A record number of teams will compete at the annual Baywide Club Sevens Tournament held at Eastern Districts Rugby Football Club in Paengaroa this Saturday.

The event comes after kicking off with the Summer of Sevens with Bay of Plenty Secondary School Sevens last week at Arataki Park.

Rangataua return alongside nine other Bay of Plenty Clubs to compete for the Open Men's Sir Gordon Tietjens Trophy.

Rangataua head into the tournament as favourites after successfully winning last weekend's Mount Maunganui Sports sevens.

The Exia Edwards Trophy will provide spectators with a positive display of women's rugby with a total of seven teams taking the field including the newly formed Matata women's side.

2016 title holders Rangiuru will be challenged by local rivals Rangataua.

This year's Te Manawa Whenua Grade has a record number of eight entries split across two pools. 2016 Te Manawa Whenua winners Waikite will return to defend their title in what is expected to be an exciting contest between division one and two clubs including Eastern Districts, Judea, Te Teko, Matata, Papamoa, Kahukura and Rangiuru.

An exciting mix of teams will make up the Men's Tight Five division with 2016 title holders Mount Maunganui Sports returning to defend their title.

'It is fantastic to see a record number of entries this year,” says Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Operations Manager, Neil Alton.

'It is positive to see the spread across the grades and the growth within local clubs to field several teams.”

The afternoon is expected to be a great set up with spectators being able to enjoy the flare and excitement of sevens rugby, coupled with a tasty bite to eat and a whanau zone for kids to be entertained.