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Former Steamers captain Colin Bourke hasn't ruled out one day returning to the Bay and playing 100 games for the province.
Bourke sets sail for the land of the rising sun in April to take up a two-year contract with Japanese club Ricoh.
The 27-year-old took part in the Mount Sevens tournament, playing for Special Plate finalists Mount Maunganui 1. The team won the final 24-10, from Rangiuru.
Bourke said it was fitting to have his last game in New Zealand playing for the Mount.
"It's been pretty sweet. I've been training with the boys for a while and I couldn't really let my last game in the Mount be for Tauranga Sport. So I had to don the old Mount jersey on again. So I've done that and I've enjoyed it with the boys," he said.
The No8 played 90 games for the Steamers and hasn't ruled out returning to play for the Bay one day and becoming a centurion.
"That's my only regret you know, missing out on that. But I'm sure I'll have games in me when I come back from Japan or whatever and try and finish it off."
Bourke has signed a two-year deal with the Japanese Rugby Top League side Ricoh Black Rams. The side's imports include former Wallabies playmaker Stephen Larkham and Tamati Ellison.
"So I head up there in April and if I don't enjoy it, the good thing is, it does finish before a NPC. So if I don't really like it or what not. I can come back and play for the Bay hopefully," Bourke said.
It's obvious to any rugby follower he still has a strong pride in the Steamers jersey.
"It's something huge to me and it's something that I'd love to do [play 100 games for the Bay]. As I've said when I came here, I didn't have too much and what I've got is all because of the Bay and that sort of stuff. So I owe a lot to the Bay Union and the players I've played with," Bourke said.
Despite playing in the back row for the Steamers, Bourke played on the wing at the weekend and managed to keep pace with the younger players.
"I try to [keep up the pace] and come off the bench and do a little bit here and there. But there are some pretty good teams here and some good players around."
Bourke said the tournament gave young players the opportunity to foot it with some of the top sevens players in the country.
"It's a good opportunity for [young] guys to play against those sort of fullas. I know what it was like playing against some All Blacks it was a big buzz.
"This tournament seems to keep rolling [young talent] out and you see some teams with some big boys and some quick boys. So it shows we are in pretty good hands here."
Bourke sets sail for the land of the rising sun in April to take up a two-year contract with Japanese club Ricoh.
The 27-year-old took part in the Mount Sevens tournament, playing for Special Plate finalists Mount Maunganui 1. The team won the final 24-10, from Rangiuru.
Bourke said it was fitting to have his last game in New Zealand playing for the Mount.
"It's been pretty sweet. I've been training with the boys for a while and I couldn't really let my last game in the Mount be for Tauranga Sport. So I had to don the old Mount jersey on again. So I've done that and I've enjoyed it with the boys," he said.
The No8 played 90 games for the Steamers and hasn't ruled out returning to play for the Bay one day and becoming a centurion.
"That's my only regret you know, missing out on that. But I'm sure I'll have games in me when I come back from Japan or whatever and try and finish it off."
Bourke has signed a two-year deal with the Japanese Rugby Top League side Ricoh Black Rams. The side's imports include former Wallabies playmaker Stephen Larkham and Tamati Ellison.
"So I head up there in April and if I don't enjoy it, the good thing is, it does finish before a NPC. So if I don't really like it or what not. I can come back and play for the Bay hopefully," Bourke said.
It's obvious to any rugby follower he still has a strong pride in the Steamers jersey.
"It's something huge to me and it's something that I'd love to do [play 100 games for the Bay]. As I've said when I came here, I didn't have too much and what I've got is all because of the Bay and that sort of stuff. So I owe a lot to the Bay Union and the players I've played with," Bourke said.
Despite playing in the back row for the Steamers, Bourke played on the wing at the weekend and managed to keep pace with the younger players.
"I try to [keep up the pace] and come off the bench and do a little bit here and there. But there are some pretty good teams here and some good players around."
Bourke said the tournament gave young players the opportunity to foot it with some of the top sevens players in the country.
"It's a good opportunity for [young] guys to play against those sort of fullas. I know what it was like playing against some All Blacks it was a big buzz.
"This tournament seems to keep rolling [young talent] out and you see some teams with some big boys and some quick boys. So it shows we are in pretty good hands here."
