Scotland’s group confirmed for Glasgow 2014

Glasgow 2014 have confirmed today that Scotland will meet four times Commonwealth Games champions New Zealand in Group A in this summer’s Commonwealth Games. The side, who currently sit in 12th in the HSBC Sevens World Series, are also joined by circuit neighbours, 13th placed, Canada and African qualifiers Nigeria for the tournament that will take place on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July at Ibrox Stadium.Scotland 7s Head Coach, Stephen Gemmell, said: “With the teams being announced for Glasgow 2014’s rugby sevens event it brings the timescale towards the Commonwealth Games into sharp focus and this is something we’ve been looking forward to for a number of months now.”It’s an exciting pool that we are in, first of all New Zealand have set a high standard in the Commonwealth Games winning the gold in every tournament and doing so unbeaten.Canada we know well and have had some close games with in recent years so that will be a key game in terms of where we finish in the pool, and finally Nigeria, will be a typical African sevens team with lots of power and pace.”It’s great hearing the pools today and there will now always be one eye on the Commonwealth Games but we still have the World Series as our focus at the moment. The draw also adds an extra incentive to the times we will play New Zealand and Canada in the circuit, starting with New Zealand in our group in Las Vegas. “Looking at the teams that have been announced today and hearing about the number of spectators that will be in Ibrox, it’s clear it’s going to be a wonderful event to be a part of and we will be doing everything we can to make the country proud in July.The four pools confirmed by the International Rugby Board and Commonwealth Games Federation today are: Pool A – New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, NigeriaPool B – South Africa, Kenya, Cook Islands, Trinidad and TobagoPool C – Samoa, Wales, Papua New Guinea, MalaysiaPool D – England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Uganda 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.” 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 multi-sport 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.Glasgow 2014 will announce the full competition schedule next month.