Sevens: Talent awash at sevens clash

The Bay of Plenty women's sevens team preparing for the Bayleys National Sevens in Rotorua this weekend. Pictured is Kate Hanwood playing against Waikato during a sevens tournament at Blake Park, Mount Maunganui at the weekend. Photo/George Novak

The Bay of Plenty women's sevens team will make their return to the national sevens tournament with plenty of young talent.

The Bayleys National Sevens kicks off on Saturday at Rotorua International Stadium.

The competition includes 16 provincial men's teams and 10 provincial women's teams competing for national titles.

The Bay women's team qualified for the tournament last month, after missing out on last year's tournament.

Bay coach David Mays said they were looking to improve on their current ranking of ninth in the country.

"This year, at the nationals, it is a bit of the unknown but we want to go out and set a bench mark.

"Our aim is to be top four by this time next year."

Mays said the team was in a building stage and needed time to get use to the sevens game, which is quite different to the 15-man game.

The Bay team currently includes a lot of young players from across the region, including Rotorua players.

"Pretty much 70 per cent of the squad are all under 20. We have a really young group but we have a few players who have been around for a while," he said.

Mays said one of the most impressive things about the Bay team was the camaraderie among the players.

"I think they have an amazing camaraderie, they all enjoy each other's company.

"They enjoy being together and working hard for each other, it is like a big whanau really."

The Bay team showed good signs for the up-coming nationals during the Provincial Sevens Rugby Festival held in Mount Maunganui at the weekend.

Mays said they would have a stronger team than the side which missed out on the semifinals at the Mount and they could surprise a couple of provinces in Rotorua.

"Next week we will go out guns blazing and probably shock a couple of teams."

Mays will name a 12-player squad for the nationals today, after taking a bigger squad to the Mount Maunganui festival at the weekend.

He said the girls loved playing in their home province in front of friends and family.

They will be up against the likes of Manawatu, Canterbury, Taranaki, and Counties Manukau in their pool.

The Bay women's side have been training together since August.

Collect Wednesday's Rotorua Daily Post for the team lists for both the Bay of Plenty men's and women's teams.