All Blacks Sevens player Scott Curry will be in action for the Bay of Plenty men's team at the 2017 Bayleys National Sevens. Photo/File
All Blacks Sevens player Scott Curry will be in action for the Bay of Plenty men's team at the 2017 Bayleys National Sevens. Photo/File
All Blacks Sevens players Scott Curry and Regan Ware are set to star for the Bay of Plenty men's team at the 2017 Bayleys National Sevens at Rotorua International Stadium this weekend.
Curry and Ware are part of a 12-man lineup named by coach Paul Tietjens, with the side captained by the experienced Matt Clutterback.
Both national players missed out on last weekend's preparation tournament - the Bay of Plenty Provincial Sevens at Blake Park, Tauranga, to focus on their own training.
Curry, a former Reporoa College student, said he was encouraged by New Zealand Sevens coaches to play after missing out on game time over the last 12 months.
"Playing here wasn't originally part of my plan for the season but I haven't had a lot of game time and after discussion this seemed an excellent tournament to be a part of," Curry said.
"I want to perform well I haven't had much preparation with the squad but I've kept in touch closely and have been following their progress. I'm very excited to pull on the jersey for the team."
Curry said he aimed to bring his valuable experience to the side, which included captaining the New Zealand side at the 2016 Rio Olympics and playing in six Sevens World Series.
"I want to bring my knowledge of the game," Curry said. "To win you need to have some X-factor and hopefully I can add to that. I think I'll be able to slot into the side and bring what Paul [Tietjens] wants."
Tietjens stressed the importance of having Curry and Ware in the side, after the loss of Teddy Stanaway last weekend to a neck injury.
Regan Ware is swapping his All Blacks Sevens shirt for a Bay of Plenty one at the 2017 Bayleys National Sevens at Rotorua International Stadium this weekend. Photo/File
"The New Zealand Sevens boys give us some real firepower upfront with Scott out wide and in the midfield with Regan," Tietjens said. "They are two key players who hopefully can gel well and add a lot.
"If they [Curry and Ware] put in some good performances the other guys will follow in their leadership. It's great to have them playing at a provincial level, and they will give the other guys around them a chance to gain that experience to play at their level."
Former Rotorua Boys' High School student and international sevens player Isaac Te Aute has also been named in the Bay of Plenty squad and the team have been drawn in a tough Pool C - with Taranaki, Tasman and Canterbury.
Former Rotorua Boys' High student and international sevens player Isaac Te Aute has also been named in the Bay of Plenty men's squad. Photo/File
Waikato will also be ones to watch after beating an impressive Sir Gordon Tietjens-coached Samoan Barbarians at the Bay of Plenty Provincial Sevens last weekend.
"We have been preparing for a very tough weekend, you can't predict one like this but Waikato are red hot right now," said Tietjens.
"For us it is about taking the tournament game by game and that starts with Canterbury on the Saturday morning. We can't really get too far ahead of ourselves, hopefully if we play well enough it will put us in good stead for the rest of the tournament.
"The key for us will be getting the basics right and defence is crucial. From there we hope the attack will take care of itself."
Players will have the chance to impress new All Blacks Sevens head coach Clark Laidlaw, who will be travelling from the UK to attend the event, with places still up for grabs for the 2016-2017 HSBC World Sevens Series after the tournament.
And Curry said playing in front of a home crowd would lift his own and the rest of the team's performance.
"Players have the perfect opportunity to stand up and be noticed by Clark [Laidlaw]. It's a huge opportunity," Curry said. "I grew up playing in Rotorua and there will be plenty of familiar faces in the crowd so this is a special tournament for me. It's always going to be tough but we aim to compete strongly."
Tietjens added: "This is the tournament everyone wants to win. The Bay of Plenty has always been in the mix but never won. It's a huge challenge but there's no reason why we can't win it. We've got a great side on paper - we just need everyone to click together and get the home crowd behind us."
Entry: $15 for adults, $5 for children under 15, free for children 5 years and under.
Bay of Plenty Blue men's side:
1. Scott Curry 2. Matt Clutterbuck (Captain) 3. Jesse Parete 4. Elijah Nicholas 5. Regan Ware 6. Adam McGarvey 7. Lalakai Foketi 8. Marnus Hanley 9. Akira Mako 10. Dan Hollinshead 11. Danny Kayes 12. Isaac Te Aute
Coach: Paul Tietjens Manager: Courtney Barrow-Fraser Trainer: Aiden Butterworth Physio: Scott Illingworth
2017 Bayleys National Sevens men's Pools:
Pool A
Waikato Hawkes Bay North Harbour Southland
Pool B
Northland Counties Manukau Manawatu South Canterbury
