Bell rings for Baxter after his year out in the cold

Charles Baxter's return after a year on the outer is one of the few talking points in the Bay of Plenty rugby team named yesterday for the new provincial competition.

New coach Andre Bell rang Baxter on Wednesday to tell him he'd made the cut in a 26-strong squad - a squad that still needs a bit of fine-tuning before the competition starts in a month.

Baxter, unwanted by Vern Cotter last year, started this season determined to add to his 16 games - and eight tries - for the province.

Baxter has been impressed with how Bell has gone about selecting his squad, just a few short months after winning the job. At every stage the wing knew what he needed to do and that in itself has given him confidence.

Bell has yet to name one position - the backup hooking spot behind Aleki Lutui - but wants to see more of the contenders. He has also bracketed two players, Whakarewarewa's Aaron Rameka and Te Puna's Aidan Kuka. Prop Ben Castle will captain the Steamers, also boosted by new principal sponsor Blue Chip New Zealand.

Bay Of Plenty squad

Backs: Charlie Baxter, Lance Macdonald, Hayden Reid, Teu Nafe, Anthony Tahana, Rena Schusher, Wayne Hughson, Cory Aporo, Jeffrey Ierome, Mike Delany, Murray Williams, Jamie Nutbrown, Garrick Cowley.

Forwards: Warren Smith, Colin Bourke, Nili Latu, Tanerau Latimer, Solomon King, Aaron Rameka, Aidan Kuka, Mark Sorenson, Bernie Upton, Mathew Wallis, Jamies Afoa, Simms Davison, Ben Castle, Aleki Lutui, one to be added.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES