A King Country Rugby record breaker has been appointed the inaugural coach of the Stan Meads Cup XV who will play Waikato Maori this September.

Phil Coffin, who toured South Africa with the All Blacks in 1996 and played 142 games for the mid North Island Union, has been chosen to coach the representative team who will be selected from 2013 Stan Meads Cup competition (SMC).

The highly decorated tighthead prop also played for NZ Maori, the NZ Divisional XV, and the Hurricanes in Super Rugby.

It was decided at the 2013 Annual General Meeting of the SMC committee, that a SMC XV would be selected to play a representative match, as an extended pathway for players in the SMC competition.

The recently released 2013 draw sets up a thriller for the SMC challenge prize of the Peace Cup in the first round.

The long time symbol of Sub-Union Rugby in the mid North Island, which has languished in some obscurity, has been given new life but being put on the line by the holder in pool play and the crossover matches.

Current Stan Meads Cup champions and Peace Cup holders Te Awamutu, will receive a strong challenge in their first game of the season, when they host Western Bay of Plenty at Otorohanga on August 17.

Western Bay of Plenty who finished third last season, are always a force in regional Sub-Union rugby and are sure to give the Waikato based Sub-Union a huge test of their ability.

Other first round match-ups see Hamilton host Eastern Bay of Plenty in the other section two match.

In section one King Country B will be at home at Owen Delaney Park in Taupo against Piako, with Thames Valley B travelling to play Eastern Bay of Plenty in Whakatane.

Stan Meads Cup Schedule 2013

17 August

Section One

King Country B v Piako @ Owen Delaney Park, Taupo – 2.30pm

Eastern Bay of Plenty v Thames Valley B @ Rugby Park, Whakatane – 2pm

Section Two

Hamilton v Central Bay of Plenty @Beetham Park, Hamilton – 2.30pm

Te Awamutu v Western Bay of Plenty @ Island Reserve, Otorohanga – 2pm

24 August

Section One

Thames Valley v Piako @ Paeroa – 12.15pm

Eastern Bay of Plenty v King Country @ Rugby Park, Whakatane – 2pm

Section Two

Hamilton v Te Awamutu @ Beetham Park, Hamilton – 2.30pm

Central Bay of Plenty v Western Bay of Plenty @ Ngongotaha RFC, Rotorua – 2.30pm

31 August

Section One

King Country v Thames Valley @Rugby Park, Te Kuiti – 12.30pm

Eastern Bay of Plenty v Piako @ Rugby Park, Whakatane – 2pm

Section Two

Te Awamutu v Central Bay of Plenty @ Albert Park, Te Awamutu – 2.30pm

Western Bay of Plenty v Hamilton @ Tauranga – 2pm

7 September Crossover Games

14 September Finals Day