Rugby: Easter treat - 14 games in five days

Siaosi Iongi, former Tongan sevens international, makes a break for Rangataua in the loss to high- flying Te Puke Sports on Saturday. Photo/Andrew Warner

The consensus that Steamers players should be available to play club finals has led to an Easter-weekend rugby extravaganza.

A total of 14 Bayfair Baywide premier club rugby matches will be played in a five-day span beginning tonight, when Te Puna host Mount Maunganui and Opotiki travel to play Rangiuru at Centennial Park.

While concerns linger regarding player welfare, an understanding was reached between clubs and the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union that the risk was worthwhile if it ensured Steamers players would be available for finals footy.

The two clubs who traditionally have the most depth - Te Puke Sports and Tauranga Sports - are getting the worst of the deal, each facing three matches in eight days, beginning with their clash at Murray Salt Stadium on Saturday.

The scheduling quirk means Te Puna will have twice the preparation time of Te Puke Sports heading into their Easter Monday match at Maramatanga Park.

The need to carefully navigate this part of the season is not lost on Te Puke Sports coach Craig Jeffries, whose side are undefeated after three rounds before the congested contests against champions Tauranga Sports, Te Puna and last year's beaten finalists Mount Maunganui.

"It's certainly a busy old time," Jeffries said, before making a veiled reference to the dreaded rotation policy.

"You approach the season in blocks and that's the way we are looking at the next three games. There's a plan in place, but it's a living and breathing thing that can change when injuries and form come into it."

Jeffries believes the compacted nature of the next three rounds will be an acid test of a club's depth.

"It will be interesting if there are any strange results on Monday and next Saturday involving clubs that don't have strong development sides."

He acknowledged his side would be targeted on Monday after their two-day turnaround, but had no problem with Te Puna rescheduling games during the season to lessen the load on players.

He did, however, question the fairness of allowing Whakarewarewa and Opotiki to play a match before the season had even begun.

"I think that's probably a mistake and the coaches I've spoken to are of the same opinion."