Matt Clutterbuck will take on even more responsibility in the place of injured All Blacks Sevens contracted player Joe Tupe. Photo / Joel Ford
The draw for next month's Bayleys National Sevens is yet to be circulated but the battle lines have been drawn for the final hit-out before the teams reach Rotorua International Stadium.
The pools have been announced for the Bay Engineers Provincial Sevens at Mount Maunganui's Blake Park a week before
the national showpiece begins on January 17, and the home sides look up against it.
Though some teams, notably Northland, Tasman and Otago, will be absent from the traditional lead-in event, the rankings of the sides in the men's draw suggest the Bay's path at the nationals will be tough to say the least.
Tenth-ranked Bay of Plenty will begin their day with a showdown against Canterbury (9am) before clashes with Auckland (10.20am), Manawatu (12pm) and North Harbour (2.20pm).
The hosts have avoided Taranaki, Wellington, Counties Manukau, Waikato and Northland, but will play one of those sides in a straight play-off crossover to decide places 1-10.
