Rugby: Parker excited with high calibre of players

Nick Evemy is one of several players with ITM Cup experience in the Bay of Plenty Development squad. Photo / Rick Moran

The selection of this year's Bay of Plenty Development team has caused almost as much interest in local rugby circles as the Steamers squad.

Coach Kane Parker has one of the strongest development squads in recent years and is looking forward to the games ahead in the Northern Region competition against Auckland, North Harbour, Northland, Waikato, Counties and Taranaki.

"You would need to look back a few years to find the calibre of players that this year's squad has available to it," he said.

"An excellent, close premier club competition has done this, with 2013 Steamers Steve Honey, Elliot Hagen, Beau Williams and Nic Evemy bringing ITM Cup experience to the Northern Region campaign.

"Add to the mix the likes of New Zealand under-20s player Troy Callander and a host of Steamers trialists and young up-and-coming club players and 2014 certainly has the potential to be a very good year indeed."

Parker is under no illusions how tough this campaign will be and is genuinely excited with the quality of players he has available this year.

"Our aim as coaches and management is to prepare these players for ITM Cup and help them put their best foot forward, which in turn creates depth by keeping everyone honest."

Parker says the squad has come together well pre-season, with a close 20-24 loss to Counties Manukau and a heavy one-sided victory over the New Zealand Navy last weekend.

The team's campaign starts against North Harbour this Sunday at 2.15pm, as curtain-raiser to the Steamers v Tasman second-round ITM Cup game at ASB Baypark.

Parker says North Harbour are always strong at development level so it will be a stern test on Sunday.

"Last week they had a close win over Counties 25-22, who were unbeaten last year. They have big forwards and Harbour have traditionally always had fleet-footed backs. I don't know why their top team doesn't perform when they are traditionally very strong throughout all the other grades.

"But our boys are pumped for this game. We have built really well this year ..."

Schedule

August 24: v North Harbour, ASB Baypark, 2.15pm.
August 30: v Auckland, Auckland
September 6: v Waikato, Hamilton
September 13: v Northland, Rotorua
September 19: v Counties Manukau, Pukekohe
September 27: v Taranaki, Arataki RC
October 4: v Wellington, Taupo Rugby.

Bop Development Squad

Forwards: David Smart - Mount Maunganui Sports; Manu Pereeti - Greerton Marist; Alex Harland - Tauranga Sports; Rikki Abraham - Tauranga Sports; Joe Duffy - Opotiki; Vyron Smith - Mount Maunganui Sports; Aaron Carroll - Mount Maunganui Sports; Max Turnwald - Greerton Marist; Taylor Jones - Greerton Marist; Troy Callandar - Greerton Marist; Beau Williams - Tauranga Sports; Matt Axtens - Mount Maunganui Sports; Joe Key - Greerton Marist; Santi Sanchez - Tauranga Sports; Jeff Thwaites - Tauranga Sports.

Backs: Brent Hamlin - Tauranga Sports; Daiyu Ishimori - Rangataua; Te Rangi Fraser - Whakarewarewa; Tim O'Malley - Greerton Marist; Nick Evemy - Tauranga Sports; Walter Downey - Greerton Marist; Courtney Mita - Te Puna; Danny Kayes - Mount Maunganui Sports; Jason Harvey - Whakarewarewa; Mason Walker - Mount Maunganui Sports; Steve Honey - Tauranga Sports; Elliot Hagen - Te Puke Sports; Phil Togotogorua - Tauranga Sports.

Wider Group: Graydon Scheres - Te Puke Sports; Hamish Boyce - Te Puna.