Rugby: City loses a Steamers match

Johan Bardoul

Rotorua will only host one Bay of Plenty Steamers home game this year in the ITM Cup, while Tauranga will host four matches during the regular season.

For the past four years, Rotorua has hosted two home games each season, while Tauranga has hosted three at ASB Baypark Stadium.

But this year the Tauranga Domain has been given a home game, seemingly at the expense of the Rotorua International Stadium.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers justified the decision by highlighting other major events already being staged in the city.

"This year in the Rotorua market we have the Chiefs versus Bulls game and that is a fantastic opportunity for Rotorua rugby fans to watch top-level rugby," Mr Rogers said.

"The Bayleys National Sevens is also held in Rotorua and [they are] the two biggest events on the rugby calendar as it stands. So that is part of the rationale."

He said low crowd numbers in Rotorua were also a factor.

"Definitely attendance is a big issue, that is something that we need to improve on, but that is not just Rotorua that is across the Bay of Plenty," he said.

"[In saying that], it is more challenging in the Rotorua market ... so it was not the determining factor but it was something that we considered."

He added if the Steamers do qualify for a home semifinal in the ITM Cup Championship then it will most likely be played in Rotorua.

Rogers said the Eastern Bay had plenty of passionate rugby supporters as well, but simply did not have the facilities to host an ITM Cup match at present.

The Steamers' only home match in Rotorua will be played on Saturday, September 12 against ITM Cup Premiership winners Taranaki.

The afternoon game will hold special interest as new Steamers coach and local legend Clayton McMillan returns to Rotorua for the first time as Bay coach, after playing 113 games for the Bay.

"This game will no doubt be a highlight for me and I know the Rotorua community will come out in force to support the boys take on the current Premiership champions," McMillan said.

The Steamers' season begins on Friday, August 14 against North Harbour at ASB Baypark Stadium and the regular season wraps up with a match against Otago in Dunedin on October 11.

The ITM Cup season will overlap with the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which begins on September 18.