Baywide competition last week. In addition, the Bay secondary schoolgirls representatives will play in a provincial schools competition sandwiched in between the Baywide rounds.

One of the major advocates for a Bay women's rugby competition is former Black Fern and Opotiki women's coach Exia Edwards.

"While women's rugby has been alive in a couple of Bay clubs, the teams have been playing just one game a season for the last few years. After a highly successful women's tournament last year, there has been a desire to play more than one game a year."

Opotiki and Rangitaiki will represent the Eastern Bay along with Rotorua's Ngongotaha and the Bay secondary schoolgirls. The Bay youngsters are also playing in a regional schoolgirl tournament, with the draw accommodating the Bay youngsters, allowing them to play in both competitions.

"This is a great opportunity to develop our young players and for the more experienced players to get back into quality rugby," said Exia.

Bay of Plenty women

September 1: Ngongotaha v Opotiki Sports, Ngongotaha.

September 8: Rangitaiki v Opotiki Sports, Edgecumbe Domain.

September 15: Opotiki Sports v Ngongotaha, Opotiki; BOP Secondary Schoolgirls v Rangitaiki, Rugby Park Whakatane.

September 22: Rangitaiki v Ngongotaha, Edgecumbe Domain.

September 29: Ngongotaha v Rangitaiki, Ngongotaha Domain; BOP Secondary Schoolgirls v Opotiki Sports, Rugby Park.

Whakatane provincial secondary schoolgirls

September 1: BOP Secondary Schoolgirls v Counties Manukau, Counties Manukau.

September 8: BOP Secondary Schoolgirls v Waikato, Bay of Plenty.

September 22: Northern Region Finals Day, Auckland.