Saint Tupai of Rangiuru

5th January 2006: The Latest Mafia Saint

Apparently you need evidence of a miracle for Sainthood, and we have evidence of one such miracle in our image to the right: Paul Tupai holding the Ranfurly Shield on August 15th 2004 after beating Auckland. Tupai started the game at number 8 in his 100th game for the union, and is the most recent centurion for the Union, reaching the 115 game mark in his beloved colours.

As further evidence of Sainthood for Tupai, his latest destination after BoP is the Northampton Saints rugby side. Coincidence? We think not!

We also like this piece below that was in the Daily Post on Christmas Eve 2005, written by Craig Tiriana, as a fitting farewell piece: More...
 

Images from the 2005 season:

5th January 2006

There's a backlog of these to be posted, checkout the first two sets of images from the game against Auckland:

Bay of Plenty (30) vs. Auckland (41) Part 1
Bay of Plenty (30) vs. Auckland (41) Part 2

There's also now a miscellaneous photo gallery for one off pics. So far it has one pic!

3rd BoP Mafia Awards - Results
3rd November 2005. By Kiwipie
Another season and here are the Mafia awards as voted for by the members of the BoP Mafia. More ...

Chiefs Squad Ins and Outs
28th October 2005. By the mildly disgruntled Kiwipie
INS: Simms Davison, Ben Castle, Aleki Lutui, Bernie Upton, Nili Latu, Jamie Nutbrown, Anthony Tahana. Tanerau Latimer to the Crusaders
OUTS: Everyone else including Mark Sorenson, Colin Bourke and Grant McQuoid. More ...

Mafia Voting is Open
14th October 2005.
The polling booth is open for Mafia members to cast their votes for the Player of the Season. Click here, it only takes a minute. Previous results have been

2004 Player of the Season - Wayne Ormond (2. Jackson, 3. Tipoki, 4. Latu, 5. McQuoid)
Rookie of the Season - Colin Bourke
Lifetime Achievement Award - Glen Jackson
2003 Player of the Season - Glen Jackson (2. McQuoid, 3. Senio, 4. Lutui, 5. Ormond)

Farewells for the Bay
5th October 2005.
Goodbye to Wayne Ormond, Adrian Cashmore, Kevin Senio, Paul Tupai who are leaving the Bay at the end of the NPC. All the best for your futures from the BoP Mafia and thanks for all you have done for the Bay over the years. 

2 weekends with HoriBOP
29th September 2005. From the second Irish signing for the Mafia.
I was in my 2^nd week of traveling around the south island of New Zealand. More

SenioGate
29th September 2005. By the poached and fried Kiwipie
Here’s the story so far .... more

Random Thoughts
23rd September 2005.
From the keyboard of Donsteppa
There’s been a horrible feeling of dread about the last couple of weeks of rugby. After the highs of 2003 and the screaming vertigo of 2004 we seem to have slipped back into some old habits. 9^th place with only three games to go doesn’t look too good but with a couple of games that slipped away vs. Auckland and Wellington we only have ourselves to blame. So, to these random, rambling thoughts: More

Naki, JAFAs, Lions, Yellow Cards and TMOs
15th September 2005. By the increasingly irate Kiwipie
It always annoys me when one-eyed supporters go on and on about refereeing decisions. Honest. However, having said that …. More

Kevin Senio - All Black
5th September 2005
It took almost 240 minutes of bench warming but Kevin finally became an All Black on Saturday night. Congratulations to Kevin and family from the BoP Mafia.

BoP Mafia in Rugby News
25th August 2005
Strange but true. Read the full story here

A weekend in Christchurch
25th August 2005. By Kiwipie
Another trip to Christchurch, twice as many chartered planes and another heavy defeat for the mighty Steamers. More

Forget Poaching, Stealth Bombing is here! 
19th August 2005
From Mafia operative Drago

Hamish Riach, CEO of Canterbury Rugby Union, on a recent visit to the Bay of Plenty to see Kevin Senio play. Read More

NPC Season Preview
11th August 2005 - By Bay Imports
After an incredible season last year which included the winning and defending of the Ranfurly shield, a demolition of all S12 franchise bases (bar one), and making the semi finals of the NPC first division, Bay of Plenty is about to begin the 2005 season. The big question most supporters are asking is can the mighty Steamers deliver again? more

Jacko Speaks
1st August 2005.
Glen Jackson answers your questions about British rugby, British beer and why he is yet to become an All Black. More

Watching the Bay in Wales
14th June 2005. By a travelling Steamers fan
This BOP Mafia member sat watching our own Bay of Plenty Steamers play a mighty game against the British and Irish Lions, wearing the Bay colours, (but forgot the camera) in a little local pub in Llanelli, Wales. More