Last season, a new regional competition, named after one of the countries most decorated All Black forwards, was put in place.

The Stan Meads Cup saw a competition established between the Hamilton, Te Awamutu and Central Sub-Unions, along with the King Country and Thames Valley Development sides.

At a meeting in March, Eastern and Western Bay of Plenty Sub-Unions joined the Stan Meads Cup competition for the 2012 season, with Piako later confirming a place in the regional competition.

In order to ensure that the time honoured Peace Cup didn't become another lost symbol of former rugby glory, the Cup was taken into the Stan Meads competition, as a challenge trophy last season.

The March Stan Meads Cup meeting ratified the holder of the Peace Cup putting the trophy on the line at both home and away fixtures.

Defending Stan Meads Cup champions Te Awamutu, who also hold the Peace Cup, will put the long-time Auckland Provincial rugby trophy on the line, in the opening round (August 18) when they host Central BOP. In the other Section Two match-up, Thames Valley Development will play Eastern BOP in the Valley.

New entrant Piako, who are a Morrinsville-based team bolstered by additional players from Matamata and Cambridge, will be at home to King Country Development with Hamilton and Western Bay of Plenty resuming a long time rivalry, which has lapsed in recent years

Stan Meads Cup Entries 2012

Section One: Te Awamutu, Central Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley Development, Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Section Two: Hamilton, King Country Development, Western Bay of Plenty, Piako.

Stan Meads Cup Draw 2012 (home teams first)

Week One (August 18) Piako v King Country B. Hamilton v Western BOP, Te Awamutu v Central BOP (Peace Cup), Thames Valley B v Eastern BOP.

Week Two (August) King Country B v Hamilton, Western BOP v Piako, Eastern BOP v Te Awamutu, Central 25BOP v Thames Valley B.

Week Three (September 1) Western BOP v King Country B, Piako v Hamilton, Central BOP v Eastern BOP, Thames Valley B v Te Awamutu

Week Four (September 8) Stan Meads Cup Semi-Finals (Top Four) Stan Meads Bowl Semi-Finals (Second Four)

Week Five (September 15) Finals Day at Te Awamutu