Sideline Sid - Sports blogger Sideline Sid is a local sport fanatic. Not only is he a classic rugby bloke but he has views, opinions and knowledge on all sports played in the Bay of Plenty.

Sideline Sid believes that the majority of All Black and (in the Bay of Plenty) Steamers stars started their rugby careers in the humble beginnings of JMC rugby.

On Sunday, at the Tauranga Domain, many of the local youngsters got their first taste of competition against players from other regions in the staging of the annual Tauranga Sports sevens tournament.
The highly popular annual seven aside tournament actually dates back over 20 years. First run by the Mount Sports club - the Tauranga Domain based club picked up the mantle when the Mount tournament fell by the wayside.
My spies on the ground on Sunday tell me it was the usual day of frenetic activity, punctuated by the highs of victory, and the despair of defeat. The day attracts teams from all the Western Bay clubs, as well as Rotorua and the South Waikato.
The winners are rewarded with medals, and the other teams consoled with the thoughts of victory next year. The JMC team at Tauranga Sports put in a lot of hard work, and good organisation, to provide the myriad of youngsters with an enjoyable day of rugby.

Two other significant junior rugby events each year are part of the pathway of excellence that the stars of the future, often tread on their way to the top. The annual Western Bay of Plenty JMC finals day at the Tauranga Domain in late August attracts thousands of parents, siblings and extended family members. The real success of the day is the spread of clubs from throughout the Western Bay.
Whether it be the city kids or the boys (and girls) from the outskirts, all aspire to put the coveted winners' medal around their necks. The finals day is a culmination of a junior rugby year that started back in April of each season.

During July the cream of the Bay of Plenty Intermediate school age players will strut their stuff in the annual Tai Mitchell tournament. This tournament, first played in 1953, is where representative youngsters from throughout the Bay come together in pursuit of success.
The real benefit of the annual event is that it rotates throughout the Bay of Plenty regions. Last season it became a real eye opener for the city kids from the Western Bay and Rotorua, when it was held in Te Kaha. Likewise the boys from the bush will be wide eyed when the tournament calls in Rotorua and Tauranga on its annual cycle.
Many years ago, I experienced the fun and games of such a tournament as a parent supporter at the Ross Shield, which is the Hawke's Bay equivalent of the Tai Mitchell tournament.

Waipukarau was the venue, which is typical of many small towns in the country. With a large band of Wairoa parents on hand, we had a whale of a time in the small Southern Hawke's Bay town supporting our kids. "Our" team were beaten in the final by Dannevirke, after both had rolled the tournament heavyweights of Napier and Hastings.

In closing, I have been musing on the benefits (if any) of the All Blacks playing Ireland at the weekend - other than taking a test to the Naki.

Seeya at the Game.