The Bay of Plenty Sevens team head for the Pub Charity National Rugby Sevens to be played in Queenstown this weekend (7/8 January 2012), looking to surpass last year’s record of making the championship semi-finals.

The Bay side have received few favours with North Harbour, Tasman and Canterbury in their pool. While North Harbour and Tasman will be relatively unknown opposition - the Bay team will be seeking revenge after being beaten by Canterbury, at the Bay Engineers Supplies Provincial Sevens played at Mount Maunganui on Monday (2 January).

While Bay of Plenty cruised through the preliminary contests at their home tournament, defeating Horowhenua Kapiti and the BOP Invitation side, they were eliminated from the championship by Canterbury in a relatively close encounter.

Bay of Plenty have a new coach in charge who has a myriad of experience of sevens rugby. Charles Baxter was a member of the Gordon Tietjens coached New Zealand Sevens team within the last decade, and also wore the Blue and Gold Bay of Plenty uniform on numerous occasions.

Bay of Plenty Sevens Team

Jack Wilson, Marnus Hanley, Matt Clutterbuck, Paul Tietjens, Lance MacDonald, Whakataki Cunningham, Quentin Gardiner, Toby Arnold, Nathaniel Walker, Ben Paltridge, Zar Lawrence, Itaitia Lomani.
Coach: Charles Baxter Manager: Mark Hemingway

National Rugby Sevens Pool D: Bay of Plenty, North Harbour, Tasman, Canterbury.

For Further Information Contact
Neil Alton BOPRU Operations Manager 021 570 911