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The bar has been raised for the Bay of Plenty sevens tournament, with Canterbury set to take to the field for the first time in its history.

The 2011 Bay Engineers Supplies Provincial Rugby Sevens tournament will be played at Blake Park, Mount Maunganui, on January 2. For the first time since the BOPRU Provincial Sevens was re-introduced five years ago, Canterbury will 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.

Canterbury coach Chris Neill said they were bringing the team to the Mount Sevens to introduce the side to the intensity of the top North Island teams, before the National Sevens in Queenstown. "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 reasons for coming north are to learn the style of the North Island contenders and cement our team combinations."

Bay of Plenty has a special affinity with rugby sevens. Advertisement 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.

The Bay of Plenty Provincial Sevens has become the major lead-up to the New Zealand National Sevens, which will be played in Queenstown on September 8. Evidence of the best teams in the country being at Blake Park is provided by this year's National Championship Final. In January 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, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu, Horowhenua Kapiti, Wellington, Canterbury.