The bar has been raised at the 2011 Bay Engineers Supplies Provincial Rugby Sevens tournament to be played at Blake Park Mount Maunganui on Sunday, January 2 with the entry of one of the real heavyweights of New Zealand Rugby.

For the first time since the BOPRU Provincial Sevens was re-introduced five years ago, Canterbury is travelling north to play in what is regarded as the North Island Rugby Sevens Championship.

The summer holiday date always ensures large crowds are on hand to witness the frenetic action of the sevens game. With holidaymakers from throughout the country descending on Mount Maunganui in large numbers, there is plenty of support on hand for all the visiting teams too.

Canterbury coach Chris Neill says coming to the North Island is about preparation for the national tournament.

'We are bringing the Canterbury team to the Mount Sevens to introduce the side to the intensity of the top North Island teams before the National Sevens in Queenstown,” says Chris.

'I was in the Mount on holiday last year and saw first hand the intensity of competition that the North Island sides received at the Bay of Plenty Sevens.”

'Our reason for coming north is to learn the style of the North Island contenders and cement out team combinations.”

Bay of Plenty has a special affinity with rugby sevens. In April 1992 a Bay of Plenty team played in the Melrose Sevens in Scotland. The tournament was then considered the pinnacle world event of the shortened version of the game.

Coached by New Zealand Sevens maestro Gordon Tietjens, the Bay side emerged triumphant, defeating Kelso 17-12 in the tournament final.

Evidence of the best teams in the country being at Blake Park is provided by the 2010 National Championship Final. In January 2010 Waikato defeated Bay of Plenty 21-14 in an absolute thriller.

BOPRU Bay Engineers Supplies Provincial Rugby Sevens 2011 Entries:

Bay of Plenty, Northland, North Harbour, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu, Horowhenua Kapiti, Wellington, Canterbury.