Rugby union forced to cancel Paengaroa sevens series

• Published date: 04 November 2021
• Publication title: Te Puke Times

A series of four sevens events was planned to take place at Eastern District’s Paengaroa grounds, but last week Bay of Plenty Rugby announced none of the tournaments would be held.

Current alert level 2 restrictions in place at community sport events limit gatherings to 100 people and participants. The numbers at each events would exceed that.

With no change in those restrictions in sight, the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union was left with no alternative but to cancel its four scheduled community sevens events for 2021.

The union explored a number of ways in which it could host some of the events within the current level 2 restrictions, but could not find a way of safely delivering alternatives.

“We are all bitterly disappointed with having to make this announcement,’’ says community capability manager Lisa Appert. ‘‘The team is well aware that a large contingent of our club and secondary school community have been working extremely hard since the end of their 15s season on assembling seven-a-side teams together for their upcoming sevens season.

‘‘The new Youth Club Sevens tournament was especially exciting because it generated excitement within our clubs to re-engage with their former junior players now attending secondary school to don the club colours again.’’

All entry fees paid to date will be refunded.

‘‘Because there’s been such effort and...