Sevens: Excitement builds for schools sevens

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One of the most exciting spectacles on the local sporting calendar looms large this week, with about 50 teams across six grades coming to town for the Bay Engineers Supplies Secondary School 7s.

The tournament is expected to be the largest to date, so has been expanded to include Friday and Saturday.

"Last year we only just managed to fit in all the games in one day," Bay of Plenty secondary schools manager Kyle McLean said. "We had added some grades - U14 boys, U16 boys and U15 girls - to offer more opportunities for boys and girls to play throughout their school life and the response from schools was outstanding.

"This year we have added the U55kg grade, which looks to be well supported. And to think only 11 teams competed in 2011."

The growth, especially locally, is being attributed to an increase in the number of opportunities available for young players to test themselves.

"The feedback from schools last year was they wanted more opportunities to play, so we have run a module at Greerton Rugby club each Tuesday afternoon.

"We have had 26 teams competing, mostly local Tauranga schools. But yesterday the Opotiki College U19 boys and U19 girls made the two-hour trip, as well as Western Heights U19 boys team. Teams are just desperate for game time."

McLean said the free three-week course was intended to build a link between the club and school systems and he hoped other clubs would join Te Puna in a larger programme next year.

The Bay Engineers Secondary School 7s tournament is a qualifier for the National Condor Sevens tournament to be held in late-November, with the top two U19 boys teams and the top U19 girls team earning direct entry.

Reigning champs Rotorua Boys' High School will start as favourites in the U19 division, with Tauranga Boys' College and Opotiki College tipped to be the spoilers.

In the U19 girls, Opotiki College and Te Puke High will be hot favourites, with Rotorua Girls' High and Trident High School likely to feature.