Former Bay of Plenty Rugby Representatives, Management, Administrators and long time Bay Rugby fans, are expected to travel from overseas and from throughout New Zealand, to gather in Rotorua this weekend (12th & 13th August 2011) to take part in the formal Centenary celebrations of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.

While rugby competitions were played in the Bay of Plenty from the 1880’s, the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union became an affiliate of the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1911,starting a heritage that will be celebrated this weekend.

Over the years the Bay of Plenty representative team, who wear the Blue and Gold colours of the province, has provided a myriad of highlights for their supporters. In 1976 the Bay of Plenty team took out the inaugural National Provincial Championship, in 1982 the Bay side walloped the Wallabies at the Rotorua International stadium, while few will forget the 2004 team who held aloft the Ranfurly Shield in triumph.

This weekend, many of the former players who have provided so many highlights over the years will join with former and present Administrators, Management and Fans, to remember those who have gone before to make the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union such a iconic body in the Bay of Plenty.

The Centennial Celebrations will kick off on Friday evening at the Marist St Michaels Rugby Clubrooms with a get together that is sure to see tall tales told well into the night.

The Holiday Inn in Rotorua will host the Centennial formal dinner from 12 noon to 4pm on Saturday, before the luncheon guests will be bussed to the Rotorua International Stadium, to watch the Bay of Plenty Steamers take on long time rivals Hawkes Bay in a ITM Cup encounter that kicks off at 5.35pm.

Well known Rugby Commentators Tony Johnson will take center stage early in the piece as the Luncheons MC’s, before the more formal part of the Luncheon takes place. Two Bay of Plenty Rugby Lifetime Achievement Awards are to be presented, with the Bay of Plenty Rugby Dream Team announced.

One of the real highlights of the Centennial year of Bay of Plenty Rugby has been the Centenary Jersey that the Steamers are wearing in the 2011 ITM Cup. BOPRU Historian Brent Drabble undertook a massive task, to trace and record all the players who have pulled on the Bay of Plenty jersey in first class fixtures, over the last one hundred years.

The result of Brent Drabble’s endeavors has been the unique BOPRU Centennial Jersey, which features the names every one of the 1159 players, to have represented the Bay of Plenty in first class games. The names include every player, whether as a substitute that was on the field of play for a minute, through to Greg Rowlands who wore the Blue and Gold uniform on a record 161 occasions.

Further information on the Centennial Celebrations can be accessed online at www.boprugby.co.nz