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Victoria, BC: James Bay Athletic Association captured the opening tournament of the 2011 BC Sevens Series over the past weekend, going undefeated to win the Men's Division of the second annual Kukri Buccaneers Sevens. In the Women's Division, the defending provincial champs Burnaby Lake narrowly edged Velox RFC in the Cup Final.

Men's Division
The Bays had gone 3-0 during pool play and blanked Prairies rep side Dog River Howlers 29-0 in the Cup Semifinal. Boasting plenty of international experience with the likes of Phil Mack, Morgan Williams, Jeff Williams, Connor Braid, Neil Meechan and John Moonlight, the Bays cruised past Burnaby 35-12 in the Cup Final. The Bays currently lead the BC Sevens Series with 18 points, while Burnaby are four points shy with 14 in the standings.

The Plate Final saw Seattle-based and Waisale Serevi coached Old Puget Sound Beach (photographed) RFC defeat Coquitlam-based United by a score of 26-17. OPSB were awarded 8 points in the series for their plate victory, while United now sits in fourth overall with 6 points.

Plate semifinal:
OPSB 24 - 22 South Seas Connection*

Plate final:
OPSB 26 - 17 United

Cup semifinal:
James Bay 29 - 0 Dog River Howlers*
Burnaby 31 - 10 Fire Fighters*

Cup final:
James Bay 35 - 12 Burnaby

Women's Division
In the Women's Cup final, Burnaby Lake narrowly defeated Velox 12-5 for the opening series title. Burnaby had lost to Velox in pool play, but the defending champs hit their stride with a 34-0 semifinal victory over the Emerald City Mud Hens and carried their form into the championship game. Burnaby now leads the BC Sevens Series with 14 points, followed closely by Velox who has 10. The Mud Hens and James Bay are currently tied in the series standings with six points each.

Cup semifinal:
Velox 40 - 5 James Bay
Burnaby 34 - 0 Mud Hens

Cup final:
Burnaby 12 - 5 Velox

2011 BC Sevens Series

The next stop on the BC Sevens Series is the Vancouver Rugby Sevens, scheduled for June 25 at Connaught Park in Kitsilano. Building on the success of the inaugural competition held in 2010, which featured over 40 teams from Canada and the United States, the 2011 BC Sevens Series will see six tournaments endorsed by BC Rugby as official stops on the circuit. Club teams competing in those tournaments can accrue points towards a provincial sevens title.

June 11, 2011: Kukri Buccaneer Sevens (Victoria)
June 25, 2011: Vancouver Rugby Sevens (Vancouver)
July 16, 2011: SFU Highland Summer Sevens Rugby Tournament (SFU)
July 23, 2011: Abbotsford International Rugby Sevens (Abbotsford)
August 6, 2011: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club Lighthouse Sevens (Burnaby)
August 27, 2011: Bayside Summer Sevens Rugby Tournament (South Surrey)