Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Plenty also acts as a primary feeder to the Chiefs, who play in the Super Rugby competition. The union is coached by Clayton McMillan the union also administers all club rugby within the region, including the Bayfair Baywide competition and other senior club rugby. As well, the union is responsible for school rugby. Bay of Plenty played a prominent role in the early history of rugby in New Zealand. The 1888–89 New Zealand Natives (the first New Zealand representative rugby team to tour beyond Australia) included five Warbrick brothers from the small Bay of Plenty settlement of Matata. Dave Gallaher,
Bay of Plenty Steamers Bay of Plenty has also challenged many times for the Ranfurly Shield. In 2004 Bay of Plenty won the Ranfurly Shield over Auckland 33–28 at Eden Park to win it for the first time. They would defend it against Waikato 26–20 at Mt Maunganui before losing it two weeks later to Canterbury 26–33. A year later Bay of Plenty would challenge Canterbury in Christchurch, however Bay of Plenty lost 13–40. The last time Bay of Plenty challenged for the Ranfurly Shield was on 19 September 2015, resulting in a narrow 23–17 defeat to Hawke's Bay. Bay of Plenty also has