Bay of Plenty and Thames Valley's Roller Mills teams get their campaign underway today with their first matches in the tournament today, against Auckland West today.

The week long tournament being played at Kensington Oval in Northland is a showcase of the rising stars of rugby. Players like Sonny Bill Williams, Keiran Read and Richard Kahui have all played at the tournament which has been running since 1925.

Auckland East are the defending champions, but Bay of Plenty, which carries a strong pedigree in this tournament, have shown hot pre-season form, so shape as the team to beat out of Section B.

Section B also has Taranaki, Waikato, Auckland West and Counties Manukau. Along with Auckland East Section A consists of Thames Valley, North Harbour, King Country and Northland who are this year's hosts.

The tournament makes a return to the old format of a weeklong competition after it was decided last year, to run the tournament over several weekends due to concerns about player welfare and rising costs.

In other matches today Thames Valley take on North Harbour, Northland go up against King Country and Taranaki will play Waikato. Auckland East and Counties Manukau have the bye.

Draw for rest of the week:

Monday: September 28:

Northland v Thames Valley

Auckland East v North Harbour

Bay of Plenty v Taranaki

Counties Manukau v Waikato

Bye: King Country and Auckland West.

Tuesday September 29:

Auckland East v Northland

King Country v Thames Valley

Counties Manukau v Bay of Plenty

Auckland West v Taranaki

Bye: North Harbour and Waikato.

Wednesday September 30:

King Country v Auckland East

North Harbour v Northland

Auckland West v Counties Manukau

Waikato v Bay of Plenty

Bye: Thames Valley and Taranaki.

Thursday October 1:

North Harbour v King Country

Thames Valley v Auckland East

Waikato v Auckland West

Taranaki v Counties Manukau

Bye: Northland and Bay of Plenty.

Friday October 2:

Game 1 third Section A v fourth Section B

Game 2 first Section A v second Section B

Game 3 fourth Section A v third Section B

Game 4 second Section A v first Section B

Bye: fifth Section A and Section B.

Saturday October 3:

Fifth Section A v fifth Section B

Loser game 1 v Loser game 3

Winner game 1 v Loser game 3

Winner game 1 v Winner game 3

Loser game 2 v Loser game 4

Final

Winner game 2 v Winner game 4.

Bay of Plenty Roller Mills Team:

Galatea: Emair Teka

Mt Maunganui: Ethan Stuart, Josh Nicholson, Josh Hays, Jones Alex, Cochrane

Opotiki: Rori McGough

Rangitaiki: Tamati Elliott

Rotorua: Xavier Mitchell-Windsor, Dawson Smith, Joshua Henry, Taataau Tewhata

Tauranga: Levi Saipaia, Letham Te Huia, Veneni Lasaqa, Lesen Huiarangi, Jed Jager, Epoki Polaapau, Lucas Cashmore, Tesimoni Uilou, Dan Peleti, Sloane Lankshear

Te Puke: Rayne Maaka, Wiremu Heyblom, Te Wheki Tai.

Thames Valley Riller Mills team:

Reuben Adams, Kybah Aupouri-Te Huia, Anaru Aupouri-Te Huia, Billy Clarke, Matthew Charlton, Kahn Caddy, Tane Mason, Damien McKee, Max Webb, James Bridle, Jayden Edwards, Maddie Grey, Bronson Jacobson, Jessie Clubb, Kieren McLean, Gianni McLean, Sam Mischefski, Levi Renata, Connor Richardson, Phoenix Vetenibua-Finnerty, Trent Angell, Sean Rowe, Gene Jeremic, Rayden Milanesi, Wade Baxter.