Glasgow 2014 has today (Tuesday January 14) confirmed the teams and pools for the Rugby Sevens competition at this summer’s Commonwealth Games.
glasgow2014
The sixteen teams who will strive for the coveted Gold medal in front of packed audiences at Ibrox Stadium are Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, England, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Wales.
Reigning champions New Zealand, who have won all four Commonwealth Gold medals to date, have been drawn in Pool A alongside Canada, Nigeria and Scotland.
South Africa (Pool B) and Australia (Pool D) were both among the medals at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and, together with Samoa (Pool C) and England (Pool D), are among the nations determined to challenge the mighty All-Blacks’ dominance in Glasgow.
The four Pools confirmed by the International Rugby Board and Commonwealth Games Federation are:
- Pool A – New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, Nigeria
- Pool B – South Africa, Kenya, Cook Islands, Trinidad and Tobago
- Pool C – Samoa, Wales, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia
- Pool D – England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Uganda
A total of 45 games will be contested across two days of fierce competition at Ibrox Stadium in a fast and furious contest which requires teamwork, skill and stamina as two teams with seven athletes on the pitch go toe to toe for glory in games which last just 14 minutes.
Greg Warnecke, Head of Sport at Glasgow 2014 said:
“Glasgow will welcome most of the world’s best Rugby Sevens nations to compete at the Games. The standard of competition will be world-class, the action is fast-paced and with all of the teams playing in each session of competition, it guarantees a feast of rugby action and a brilliant atmosphere all round.”
IRB Chairman, Bernard Lapasset, said:
“For 16 years now Rugby Sevens has enjoyed being a key part of the Commonwealth Games. To compete alongside their compatriots in a multisport environment is a matter of huge pride and honour for our rugby players, who are making giant strides in this new Olympic era. We wish our Rugby athletes all the best in this magnificent international event.”
Limited opportunities still remain to be part of the Rugby Sevens crowd at Ibrox with ticket prices starting from just £15 for adults. Tickets are on sale on a first-come, first-served basis online at glasgow2014.com or via the Ticketing Hotline at 0844 826 2014.
The full competition schedule – detailing dates and times of matches – will be announced next month.
Geez. South Afric in a TOUGH group there.
Why bother with it?
Fiji not there due to military government (as they won’t be at the olympics either), so even fewer teams in with a realsitic shout at the gold medal.
Surprised Swaziland and Lesotho not there as well!
Pool A: “The pool of death”? It’s got 3 “real” 7’s playing countries in it.
Maybe Nigeria can cause an upset or 2?
@ Scrumdown:
I would say barring any HUGE surprises it is already clear who will top Pools A and B, Kenya may give SA a hard game but surely it would be regarded as an upset if they did manage to beat SA. Pools C and D should see more competition for the number one spot. Still looking forward to it, got tickets for the first half of the last day.
1 @ Scrumdown:
Surely broadening the horizons of our game is a good thing? Besides am sure you would have struggled to find anyone who thought Mr Bolt wouldn’t win the 100m in London yet even so many people were there and many didn’t manage to get tickets to see the ‘inevitable’ happen…
5 @ Bullscot:
I have VERY mixed feeling on the subject.
Personally, I don’t see the advent of 7’s in the Olympics having the effect of growing the full game at a later stage.
IMO the whole Olympic issue is built on something of a poorly thought out and implemented plan.
Fiji are banned from the olympics. England, Scotland, and Wales compete only as part of team GB.
Ireland’s participation is even more confusing. Northern Irish competitiors may compete at the Olympics as either part of team GB or as part of Eire’s team, whilst the Irish Rugby team is a mixture of the North and South, something quite unique.
Anyway, all just waffle.
I’m (still) not convinced that the IRB always do what is right for RUGBY UNION. (it’s been discussed and well documented since 2007.) If you want to learn more, please google “putting rugby first”, and read the report sent to the IRB after the 2007 world cup.
Interesting indeed.
As far as the Commonwealth Games are concerned, enjoy the spectacle.
NZ – Gold.
England – Silver
SA / Samoa – Bronze.
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