Sevens: Top level taste for youngsters

Matt Axtens (with ball) will captain the Bay men's sevens team this weekend in Cambridge. Photo / File

Bay sides keen to perform on exclusive stage

The Bay of Plenty men's and women's sevens teams will be put to the test during the Northern Region Sevens Qualifier in Cambridge.

The regional qualifier, being held on Sunday, will determine which provincial teams from the upper North Island earn the right to play at the Bayleys National Sevens tournament in Rotorua on January 16/17.

The Bay men's team have already qualified for the nationals, as hosts, but the Bay women's team still need to qualify. There are five women's teams competing in Cambridge and the top four women's sides will earn the right to compete at nationals.

Bay men's coach Peter Woods said his squad was a lot different this season, and many of his players would get their first taste of top-level sevens this weekend. "We have selected our side for Sunday and have a very young and inexperienced side.

"Ten of the 12 players that went to [the regional qualifier] last year are unavailable this year," he said. "So it gives some young ones the opportunity to play at this level."

He said seedings for the nationals would be decided after this weekend's tournament so they wanted to perform well.

He said the northern region boasted plenty of heavyweights like Auckland, Counties and Waikato, and it would be a tough tournament.

"Ours is always the toughest of the three regional tournaments," Woods said. "It's like playing day two at the nationals."

Two boys who were still in high school this year have been included in the 12-man squad - Masiu Vainikolo (Western Heights High School) and Kaydin Budd (Tauranga Boys' College).

Rotorua Boys' High School 1st XV star Isaac Te Aute was also planning on taking part but is nursing a hamstring injury, which he suffered during the Condor National Sevens.

The Bayleys National Sevens tournament in January will feature the best 16 provincial men's teams and top 10 provincial women's teams from across the country.

The Southern Region Sevens qualifier has already been staged while the Central Region Sevens qualifier is being played tomorrow in Levin.