Another year, another Baywide rugby format.

Consultation with Bay of Plenty Rugby Union clubs has resulted in short and sharp 13 week, one (premier) division competition being endorsed.

The first round of 11 weeks of preliminary play kicks-off on April 30, with the crowning of the 2022 Baywide champion to take place after the finale on July 23.

Since Baywide rugby was initiated in the early 1990's, various formats have been tried and discarded.

Few rugby unions in the country face the difficulties experienced in Bay of Plenty, with three distinct regions which date back before the 1880's when the game of rugby was first seriously played in the province.

Eastern Bay of Plenty developed from a region dependent on coastal shipping that was the lifeblood of the Eastern Bay district.

Rotorua became a tourist mecca and the seat of Bay of Plenty local government, with strong arterial links to Auckland.

Tauranga was no more than a sleepy fishing village that didn't achieve city status until 1963, with Katikati looking north and Te Puke having sporting ties with the Eastern Bay and Rotorua.

History has shaped the three regions, which often seemed to put their wants and needs ahead of combined Bay of Plenty best interests.

So too in Bay of Plenty rugby, the three BOPRU sub-unions of Eastern Bay of Plenty, Central (Rotorua) and Western Bay of Plenty, have often indulged in good old-fashioned horse trading to further their ambitions of the time.

In recent seasons, three divisions and a sub-union qualifying series have catered for clubs Baywide aspirations, until Covid 19 changed the landscape, with disruptions to travel and crowd number restrictions introduced.

There was also a groundswell in the Eastern Bay of Plenty to play a stand-alone regional competition amongst the myriad of one team clubs.

The latest change sees last season's Premier top eight of Tauranga Sports, Whakarewarewa, Te Puna, Greerton, Mount Maunganui, Rangiuru, Te Puke Sports and Ngongotaha, become the starting point for the new Baywide one-division competition.

Rotoiti and Rangataua, who were to play the 2021 Division One final that was abandoned due to the pandemic, were to be joined by the beaten semi-finalists in Opotiki and Arataki.

Opotiki recently made the decision to play in the revitalised Eastern Bay competition, which opened the door for a ninth Western Bay side in Judea to play Baywide premier rugby for the first time.

With just 11 rounds of round-robin play, there will be an element of cut-throat rugby in every game, with the last two finishers being eliminated at season end.

Gazing forward, this correspondent will make his guesses on the likely path of the 2022 Baywide title race.

Heading the list has to be defending titleholders Tauranga Sports, who vanquished Whakarewarewa 41-14 in last year's Baywide premier title decider.

The team from the Sulphur City is also a solid contender to make the top four playoffs again.

Multiple Baywide winners, Mount Maunganui and Te Puke Sports, had disappointing finishes by their own high standards last season and won't lack motivation.

Greerton and Te Puna, who made the 2021 playoffs, are sure to be there at the business end of the season.

Te Puna and Rangataua know what it is like to experience Baywide glory.

Rangiuru have cemented a spot in the top echelon in recent seasons and could be the up setter this year.

Arataki, Ngongotaha and Judea look destined to fight out the wooden spoon, with two of the three likely to be relegated.

Bring on the new Baywide competition. Bay of Plenty fans can't wait to catch an action packed club rugby season, with hopefully few Covid interruptions.

Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz