College rugby at its best returns this weekend with four Bay of Plenty schools getting a chance to compete in the Chiefs Wide Secondary School 1st XV Competition.

Schools from the Bay, Waikato and Counties Manukau take part in the tournament in the next four weeks, run by the Chiefs franchise, before returning to their respective secondary school competitions.

Photo: File

The tournament, in its second year, is a two-tier competition with Tauranga Boys' College and Rotorua Boys' High School returning in the Chiefs Cup, while Bethlehem College and Trident High School make appearances in the Chiefs Trophy.

The final of the Chiefs Cup will be played as the curtain raiser to the Black Ferns versus Australia match at Rotorua International Stadium on June 1.

Of all the teams, Rotorua Boys' will be looking to go one step further in 2014 after falling to Hamilton Boys' High School 47-0 in last year's final. Their pool includes Hamilton Boys, Manurewa High School and Cambridge High School.

Tauranga Boys' face an even tougher task, drawn with powerhouse Wesley College, St Pauls Collegiate and St Peters School, Cambridge.

St Peter's gains promotion to the top tier after winning the Chiefs Trophy against Taupo Nui A Tia College 22-11 in Taupo.

Bethlehem College starts its maiden Chiefs Trophy campaign against Thames High School this weekend before games with Pukekohe High School and Hamilton Boys' High School second XV.

On the other side of the draw Trident High School, Whakatane is drawn with Rosehill College, Waihi College and Otorohanga College.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Secondary Schools Manager, Kyle McLean, says the tournament is a perfect platform for the schools to test their skills against teams outside the Bay before the season's start.

'I'm sure it will provide a great opportunity for the teams to find their feet prior to the business end of the season, be it Super 8 or BOPSS Division 1,” says Kyle.

Chiefs Cup:

Pool A Saturday May 10:

St Peters School v Tauranga Boys College

Saturday May 17: Tauranga Boys College v St Pauls College

Saturday May 24: Wesley College v Tauranga Boys College

Pool B

Saturday May 10: Rotorua Boys High School v Manurewa High School

Saturday May 17: Cambridge High School v Rotorua Boys High School

Saturday May 24: Rotorua Boys High School v Hamilton Boys High School

FINAL – Sunday June 1

Chiefs Trophy:

Pool A

Saturday May 10: Bethlehem College v Thames High School

Saturday May 17: Pukekohe High School v Bethlehem College

Saturday May 24: Bethlehem College v Hamilton Boys High School 2nd XV

Pool B

Saturday May 10: Trident High School v Waihi College

Saturday May 17: Otorohanga College v Trident High School

Saturday May 24: Trident High School v Rosehill College

FINAL – Sunday June 1