On the same day that the Bay of Plenty Steamers opens their ITM Cup campaign, five other Bay of Plenty representative teams start their 2012 representative campaigns with pre-season hit-outs.

The curtain raiser to the Steamers ITM Cup encounter against Taranaki at Baypark, will see the Bay Development team play their Taranaki counterparts in a pre-season match, before starting their Northern Region competition campaign the following weekend.

The Bay of Plenty Development team, which is seen as the pathway to the Steamers has two prominent Bay rugby personalities in charge.

Development Head Coach Jeremy Cotter finally broke the duck for the Te Puke Sports Premiers last season, when he coached them to the clubs first ever Baywide title.

Former Steamer Charles Hubbard has been given the opportunity to coach at provincial level for the first time, and has taken up the Development team assistant coach position.

Bay of Plenty Under 20's will also play Taranaki on Saturday, however, they will travel to a midway venue, squaring off at against their Taranaki opposition in Otorohanga.

Kane Parker, who is in charge of the Bay Under 20 team for the first time, had good success with the Greerton Marist premier team in the 2012 Baywide competition.

He will be assisted by Jamie Davis whose success with Otumoetai College first fifteen last season, saw the Western Bay school elevated to the Chiefs Secondary School knockout competition.

Auckland West presents a real challenge for the Bay of Plenty Under 18 team first hitout of the new representative season.

The Bay side will host the Auckland visitors at Blake Park in Mount Maunganui. Eastern Bay region Coach Craig Sinkinson has been given the reigns in charge of the Bay of Plenty Under 18 team.

He will be joined by James Porter, who took the Bay Under 16 team to within one win from victory in the Northern Region Under 16 championship last season.

A home match awaits the Bay Under 16 B team who will face Thames Valley at Blake Park - while the Bay Under 16 A team will play their traditional pre-season fixture with Hawkes Bay in Taupo.

Brendan Webby from John Paul College assisted by Alan Pike from Trident High School will take the A team, with Tauranga Boys College mentor Charles Williams and Andrew Bartrum from Bethlehem College taking the B team.

BOPRU Representative Draws August 25

BOP Development v Taranaki (ITM Cup Curtain-Raiser) Baypark – 12pm

BOP U20 v Taranaki pre-season) Otorohanga – 2pm

BOP U18 v Auckland West (pre-season) Blake Park – 12.30pm

BOP U16 A v Hawkes Bay (pre-season) Taupo – 1pm

BOP U16 B v Thames Valley (pre-season) Blake Park – 12.30pm