Even though the faithful in the BOP Mafia have been saying it for years, Sir Glen's talent is only now being recognised.

Saracens fly-half Glen Jackson has been named the Professional Rugby Players' Association Player of the Year.

The 31-year-old was a surprise winner of the award, topping the poll ahead of Bristol number eight Dan Ward-Smith and Leicester winger Alesana Tuilagi.

Jackson is the leading points scorer in the Guinness Premiership and helped Sarries qualify for the semi-final against Gloucester this weekend.

"I was very shocked when I heard the news and couldn't quite believe it to be honest," Jackson said after collecting the award at a gala ceremony in London on Wednesday evening.

"It is a real honour to be voted by your peers. It is the greatest achievement of my rugby career to win this award and a very proud moment.

"My thanks have to go to my team mates at Saracens for the support I have received this season."

The Mafia is happy to overlook Glen's enthusiasm in declaring this as his greatest achievement - we all know that was winning the Ranfurly Shield - as merely telling the English press what they wanted to hear. Everything is going according to the Mafia master plan, back to the Bay in 2009, All Black captain for the 2011 World Cup.

Having a look through the BoP Rugby Union website the other day, and happened upon the contacts page, as you do when being nosey, seeing if there are any changes and the like.

And there were changes.

Nothing major, and you would not even notice it if you had not been there before, as it is not a change, but a mysterious 'disappearance'.

And what is the little change?  Andre Bell, coach for 2006, is gone.

No fan fare, no press releases (not that the union seem to know what a press release is at any rate), no nothing.  He's just 'gone'.  A disappearance that the Mafia itself would be proud of - a bit like the vanishing of Hori BoP at home games in the past season - but that is digressing, we're talking about Andre Bell being gone here.

So who is going to be coaching the team next season  - first Air New Zealand Cup game 6 months away now...

Just another one of the many cases of Bay Of Plenty Rugby, guns, and feet...

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