The Steamers are the flagship team of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.
Bay of Plenty's top team were the inaugral winners of the first ever NPC is 1976 - and in 2004 recorded their first ever Ranfurly Shield victory with a momentous defeat of Auckland at Eden Park. The same year saw the Bay reach the semifinals of the Air NZ NPC, losing to an All Black-laden Canterbury - but still finishing a creditable third in the competition.
Super 12 Players who learnt to play in Bay of Plenty have cropped up all over the country- but in recent times the Chiefs have picked up several players for the Bay - with currently around a dozen players regularly playing in Super 12 squads- and a few more in wider training groups and development.
