From
http://www.boprugby.co.nz/news_040707.htm
Steamers swoop on Magpie
07 July 2004
From JAMIE TROUGHTON - Bay of Plenty Times
BAY of Plenty rugby has staged a major coup by snaring ultra-talented Hawke's Bay utility Colin Bourke from under the noses of several big-money NPC unions.
Bourke is expected to sign with the Steamers today and train with the side at Western Bay Finance Stadium this afternoon, just a week after a Hawke's Bay side beat the Steamers 11-10 in Napier.
A member of the world champion New Zealand Sevens side this year, the 19-year-old has played fullback, centre, No 8 and flanker for Hawke's Bay, but Bay of Plenty coach Vern Cotter sees him as the ideal solution to his loose-forward woes.
I'm rapt - I just can't wait for him to get involved, Cotter said.
I've watched him at under-21 level and also with the sevens and I think he's a genuine loose-forward prospect.
This has been run by the Chiefs franchise and ticked off by them so he's in mind for the large picture as well.
It's the first bit of good news Cotter has had in quite some time, with a string of injuries to front-line players threatening to derail his NPC campaign.
Bourke's acquisition comes despite strong interest from Otago, who flew him down for two days last week, and Waikato, who have been chasing his signature for two years.
He arrives with a $15,000 transfer tag which the Chiefs franchise is helping to fund, while it's understood his Steamers salary has been supplemented by an anonymous private backer, believed to be a Tauranga businessman.
Chiefs coach Ian Foster has already identified Bourke as a valuable investment, hence the Chiefs finally extending their buying power beyond their Hamilton franchise base.
Waikato signed All Blacks Tom Willis and Byron Kelleher with Chiefs money last year.
Hawke's Bay chief executive Ian Condon said his union could not match the deal offered by Bay of Plenty and that he was disappointed to lose one of their top academy squad members.
It is disappointing to lose a player and especially to a union who, we understand, is paying a considerable amount of money, he said. It is considerably more than we would pay our top ranked players and I just can't understand how a union which has produced unsatisfactory financial results in past years can afford that sort of money.
Condon also said he understood Bourke had been guaranteed a place in the Bay of Plenty NPC squad but a source close to the Steamers rubbished that claim, clarifying there was no clause in any players' contract to that effect.
Bourke had his first season with the Magpies last year after representing New Zealand Secondary Schools the previous year. He was involved with Bay of Plenty assistant coach Joe Schmidt while at Napier Boys High School, where he was solely a loose forward.
But after scoring 23 tries in club rugby last year at No 8, Hawke's Bay switched him to fullback and centre. He can also kick goals but was reportedly frustrated by the super utility tag he'd quickly acquired.
Bourke's move allows him to be closer to New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens and trainer Keith Roberts, who is also the Bay of Plenty trainer.
It is a great boost for Bay of Plenty, with No 8 Paul Tupai uncertain when his shoulder injury will heal and news that former All Black Dylan Mika will not be joining the squad despite training with them last month.
There is also a suggestion Bourke's signing may not be the last high-profile new Steamer this season, with several players from Waikato eyeing short-term contracts with Bay of Plenty and the possibility of another prop arriving in the next week.
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This article states that Bourke signed for BOP weeks ago.
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