The 2017 Mtire 10 Cup draw has been announcement and once again promises some exciting match ups over the nine weeks of competition.

Auckland kick off the competition against neighbours Counties-Manukau before hosting Northland and Waikato at home.

The first Battle of the Bridge in four years will be at QBE Stadium, the Father’s Day fixture promises to be a big encounter against the Championship winners.

A home match against Taranaki features midway through the season before a Southland road trip, facing Southland and Otago in the space of a week in the deep south.

To round out the season home games against Bay of Plenty and Canterbury, and any away match against Tasman.

“It looks like it’s going to be a big challenge from the get-go,” said assistant coach Bevan Cadwallader.

Here the full interview with Cadwallader and head coach Nick White here.