Two fresh new faces will get the chance to showcase their talents as the Steamers face Wellington this Saturday at Rotorua International Stadium. 

Local club players, Kohan Herbert (Mount Maunganui) and Alefosio Tapili (Kahukura), will make their debut appearances for the Bay of Plenty Steamers at the open-side flanker and left-wing positions.  

“It’s a dream come true for the both of us,” says Kohan Herbert. 

“All the hard work, all the sacrifice. It all pays off when you get the chance to represent your province and get your first taste of professional rugby.” 

“We can’t wait to get on the park.” 

The game also marks the return of Joe Webber who has had a delayed return to 15 aside rugby due to injury. 

Webber was an integral part of the All Blacks Sevens Olympic side who earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Games. He will be an exciting player to watch when given room to work with ball in hand. 

Dutch National Stan van den Hoven is also expected to come off the bench for his blazer game for the Steamers (15 representative games). 

“To play just one game for the Steamers was such a special moment for me,” says van den Hoven. 

“Knowing that on Saturday I could be receiving my blazer, it will be pretty surreal for sure!” 

“Right now though, the focus is the game itself. We are turning up to win and all I’m thinking about right now is my role and how I can help my team.” 

In other news, the Bay of Plenty Toa and Bay of Plenty WASPs Under 13 Invitational team will play in two concurrent curtain raiser games to kickstart proceedings for the afternoon. 

Playing on the main field from 11.45am, the Toa side will square off against Thames Valley U23’s. With the Jock Hobbs Memorial Tournament cancelled for 2021, the Bay of Plenty Toa (Under 19’s) side will instead play Thames Valley, Taranaki, and Waikato in a makeshift regional tournament. 

Meanwhile, the WASPs Under 13 Invitational side will be playing King Country U13 with kick off from 12.30pm. 

The WASPs U13 side is a team that is made up primarily of the players from the annual Tai Mitchell tournament and is a team formed in partnership with the WASPs Rugby Club. 

WASPs and the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union want to continue fostering a love for the game at Under 13 level while providing a development environment in the absence of the now-cancelled annual Roller Mills tournament. 

Saturday’s game will also mark a special occasion for our 1994 Bay of Plenty team that played South Africa at Rotorua International Stadium on 2nd August in the Steinlager Series that year. Thanks to Seeka and WASPS for hosting this Alumni function to bring our past players back together. 

All three games will be played under strict no crowd level 2 restrictions. The Bay of Plenty Steamers v Wellington game will kick off from 2.15 pm and will be broadcast live on free-to-view Prime and also on Sky Sport 1. 

The match day programme can be viewed online and download by clicking here. 

Bay of Plenty Steamers v Wellington Lions 

1. Aidan Ross (C) 

2. Nathan Vella 

3. Jeff Thwaites  

4. Justin Sangster 

5. Manaaki Selby-Rickit 

6. Angus Scott-Young 

7. Kohan Herbert* 

8. Nikora Broughton 

9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi 

10. Otere Black 

11. Alefosio Tapili* 

12. Joe Webber 

13. Emoni Narawa 

14. Leroy Carter 

15. Sekuini Tanimo 

16. Nathan Harris 

17. Benet Kumeroa 

18. Pasilio Tosi 

19. Stan van den Hoven** 

20. Semisi Paea 

21. Luke Campbell 

22. Lucas Cashmore 

23. Cassius Misa 

* Denotes Steamers debut game 

** Denotes Steamers Blazer game (15th game) 

Article added: Friday 01 October 2021