With a condensed ITM Cup season opening in mid July 2011, a wide net is being cast by the Steamers selection team, in order for the BOP Steamers be genuine contenders in the 2011 ITM Cup title race.

The first step in the process to select the 2011 Steamers, will take place in Rotorua on Wednesday 25 May 2011 when a Bay of Plenty Wasps XV plays the (Hawkes Bay) Saracens, at the Rotorua International Stadium kicking off at 3pm.

While the Bay of Plenty Steamers always show great pride when they play in the Blue and Gold uniform – the Centennial year of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, will bring additional incentives for this years Steamers to perform on the field, during the Unions 100th year since formation.

For the fourth successive year, the BOP Wasps have given their support to the selection process to choose the Steamers. The Wasps Club is a group of former Bay of Plenty players and administrators who foster and support rugby in the region.

Steamers Head Coach Sean Horan said, “the Wasps game with Saracens is a good opportunity for the emerging youngsters in the region to stake a claim for higher honours later in the season”. “It is also chance to see where the new season contracted players at, after six rounds of Baywide Premier club rugby”.

The thirty players named in the Wasps squad reflect a real spectrum of the player ranks in the Bay of Plenty. The selectors have taken the opportunity to view most of the new contracted players, along with plenty of home grown young talent.

A number of new Bay of Plenty recruits, that include Matt Clutterbuck, Chris Noakes and Leon Power, will have their first taste of running onto the field in a Bay of Plenty playing strip. Jason Spice, who is one of the most senior representative players in the country, will also make his Bay of Plenty entrance.

At the other end of the spectrum, several of the most promising youngsters in the region will also be on display. Bay of Plenty Rugby Academy members Nathan Harris, Cory Masters and Tutere Waenga, along with Te Amo and Te Hata Wilbore will have the opportunity to impress the selection panel.

Also included in the line-up is several Premier club players, who have shone during the early season Baywide competitions. Doug Edwards from competition leaders Whakarewarewa has been amongst the leading try scorers, with Josh Hall in good form at halfback for Tauranga Sports.

Wasps Squad to play Saracens @ Rotorua 25 May 2011
Luke Andrews, Carl Axtens, Matt Clutterbutt, Doug Edwards, Afai Esara, Josh Hall, Nathan Harris, Josh Hohneck, Jason Hona, Lance MacDonald, Cory Masters, Chris Miller, Courtney Mohi, Tristam Moran, Chris Noakes, Nick McCashin, Wade Pererira, Leon Power, Leighton Price, Matt Roulston, Manu Saula, Steven Schenk, Warren Smith, Jason Spice, John Stewart, Pingi Talapitaga, Daniel Waenga, Tutere Waenga, Te Amo Wilbore, Te Hata Wilbore.