"We have 38 teams with about 500 kids playing. It is a great way to get kids engaged in rugby in term one leading into their 15-a-side season," McLean said. "Bay secondary schools sevens have had massive growth over the last few years, particularly the girls and have been a massive highlight of the union's success.
"For us putting on another successful sevens tournament reinforces us as the home of sevens. With the Olympics, in the women's especially, the playing pool is quite small and the players know that.
"Some of them are starting to choose rugby over other sports now. We have some great talent playing here in the boys and girls and some definite future stars."
Tauranga Boys' College under-15 coach Hamish Boyce says the popularity of sevens in the under-15 age group is building steadily year-to-year.
"This tournament has been going for three years and is great," he said. "It is just getting bigger and bigger and the boys are getting better and better with the experience of it.
"It is a good way to get them doing stuff in the summer and a good chance to have some fun and play some rugby."
Team members had been working hard for the past month-and-a-half on their fitness to get to the level they were, he said.
Timetable: www.boprugby.co.nz
