A surge of interest in rugby - and the women's game in particular - has left Bay of Plenty officials confident they won't drop the ball when it comes to maintaining the number of people lacing up their boots.

The New Zealand Rugby Union this week released its annual figures showing the number of rugby players in New Zealand topping 150,000 for the first time since counting began in 2001, with a rise in female players responsible for much of the increase.

The Bay of Plenty Volcanix taking on Counties Manukau in this year's Women's Provincial Championship. Photo: Tracy Hardy

Right across the country there are now 150,564 players registered with the New Zealand Rugby Union - an increase of 2081 from 2013.

The number of female players increased by 1912, or 12 per cent, to 17,825.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers says just like national statistics, the Bay is in good shape, recording a touch under 10,000 registered players.

'I think we are at 9950,” he says. 'In 2010 we had 8500 so over the last four years we have had significant growth in our playing population.

'We've had some strong growth at junior rugby levels and some good growth in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.”

But the key area helping prop up the Bay is the noticeable resurgence in women's rugby, highlighted by the return of a Bay of Plenty side to the Women's Provincial Championship.

After nine years in the wilderness, the side joined Hawke's Bay back in the nine-team competition.

Mike credits both the developing strength in girl's secondary school rugby, with a record 10 teams in this year's Baywide competition, and the upcoming 2016 Olympic Games.

The inclusion of sevens in the Olympic Games is seen as providing a pathway for female players to aim for higher honours and stay in the game.

But despite the strong numbers, Mike says there is still room for improvement - something the rugby union has already identified.

'From our point of view we still believe there is growth in the Bay of Plenty,” he says.

'There is a growing population in the Western Bay of Plenty which gives us opportunities and we still feel in terms of the Eastern and Central Bay there is room for improvement.

National figures show that more than half of those playing rugby are aged 12 or younger, while about 42,300 are aged 13 to 20, an increase of 469.

The number of players 21 and older was static at about 27,800.