The 2007 fixture list has been released. The dates are not fixed as yet but the first game is on the weekend of 28 July. To see the full draw, click here. Here is the Bay's season ....

Canterbury v Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty v Auckland
Bay of Plenty v Northland
Manawatu v Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty v Otago
Tasman v Bay of Plenty
Taranaki v Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty v Southland
North Harbour v Bay of Plenty (Shield game - theoretical, Harbour has Waikato before this game)
Bay of Plenty v Wellington

So the major change for 2007 is the dropping of the second stage in favour of an incomplete round-robin. This has to be a good thing for the Bay as we will get some of the bigger unions to play at home. The drawback is the inequality in teams that are not faced, we miss out on Hawke's Bay and Counties who we beat easily this year as well as Waikato who have no defeated us in an NPC game since 2003.

We have a theoretical chance at taking the Shield from Harbour although it is more likely that Waikato will take it in Week 5. In this case Waikato's first defence would be Canterbury. There will be a regular Thursday night game next year which should thrill the population. No need for bye weeks though.

Home games against Auckland and Wellington will be good occasions, and Otago visit along with Northland and Southland.