Good games draw for BlitzBokke
The BlitzBokke on Tuesday received a favourable draw for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, which gets underway on July 23.
Reigning champions New Zealand, who have won all four Commonwealth gold medals to date, have been drawn in Pool A alongside Canada, Nigeria and tournament hosts, Scotland.
Delhi bronze medallist South Africa, Samoa and silver medallist Australia are top seeds in pools B, C and D respectively, while other IRB World Series regulars in England, Kenya, Wales and Canada will be determined to challenge the dominance of the mighty New Zealanders, whose run of four straight titles began in Kuala Lumpur back in 1998.
The BlitzBokke will face former coach Paul Treu’s Kenya, the Cook Islands and Trinidad and Tobago.
The 16 teams who will strive for the coveted gold medal in front of packed audiences at Glasgow's 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.
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."
Greg Warnecke, Head of Sport at Glasgow 2014, said: “Glasgow will welcome many 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.”
Commonwealth Games Sevens Pools:
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
