The International Rugby Board together with the Commonwealth
Games Federation has announced the pool draw for the Rugby Sevens
event at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India on 11-12
October.
Marking almost exactly one year since Sevens' inclusion
as an Olympic sport at the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen, the
tournament will be the first opportunity to witness its proven
blend of high-octane action and competitive matches in a
multi-sport Games environment.
Defending Commonwealth Games Sevens Champions New Zealand are
top seeds and head Pool A, where they will face opening matches
against World Series regulars Scotland and Canada as well as
Caribbean champions Guyana, who also competed on the World Series
this season in Las Vegas.
New Zealand have won all three Rugby Sevens gold medals on
offer so far - in 1998 (Kuala Lumpur), 2002 (Manchester) and 2006
(Melbourne).
2002 bronze medalists South Africa head Pool B and face three
challenging opening ties against reigning Rugby World Cup Sevens
champions Wales, Tonga and the host nation, India.
Reigning IRB Sevens World Series champions Samoa top Pool C
and face matches on day one against ever-dangerous Kenya, the
Cranes of Uganda and exciting Puk Puks of Papua New Guinea.
2006 silver medalists England head Pool D and face a
mouth-watering tie against Australia, who finished this year's
World Series in third place behind the Samoans and New Zealand. The
two rugby superpowers will also face matches against the third
African team in the draw, Namibia, as well as Sri Lanka.
"Having Sevens played at the Commonwealth Games plays an
integral role in the ongoing development and promotion of Rugby
around the world. The event features teams from Europe, Asia,
Africa, Oceania, North America and the Caribbean and continues to
attract some of the world's top players, delivering exciting
matches and attracting new fans," said IRB President Bernard
Lapasset.
"Sevens has consistently proven to be successful at the
Commonwealth Games and this year we are particularly excited that
the event is being held in India, where Rugby is reaching out to
new, young audiences in a rapidly developing market for our sport.
We are looking forward to what promises to be a memorable
tournament for the global Rugby family."
Mike Hooper, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games
Federation, added: "With a record crowd of 50,000 at the final
Rugby Sevens session in Melbourne in 2006, the Rugby Sevens
tournament has become one of the most sought-after attractions at
the Commonwealth Games, providing an excellent spectacle for both
fans and television viewers.
"The inclusion of some of the world's best Sevens
teams and star players from every corner of the world continue to
broaden the Games' global appeal even further."
The Tournament Schedule will be announced in the coming
weeks.
Sevens Commonwealth Games factfile:
- Rugby Sevens was introduced to the Commonwealth Games in
Kuala Lumpur 1998
- The Rugby Sevens final at the Commonwealth Games 2006 in
Melbourne was a record crowd for the seven-a-side format with
150,000 attending the three competition days.
- 16 teams take part in the Commonwealth Games, including the
host nation
- Following Delhi, the next Commonwealth Games will be in
Glasgow in 2014
