Charles Baxter is the new Bay of Plenty Rugby Union sevens coach as changes are made to make the region more dominant in the sevens version of the game.

The union says the appointment is a key movement in the sevens pathway with its goal to become the leading rugby sevens province in the country.

Charles Baxter in action during a sevens game against Australia. (Supplied)

The union has introduced a new initiative sub-union series, which is aimed to grow the shortened version of the game and will be part of a selection process to pick a Bay of Plenty sevens representative team.

Charles is a former member of the New Zealand sevens team coached by Gordon Tietjens and was also a member of the Bay of Plenty Steamers for several seasons.

'It's a real privilege to be selected as the Bay sevens coach after representing the province in both sevens and fifteens rugby as a player,” says Charles.

'I have a real passion for the sevens game and will be tapping into all the tools and resources available in pursuit of success with the Bay of Plenty sevens pathway.”

He will attend both the secondary school and sub-union sevens series to help with the selection of this seasons Bay sevens squad.

'Another objective from watching the two sevens series is to talent spot for the future.”

Charles' first key objective will be to select a Bay of Plenty team to defend their BOPRU Bay Engineers Supplies Provincial title on January 2 at Blake Park.