Mount Maunganui Sevens this Saturday

Sevens Rugby | 08 January 2015 | Steven White

Mount Maunganui is the place to be for rugby fans this Saturday, for the annual Bay of Plenty Sevens Tournament being played at Blake Park.

The tournament features many of the leading provincial teams that will take the field down the road in Rotorua the following weekend in the NZRU National tournament. This includes defending national men's champions Wellington and recent regional qualifying series winners Canterbury (Southern), Taranaki (Central) and Counties Manukau (Northern) in the men’s side of the draw and 2014 regional champions Manawatu (Central) and Waikato (Northern) in the women’s competition.?

The day-long tournament kicks off at 9.00 am with the opening men’s match between home team Bay of Plenty and Canterbury. This tournament’s defending women’s champions Manawatu play Counties Manukau in the first women’s match at 10.40 am.?

The knockout rounds scheduled to start at 3.20 pm and the women’s final at 5.40 pm and men’s final at 6.10 pm.

Most of the matches are played on Titches Pitch, which was officially named two years ago after Sir Gordon Tietjens after he was recognised in the IRB Hall of Fame.

Leading provincial players are expected to play at the Mount, although some internationals including Wellington duo Ambrose Curtis and Murphy Taramai, will be absent as they prepare for the Wellington leg of the World Rugby Sevens in early February.?

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Entry is $15 for the day for adults and free for 14 years and under. ?

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Men’s:?

Pool A: Auckland, Canterbury, Manawatu, North Harbour, Bay of Plenty

Pool B: Taranaki, Wellington, Counties Manukau, Northland, Waikato

Pool A: Manawatu, Taranaki, Counties-Manukau, Canterbury

Pool B: Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington

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9.00 am Bay of Plenty v Canterbury

9.20 am Manawatu v North Harbour

9.40 am Wellington v Waikato

10.00 am Counties Manukau v Northland

10.20 am Bay of Plenty v Auckland

10.40 am Manawatu v Canterbury

11.00 am Waikato v Taranaki

11.20 am Counties Manukau v Wellington

11.40 am Auckland v North Harbour

12.00 pm Bay of Plenty v Manawatu

12.20 pm Taranaki v Northland

12.40 pm Waikato v Counties Manukau

1.00 pm Canterbury v North Harbour

1.20 pm Manawatu v Auckland

1.40 pm Wellington v Northland

2.00 pm Counties Manukau v Taranaki

2.20 pm North Harbour v Bay of Plenty

2.40 pm Auckland v Canterbury

3.00 pm Northland v Waikato

3.20 pm Taranaki v Wellington

3.40 pm Women’s Cup Semi 1 A1 v B2

4.00 pm Women’s Cup Semi 2 A2 v B1

4.20 pm 9th / 10th Play-off A5 v B5

4.40 pm 7th / 8th Play-off A4 v B4

5.00 pm 5th / 6th Play-off A3 v B3

5.20 pm 3rd / 4th Play-off A2 v B2

5:40 pm Women’s Cup Final Women’s Championship Final

6:10 pm Men’s Cup Final ?

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10:40 am Manawatu v Counties Manukau

11:00 am Canterbury v Taranaki

11.20 am Auckland v Wellington

11.40 am Waikato v Bay of Plenty

12.00 pm Manawatu v Taranaki

12.20 pm Canterbury v Counties Manukau

12.40 pm Auckland v Bay of Plenty

1.00 pm Waikato v Wellington

1.20 pm Counties Manukau v Taranaki

1.40 pm Manawatu v Canterbury

2.00 pm Wellington v Bay of Plenty

2.20 pm Auckland v Waikato

3.20 pm Plate Semi (M1) A3 v B4

3.40 pm Plate Semi (M2) A4 v B3

3.40 pm Cup Semi 1 A1 v B2

4.00 pm Cup Semi 2 A2 v B1

4.50 pm Plate Final Winner M1 v Winner M2

5.40 pm Cup Final Winner M3 v Winner M4

Vaea Fifita

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Hayden Schrijvers

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Greg Foe

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Sheridan Rangihuna

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Lote Raikabula

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Tomasi Alosio

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Inoke Rasabale

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Matt Peni

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Tamati Samuels

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Ryan Setefano

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Belgium Tuatagaloa

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Lise Soloa

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Afa Fa'atau

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Tupeni Kamakorewa

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