Last Wednesday members from clubs involved in this year's Baywide club rugby competitions' gathered at Club Mount Maunganui to celebrate the start of the 2016 season.

Among those in attendance were Bay of Plenty Rugby Premier referees, local media and supporting members of the community.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union CEO, Mike Rogers, and President Graeme Crossman, are looking forward to the upcoming season. Mike Rogers said, 'We are looking forward to this year's Baywide Club Rugby competition.

This year's competition will create great interest with both the men's and women's competition's shaping up to deliver a number of exciting games and great rugby that the community can get in behind and enjoy”.

It was fitting to have all eight teams' entered in the Baywide Women's Premier 15 aside rugby competition represented at this year's annual Baywide Club Rugby launch.

Hayley Kerrison, Bay of Plenty Women's Development Manager said, 'It is great to see the continued growth of Women's rugby in the Bay of Plenty, with Rangiuru a new team into this year's competition.

"As the Baywide Club competition develops and grows it presents us with a great platform for the Bay of Plenty Volcanix's side”.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Referees are just as excited as the players and coaches. 'We've had some really exciting things happen over the off season” comments Referees Chairman David Hodgson.

'Some solid planning in the back office, coupled with some exciting recruitment and access for our premier referees to the new high performance sports training centre has created a real buzz amongst the team.”

The 2016 Premier Referees panel, which was recently announced at the referees launch, includes our professional referees of Glen Jackson, Nick Briant, Shane McDermott and Brett Johnson.

Joining the professional referees are last year's panel members Mate Samuels, George van den Anker, Jamie Bell and Mark Hollinshead.

Three new referees have been added to the panel for 2016. Ryan Waite and Jackson Reuben both made their debut in premier last year and have been rewarded for their hard work and newly arrived lawyer, Sam Fellows, recently moved back to the Bay of Plenty from Auckland has also been included in the squad.

This year's Baywide club rugby competition will be proudly supported by Gilbert. Who is the exclusive ball supplier for this year's competition. All premier clubs will receive a match day ball from the Union.

Baywide Premier Round 1 Results:

Mount Maunganui 28 v Arataki 10

Te Puna 26 v Greerton Marist 5

Rangataua 25 v Te Puke Sports 15

Whakatane Marist 71 v Paroa 7

Tauranga Sports v Opotiki

Whakarewarewa v Rotoiti

Baywide Development Result:

Mount Maunganui 27 v Arataki 16

Greerton Marist 12 v Te Puna 10

Te Puke Sports 50 v Rangataua 0

Whakarewarewa v Rotoiti

Opotiki v Tauranga Sports

Baywide Division 1 Results:

Rangiuru 10 v Katikati 8

Judea 29 v Papamoa 7

Te Teko v Marist St Michaels

Kahukura v Waimana

Ruatoki v Ngongotaha

Poroporo v Waikite