Rugby: Steamers return to division one

8:40 AM

Bay of Plenty has been promoted to the NPC first division for next season.

New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Murray McCaw says the Bay has met all the on and off-field criteria required for first division status.

However McCaw says Nelson Bays has fallen short of meeting the criteria for promotion while Hawkes Bay could not be considered because it did not reach the second division final.

Bay of Plenty's promotion to the top flight will create an eleven-team first division for 2001 only.

- IRN