BOP sides named for Northern Region Sevens

Isaac Te Aute is included in the BOP squad. PHOTO/FILE

The Bay of Plenty men's and women's sevens sides have been named for this Sunday's Northern Region Sevens Tournament in Cambridge.

The men's team will be playing for pool position in the Bayleys National Sevens in Rotorua in January. New coach Paul Tietjens has selected an experienced and talented side with the inclusion of All Black Sevens players Isaac Te Aute and Regan Ware.

Tietjens highlighted the importance the team's preparation would play to achieving success this weekend.

"We have been preparing for a number of weeks now, with a lot of our trainings having a team-oriented focus. For rugby sevens you have to be playing it and training it, so that has been a priority of our training.

"I am really hoping we can play really well as a team and let the results take care of themselves. We have a strong team on paper. It is definitely a luxury to have the New Zealand representatives such as Isaac and Regan and obviously a number of Steamers players in the side too," Tietjens said.

"The main objective for us is to really play well together as a team and gel together to form some strong combinations. We want to finish as high as we can and have a good crack at winning the tournament."

The women's side, captained by Kendra Reynolds, features the inclusion of Black Fern Sevens player Michaela Blyde, following her successful HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series winning performance in Dubai. The side also features a number of up and coming secondary school players such as Ora William and Tynealle Fitzgerald.

Coach Victoria Grant has had a challenging task reducing the squad to 12 but is confident team culture will take care of the result.

"Everyone in the Bay of Plenty squad has been playing extremely well which has made it very hard to pick 12 players for this weekend. The players selected form a great mix of youth and experience," said Grant.

"Our squad has been training and playing well over the past six weeks which is a testament to our team culture on and off the field."

Bay of Plenty men's sevens side:
Adam McGarvey (Rangataua)
Akira Mako (Rangataua)
Dan Crowther (Tauranga Sports)
Elijah Nicholas (Whakatane Marist)
Isaac Te Aute (Mount Maunganui Sports)
Jesse Parete (Arataki)
Josh Honey (Tauranga Sports)
Lalakai Foketi (Rangataua)
Leigh Bristowe (Loan - Southland)
Mason Walker (Mount Maunganui Sports)
Regan Ware (Arataki)
Ruki Tipuna (Rangataua)


Bay of Plenty women's sevens side:
Autumn Stephens (Rotoiti)
Kendra Reynolds (Rangiuru)
Kororia Heyblom (Rangiuru)
Luka Connor (Rotoiti)
Michaela Blyde (Te Puke Sports)
Ora Williams (Taupo nui-a-tia)
Parekura Whareaorere (Rangiuru)
Polly Playle (Rotoiti)
Rian Sanerive (Rotoiti)
Sapphire Tapsell (Rangiuru)
Tynealle Fitzgerald (Opotiki College)
Victoria Edmonds (Rotoiti)