They might be mates off the park, but friendly rivalry will soon be extinguished for 10 premier clubs as grassroots rugby at its finest kicks back into action this weekend.

Eight of the 10 premier teams with the Bayfair Baywide Premier Club Rugby trophy at Pilot Bay. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Gone are last year's winner's tags and team expectations with a new year bringing both fresh ideas and players to the Bayfair Baywide Premier Club Rugby scene.

At Wednesday's season launch eight of the 10 sides, excluding Rotoiti and Whakarewarewa, were on hand to talk up their side's chances, before attempting to head into the season with early bragging rights with a stand-up paddleboard race on Pilot Bay.

Along with traditional heavyweights Tauranga Sports, Mount Maunganui Sports and Greerton Marist, is the sole change to the competition with newly promoted Rangiuru waiting in the wings for a chance to upset the frontrunners.

'It's pretty exciting, about 95 per cent of our boys haven't played premier rugby,” says Rangiuru captain Patuara Biel.

Despite coming into the opening round with the underdog tag firmly attached, Biel believes the side is confident in getting their premier campaign off to a good start when they face Mount Maunganui Sports at home.

'I think all the teams will be tough, just because they have been there [premier grade] before so we are sort of coming through as the underdogs.

'I think we have a lot of young youth coming through and it's pretty good for them to be up there in this grade to go further in rugby.”

After narrowly missing out on the perfect season in 2013 by one match, Tauranga Sports are yet again eyeing a dominant start to the season taking on Rangataua at Te Ariki Park.

The 2013 champions are currently unbeaten in their preseason matches, but know the Bayfair Baywide Premier Club Rugby competition is a different story.

'There is always pressure for us to perform but we sort of find each year the competition levels out and there is quite tough games each week and no matter who you are playing it's going to be a tough match,” says Tauranga Sports premier lock Keepa Mewitt.

'We might have a bit of a mark on our back having one the last competition but I think it's something we really enjoy.”

Bayfair Baywide Premier Club Rugby round one draw:

Rangiuru v Mount Maunganui

Opotiki v Te Puna

Greerton Marist v Te Puke

Rotoiti v Whakarewarewa

Rangataua v Tauranga Sports