The BOP Steamers are beginning a new NPC campaign with a strong link to Bay of Plenty rugby history. The team is drawing inspiration from the 1976 champions, with the new season arriving half a century after the union’s last trophy-winning side.
A key figure in that connection is Bay of Plenty Rugby Union patron Graeme Crossman. The former All Black captained Bay of Plenty during that successful period, and he presented the jerseys as the current squad prepared for the campaign.
Crossman’s presence underlined the importance of the moment for the Steamers. As a player who led the province in its celebrated era and was also part of the 1976 All Blacks tour to South Africa, he represents a direct bridge between one of Bay of Plenty’s proudest rugby chapters and the team taking the field now.
For the Steamers, the message is clear as the NPC season begins: the past still matters, and the achievements of that 1976 side remain a source of motivation. The campaign opens with a sense of tradition, expectation and a reminder of what Bay of Plenty rugby has reached before.
