The search is on for former Bay of Plenty representative rugby players with the official Bay of Plenty Rugby Union centenary celebrations less than three months away.

The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union has been the controlling force of rugby in schools, communities and preparing teams to represent the region from Te Whanau Apanui, Opotiki, Whakatane, Rangitaiki, Galatea, Rotorua, Te Puke and Tauranga since 1911.

Three days of centennial festivities will take place in Rotorua starting on Friday, August 12.

The official luncheon, and Steamers versus Hawke's Bay at the Rotorua International Stadium game, will take centre stage on Saturday, August 12 – with a more casual finish to the centenary on the following Sunday.

An important part of the official BOPRU centenary celebrations is the gathering of former Bay players.

A concerted preliminary hunt for the contact details of former players has resulted in over 300 former players contacted.

BOPRU commercial manager Dirk Merwe says this is a great result, but there are still more people he needs to contact.

'We are now poised to commence stage two of the search for former Bay of Plenty first class players, with a mail out next week to the first 300,” says Dirk.

'Working on the basis that each of the 300 already contacted will know at least one other former Bay representative, we are confident of reaching more than half of the 1159 that have worn the Bay of Plenty uniform over the years.”

BOPRU historian Brent Drabble has undertaken a massive task in the last decade to trace and record all the players who have pulled on the Bay of Plenty jersey in first class fixtures.

The result of Brent's endeavours has been the unique BOPRU centennial jersey, which features the names of every one of the 1159 players to have represented the region.

The names include every player, whether as a substitute that was on the field of play for a minute, through to Greg Rowlands who wore the blue and gold uniform on a record 161 occasions.

The maxim behind the centennial jersey is that this provincial team is bigger than the individuals, but is greater than the sum of its parts.

The honour of the first Bay of Plenty player was given to Rongo Nuku with number 1159 being Luke Katene who made his Steamers debut last season.

The current BOPRU chairman Bruce Cameron is number 722.

The aim is to have as many former players as possible on hand for the centenary celebrations, with indications that past Bay of Plenty team members, will travel from across the globe and all corners of New Zealand to attend the once in a lifetime event.