Organisers of an elite Bay of Plenty rugby sevens academy aiming to unearth the game's future stars believe they are on to a winner with what is to become the new benchmark in New Zealand.

The Wasps Academy 7s, launched by Rotorua-based New Zealand Wasps Rugby Club earlier this month, is seeking talented youngsters to shape into the next DJ Forbes, Ben Lam or Gillies Kaka.

New Zealand Wasps Rugby Club former president Terry Fenwick, All Black Sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens, Wasps Academy 7s director of rugby David Mays, New Zealand Wasps Rugby Club president Jim Rackham, and New Zealand Wasps Rugby Club captain Doug Marra.

And helping promote the venture is the backing of New Zealand rugby legends Sir Gordon Tietjens and Wayne "Buck" Shelford.

All Blacks Sevens hall of fame coach Tietjens is an academy ambassador and he will be keeping a watchful eye on the programme's athletes.

"This is a tremendous initiative by Wasps and they should be applauded for it.

"Anyone serious about playing sevens at the highest level needs to be focusing on sevens specific conditioning and game sense. This programme provides this and I'm really looking forward to seeing it evolve.”

The academy is aimed at Bay of Plenty males aged 17-20 who possess a strong rugby pedigree and a similarly strong desire to excel.

Potential participants, once nominated by their head teacher or school/club coach or manager, will undergo a screening and interview process.

Successful applicants will then begin a comprehensive programme, including individualised strength and conditioning work as well as full coverage of all the tactical, mental and physical aspects of the modern Sevens game.

Sir Titch adds that academy director David Mays, a certified Level 4 coach and former Bay of Plenty Women's Sevens coach, is an excellent choice to lead the project.

'He's passionate about his profession and has been to the majority of our All Black Sevens caps over the last four and a half years since arriving in New Zealand [from the UK]. He keeps his finger on the pulse and that can only be good for the academy's athletes.”

Former Wasps and All Black No.8 Shelford wholeheartedly supports the initiative.

"It's vital to bridge the gap between high school and senior rugby otherwise a lot of youngsters will drop out of the game. The kids need to be playing rugby, with this academy that will have something to go to, and it's at a high performance level.”

Wasps Academy 7s director of rugbyDavid Mays says this will be a tremendous resource for Bay athletes where hopefully they are given the building blocks to make the step up to the next level and have the right skills.

Looking to enter a minimum of four tournaments between now and February next year, Dave admits the programme's success will not be judged on wins rather players playing for the Steamers, playing Sevens and being picked up by Sir Titch.

'We will see how we progress but there is no point throwing lambs to the slaughter and putting them in tournaments they aren't ready for.

'We are setting the benchmark for others to follow. Nobody is doing this in New Zealand and eventually everybody is going to do it.

'I don't think they have cottoned on to the fact that once the Olympics kick in, the game is going to explode even more.”