Tauranga lawyer Owen Cooney is the newest member of the Board of Bay of Plenty Rugby.

Owen has filled the casual vacancy left when Bruce Cameron was confirmed on the NZRU Board, with the BOPRU Board appointment committee confirming the selection of Owen as an Independent Director.

Owen, who is a partner in Tauranga Law firm Cooney Lees and Morgan, brings a business background, along with a lifetime passion for rugby to the Board table.

He turned out for Tauranga Old Boys in his playing days and has been the honorary solicitor for Tauranga Sports for the last decade, in addition to coaching junior rugby.

'I have admired the current Bay of Plenty Rugby Board for putting the Union in a sound financial position and for restoring pride in the Blue and Gold uniform.

'I want to put something back into the local community and believe that I have a set of specific business skills to assist to govern a very successful local sporting organisation.”

Along with his fellow directors, Owen believes Bay of Plenty Rugby can earn a permanent place in the top four of the NPC (National Provincial Competition) through the current and future pathways that start in JMC, secondary school and age group rugby.

In recent seasons, the Bay of Plenty Rugby pathway has seen Tanerau Latimer, Mike Delany and Sam Cane earn selection for the All Blacks, with Bryce Lawrence progressing to the pinnacle of being appointed to referee at the 2011 World Cup.