College and regional rivalry rekindles on the rugby field with secondary school rugby kicking off from Paeroa to Whakatane today.

Headlining the opening weekend of action is the Chiefs Secondary School First XV competition, back for the fourth year, with schools challenging for the Chiefs Cup and Chiefs Trophy.

In total 16 top ranked schools in 2014 from Counties Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley and King Country will play in the annual two tier competition with eight teams involved in the Cup and Trophy competitions.

The competitions will be played for the next four weeks, with three pool matches and concluding with cross pool play off matches that are planned to be held on May 22 in Rotorua.

In an exciting opportunity for the qualifying teams, the Chiefs Cup final match will be played as the curtain raiser for the Chiefs v Bulls Investec Super Rugby match at Rotorua International Stadium that night.

'The Chiefs together with our provincial unions are committed to the development of rugby and building success in the Chiefs region and believe that First XV rugby is an important part of this strategy,” says Chiefs high performance manager Chris Tindall.

'We have had great support from our provincial unions and the schools involved which has made this Chiefs competition successful and we appreciate the effort from everyone involved including the schools, players, management and supporters.”

Also acknowledging the success and commitment from the provincial unions, Chiefs player identification and development manager Dave Dillon says giving the young players the opportunity to play against different sides with different styles is an important part of rugby development.

'It is also a great way to showcase First XV rugby in our region and help identify our up and coming talent,” adds Dillon.

In the opening days play Tauranga Boys' College host Counties Manukau heavyweights Wesley College while Rotorua Boys' College host Cambridge High School in the Chiefs Cup.

The Chiefs Trophy sees Aquinas College hosting Hamilton Boys High School 2nd XV and Hauraki Plains College hosting Auckland's Alfriston College in Pool A.

Pool B pits Whakatane High School against Te Kuiti College at home while Paeroa College travel to Rosehill College, Auckland.

Chiefs Region Schools U18 Development Camp selectors will view the Chiefs Cup and Chiefs Trophy matches to help identify players for the selection of up to 50 players to attend the U18 camp to be held in the first week of July school holidays, which also forms part of the selection process for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team.

In the opening round of the Bay of Plenty Baywide competition Tauranga Boys' College 2nd XV or Western Heights take on Opotiki, Rotorua Boys' College 2nd XV host Trident and Otumoetai College is at home to Bethlehem College.

For a full list of the Baywide draws click here.

All games are from 12 noon today.

Chiefs Cup

Pool A Wesley College (Counties Manukau) Hamilton Boys High School (Waikato) St Peters School (Waikato) Tauranga Boys College (Bay of Plenty) Draw

Sat 2 May: Hamilton Boys High School v St Peters School Tauranga Boys College v Wesley College

Sat 9 May: St Peters School v Wesley College Hamilton Boys High School v Tauranga Boys College

Sat 16 May: Wesley College v Hamilton Boys High School Tauranga Boys College v St Peters School

Pool B Manurewa High School (Counties Manukau) Cambridge High School (Waikato) St Pauls College (Waikato) Rotorua Boys High School (Bay of Plenty)

Draw

Sat 2 May: St Pauls College v Manurewa High School Rotorua Boys High School v Cambridge High School

Sat 9 May: Cambridge High School v St Pauls College Manurewa High School v Rotorua Boys High School

Sat 16 May: Manurewa High School v Cambridge High School St Pauls College v Rotorua Boys High School

Play off matches: Friday 22 May @ Rotorua: Pool A 1^st Placed Team v Pool B 1^st Placed Team Pool A 2^nd Placed Team v Pool B 2^nd Placed Team Pool A 3^rd Placed Team v Pool B 3^rd Placed Team Pool A 4^th Placed Team v Pool B 4^th Placed Team

Chiefs Trophy

Pool A Alfriston College (Counties Manukau) Hamilton Boys High School 2^nd XV (Waikato) Aquinas College (Bay of Plenty) Hauraki Plains College (Thames Valley)

Draw

Sat 2 May: Aquinas College v Hamilton Boys High School 2^nd XV Hauraki Plains College v Alfriston College

Sat 9 May: Hamilton Boys High School 2^nd XV v Hauraki Plains College Alfriston College v Aquinas College

Sat 16 May: Hauraki Plains College v Aquinas College Hamilton Boys High School 2^nd XV v Alfriston College

Pool B

Rosehill College (Counties Manukau) Whakatane High School (Waikato) Paeroa College (Waikato) Te Kuiti High School (Bay of Plenty)

Draw

Sat 2 May: Rosehill College v Paeroa College Whakatane High School v Te Kuiti High School

Sat 9 May: Paeroa College v Whakatane High School Te Kuiti High School v Rosehill College

Sat 16 May: Rosehill College v Whakatane High School Te Kuiti High School v Paeroa College

Play off matches: Friday 22 May at Rotorua: Pool A 1^st Placed Team v Pool B 1^st Placed Team Pool A 2^nd Placed Team v Pool B 2^nd Placed Team Pool A 3^rd Placed Team v Pool B 3^rd Placed Team Pool A 4^th Placed Team v Pool B 4^th Placed Team