Bay of Plenty (National Provincial Championship)

Bay of Plenty (often known as the Bay of Plenty Steamers) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1911, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Rotorua International Stadium in Rotorua or Tauranga Domain, Tauranga, both in the Bay of Plenty Region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are blue and yellow.

For the Bay of Plenty Rugby governing body, see Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.

Bay of Plenty
Official BOPRU emblem
UnionBay of Plenty Rugby Union
Nickname(s)Steamers
Founded1911 (1911)
LocationMount Maunganui, Tauranga, New Zealand
Ground(s)Rotorua International Stadium (Capacity: 34,000)
Tauranga Domain (Capacity: 5,500)
CEOMike Rogers[1]
Coach(es)Richard Watt
Captain(s)Kurt Eklund
Most appearancesRon Preston (152)
Top scorerRon Preston (846)
Most triesKeith Pryor (46)
League(s)Bunnings NPC
20234th
Quarterfinalist
Team kit
Official website
www.boprugby.co.nz

Current squad

The Bay of Plenty Steamers squad for the 2023 Bunnings NPC is:[2]

Bay of Plenty Steamers squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Halfbacks (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside-backs

(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped, REP denotes a replacement player, WTS denotes a wider training squad member.
  1. Norris wasn't named in the original Bay of Plenty squad, but was announced in the side for Round 7.[3]
  2. Forbes and Murphy weren't named in the original Bay of Plenty squad, but were announced in the side for the second fixture in Round 8.[4]
  3. Paul wasn't named in the original Bay of Plenty squad, but was announced in the side for Round 6.[5]

Honours

Bay of Plenty have been overall Champions on 1 occasion, winning the inaugural title in 1976. Their full list of honours include:[6][7]

National Provincial Championship First Division
  • Winners: 1976
National Provincial Championship Second Division North Island
  • Winners: 1978
National Provincial Championship Second Division
  • Winners: 2000
Mitre 10 Cup Championship Division
  • Winners: 2019

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2023 Bay of Plenty Steamers squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]

Player Team
John Afoa Crusaders
Naitoa Ah Kuoi Chiefs
Nikora Broughton Highlanders
Sam Cane Chiefs
Kurt Eklund Blues
Penitoa Finau Moana Pasifika
Lalomilo Lalomilo Chiefs
Melani Nanai Crusaders
Emoni Narawa Chiefs
Aidan Ross Chiefs
Justin Sangster Hurricanes
Manaaki Selby-Rickit Chiefs
Jeff Thwaites Highlanders
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi Highlanders/Chiefs
Pasilio Tosi Hurricanes
Etonia Waqa Drua

References
  1. "Staff". Bay of Plenty Rugby. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  2. "Introducing the 2023 Steamers Squad". Bay of Plenty Rugby. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  3. "Bunnings NPC Round 7: Team Lists". Bunnings NPC. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  4. "Bunnings NPC Round 8: Team Lists". Bunnings NPC. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  5. "Bunnings NPC Round 6: Team Lists". Bunnings NPC. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  6. "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  7. "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  8. "Match Centre - Super Rugby - Crusaders vs. Waratahs". SANZAAR. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  9. "Gallagher Chiefs squad announced for 2023" (Press release). Chiefs. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  10. "Highlanders 2023 Squad Announcement" (Press release). Highlanders. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  11. "2023 Squad announced". Blues (Press release). 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  12. "Moana Pasifika name 2023 DHL Super Rugby Pacific Squad". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  13. "Gallagher Chiefs team named for rivalry clash" (Press release). Chiefs. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  14. "2023 Squad announced" (Press release). Crusaders. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  15. "Hurricanes 2023 squad announced" (Press release). Hurricanes. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  16. "Fakatava to Begin Rehab on Knee" (Press release). Highlanders. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  17. "Tahuriorangi returns to the Gallagher Chiefs as replacement" (Press release). Chiefs. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  18. "Derenalagi returns to match-day 23" (Press release). Fijian Drua. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
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