The Bay of Plenty teams have been named for this weekend's Bayleys National Sevens at Rotorua International Stadium.
Bay of Plenty men's sevens coach Paul Tietjens has named an experienced side with plenty of X-factor. Captained by Te Puna's Te Aihe Toma, the side includes All Black Sevens representatives Teddy Stanaway and Bailey Simonsson and Luke Masirewa returns to the fold.
Tietjens said the team would be taking a game-by-game focus to provide them with the best platform to progress into the later stages of the tournament.
"We won't be looking any further ahead than our first game against Mid-Canterbury, that's our main focus at this stage. However, we know we are going to have to play six finals to allow us to have a good crack at our first national sevens title at home.
"Our two main focuses following last weekend's tournament heading into this weekend will be our kick-offs and defence. We need to ensure we maintain possession from when we are kicking off and receiving. Defensively, a couple of times in the weekend, we got exposed in different positions so we will be looking to get these two areas right before this weekend," Tietjens said.
The experience of Simonsson and Stanaway was a bonus but all 12 players would need to perform as a team to deliver a successful campaign.
"Teddy has loads of experience at the international level and he brings that X-factor to the side as well as a lot of knowledge and experience. He is a great communicator and that lifts the confidence of the boys around him. With Bailey coming in too, he also brings a huge dose of X-factor. He is very quick, very good on his feet and dangerous with ball in hand.
"There will need to be 12 guys that stand up and do their core roles really well to be successful on the weekend," he said.
Meanwhile, Bay of Plenty women's coach Victoria Grant has named an exciting young team strengthened with the experience of Black Ferns Sevens players Michaela Blyde and Kelly Brazier.
Following a three-month preparation campaign, Grant was confident the momentum would continue this weekend.
"We have been building to this weekend over the past three months. Over that time the girls have pushed one another to gain their spot in our final 12. Now that we are here, the girls have stepped up a level both in confidence and intensity," Grant said.
The team would benefit from the inclusion of their Black Fern Sevens players, however it was the exciting young talent which Grant hoped would stand out this weekend.
"It is great to have Michaela and Kelly with us again this weekend, their experience has lifted the confidence of our younger girls. We have a relatively young side, but these girls are talented and exciting to watch, when their confidence is high they can definitely hold their own and produce something special," said Grant.
She said she would be calling for patience on attack and for her side to work hard on defence.
Bay of Plenty Men's Sevens Side:
Bailey Simonsson
Dan Crowther
Danny Kayes
Josh Honey
Joshua Coward
Luke Campbell
Luke Masirewa
Ngarohi McGravey-Black
Paea Lavaka
Steve Honey
Te Aihe Toma – Captain
Teddy Stanaway
Bay of Plenty Women's Sevens Team:
Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly
Hope Garner
Kelly Brazier
Kiani Tahere
Kororia Heyblom
Lavinia Gould
Lesley Elder
Mahina Paul
Michaela Blyde
Rebecca Kersten – Captain
Tania-Rose Raharuhi
Tynealle Fitzgerald
