Super Rugby lock Culum Retallick will lead a Bay of Plenty Steamers, featuring a dozen new faces, into this season's ITM Cup campaign.

Steamers coaches Kevin Schuler and Rodney Gibbs announced the final make-up of their 31-man squad last night after 15 weeks of combative Bayfair Baywide Premier Club Rugby and two trial matches.

The 2014 Bay of Plenty Steamers squad. Photo: Rick Moran.

The squad features 19 players returning from the 2013 team, including All Blacks Sam Cane and Brodie Retallick, who may play a limited role in the ITM Cup if selected in the All Blacks squad for the Investec Series.

The 12 new faces have been selected after impressive performances in the club competition, with seven of the 10 teams represented.

The new caps include halfback Jono Kitto, first five eighth Dan Hollinshead and centres Teddy Stanaway and Byron McGuigan.

Retallick, signed with the Blues franchise, will be backed up by two vice captains in Chiefs training member Carl Axtens and Stanaway.

Schuler believes there is a very good mix of experience and exciting young talent throughout the squad as they look to turn around a dismal 2013 campaign which saw them relegated to the Championship division.

'We have been through a very robust selection process based on strong club form, feedback from club coaches, and performances in our trial games,” says Schuler.

'We are very happy with our squad and excited about the upcoming ITM Cup.”

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers says with so many of the club sides represented this is a testament to the club competition being the most competititve it has been in a number of years.

'I am confident this year's squad will represent our region with pride both on and off the field,” says Rogers.

The Steamers first match of the 2014 ITM Cup season is against Southland in Invercargill on August 15.

Steamers 2014 ITM Cup Squad:

Hookers Nathan Harris (Te Puke Sports); Joe Royal (Rotoiti)

Props Kane Hames (Tauranga Sports); Pingi Tala'apitanga (Tauranga Sports); Solomona Sakalia (Mount Maunganui); Mike Kainga (Mount Maunganui); Siegfried Fisiihoi (Whakarewarewa)

Locks Brodie Retallick (Tauranga Sports) Culum Retallick (Tauranga Sports-Captain); Josh Sole (Mount Maunganui); Tim Bond (Te Puke Sports)

Loose Forwards Sam Cane (Tauranga Sports); Hamish Gosling (Tauranga Sports); Johan Bardoul (Mount Maunganui); David Whitecliffe-Davies (Te Puke Sports); Joe Tupe (Greerton Marist); Carl Axtens (Tauranga Sports – Vice Captain); Jesse Acton (Rotoiti)

Halfbacks Samisoni Fisilau (Mount Maunganui); Jono Kitto (Te Puke Sports); Te Aihe Toma (Te Puna)

First five-eighths Dan Hollinshead (Te Puke Sports); Paul Morris (Tauranga Sports)

Midfield backs Teddy Stanaway (Mount Maunganui – Vice Captain); Siaosi Iongi (Rangataua); Doug Edwards (Whakarewarewa); Byron McGuigan (Tauranga Sports)

Outside backs Tino Nemani (Greerton Marist); Kimami Sitauti; Leroy van Dam (Greerton Marist); Junior Tofa Va'a (Te Puke Sports)