Bay of Plenty Provincial Sevens at Blake Park on Saturday

NZ Sevens rep Teddy Stanaway will be a key player for Bay of Plenty Blue at Blake Park. PHOTO/FILE

The Bay of Plenty Provincial Sevens Tournament is set to kick off the year's sevens action at Blake Park today.

The tournament, sponsored by Seeka, will feature Provincial Sevens title holders Taranaki, last year's Bayleys National Sevens winners Counties Manukau and a talented Samoan Barbarians side.

A distinctive local flavour will be present with the selection of two Bay of Plenty men's sevens sides competing for tournament honours.

Bayleys National Women's Sevens champions and defending champions Manawatu, Southern Regional winners Canterbury and Northern Regional runners-up and local favourites Bay of Plenty are favoured.

The Bay of Plenty Provincial Sevens tournament will be the final opportunity for teams to prepare ahead of the Bayleys National Sevens kicking off on January 14 at Rotorua International Stadium.

Bay of Plenty men's team is a team mixed with experience, featuring the return of All Blacks Sevens squad players Dan Hollinshead and Teddy Stanaway.

"We have four New Zealand Sevens players who have been involved with the All Blacks Sevens squad over the past couple of years," said Paul Tietjens.

"It is great for these young players coming through to be training and playing alongside these experienced New Zealand players they are learning a lot and gaining a lot of knowledge from around the game of sevens which pretty vital."

Tietjens acknowledged the importance of having depth in the sevens squad with two sides entered in the Provincial Sevens.

"It is really important that we promote and we build that depth into the side, especially if we concede and injury and need to bring players in. It also pushes and challenges players to be playing at their best so we can take the best team we can away to the Bayleys National Sevens next weekend."

The Bay of Plenty women's team will feature return of Black Ferns Sevens player Kelly Brazier. Brazier will join a youthful side that produced a commendable performance at the Northern Regional Sevens Qualification Tournament.

"We have a relatively young side, with the loss of Kendra Reynolds to injury Kelly will be welcomed back into the fold and provide plenty of experience," said women's coach Victoria Grant. "This will no doubt lift the younger players in our squad."

"This will be the final opportunity for the players to put their hand up for next weekend's Bayleys National Sevens. The girls have been training hard and pushing one another for those final places in the side which is great to see," said Grant.

The Bay of Plenty Provincial Sevens will be a great day out at Blake Park for all to enjoy. The flair and excitement of sevens rugby action will be coupled with a day in the sun and a bite to eat from the Mount Maunganui Sports tuck shop.

Tickets are available to purchase from the gate; $5 for adults and free for children 14 years and under. Gates will open at 8.30am with the first match kicking off at 9.00am.

For full draw click HERE. Teams:

Bay of Plenty Blue
Matt Clutterbuck, Elijah Nicholas, Teddy Stanaway, Danny Kayes, Adam McGarvey, Jesse Parete, Lalakai Foketi, Isaac Te Aute, Alex Jessop, Dan Hollinshead, Akira Mako, Leigh Bristowe, Marnus Hanley, Josh Honey. Coach: Paul Tietjens

Bay of Plenty Gold
Ralulu Bavou, Dan Crowther, Nick Evemy, Chad Jacob, Alex Thrupp, Jonty Wood, Pera Gibbs, Luke Campbell, Rewita Biddle, Andy Devoy, James Wood, Declan Barnett, Hunter Mokomoko, Jesse Dodunski. Coach: Zar Lawrence

Bay of Plenty Women
Sapphire Tapsell, Zaan Scott, Ora Williams, Kororia Heyblom, Rebecca Kersten, Tynealle Fitzgerald, Lavinia Gould, Parekura Whareaorere, Julia Buescher, Kelly Brazier, Rian Sanerive, Luka Connor, Victoria Edmonds, Shaye Whareaorere. Coach: Victoria Grant