Rugby Sevens first featured on the Commonwealth Games program in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, and has been included in every Games since. The event will be run over two days, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July – the first weekend of the Glasgow 2014 schedule.
Sevens will be played at the Ibrox Stadium, home of the legendary Rangers football club. Scotland’s third-biggest stadium, the Ibrox was built in 1899 and has a current capacity of 51,000. It was selected for use in the Glasgow schedule for its “first-class sightlines and intense, intimate atmosphere.”
Reigning champions New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A alongside tournament hosts, Scotland. Delhi silver medallist Australia and bronze medallist South Africa are the top seeds in pools D and B respectively, while other World Series regulars in Samoa, England, Kenya, Wales, and Canada will also feature.
Sixteen teams will take part in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens, split into four Pools as confirmed by the International Rugby Board and Commonwealth Games Federation:
Pool A – New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, Barbados
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
On Day 1, Australia will play pool matches against Sri Lanka in the morning, Uganda in the afternoon, and then England in the second last game of the night session. Should they finish in the top two of pool D, they are likely to face Samoa or Wales in a quarter-final on Day 2.
The semi-finals commence in the evening session, and the Bronze Medal playoff and the Gold Medal match will take place at the completion of the Bowl and Plate competitions.
History: who won last time?
New Zealand beat Australia in the Gold Medal match in Delhi, in 2010, and in fact, our friends over the ditch have won all four Commonwealth Gold medals to date: Kuala Lumpur in 1998, Manchester in 2002, Melbourne in 2006, and Delhi last time around.
Prediction: who will take Gold in Glasgow?
Without a shadow of a doubt, New Zealand will start favourites for Gold. South Africa – with the possible inclusion of Springboks flyers Bryan Habana and former sevens star Cornal Hendricks – are also in with a shot, along with Samoa and England.
New Zealand wrapped another IRB World Sevens title in early May, when they took out the London Sevens, held at Twickenham. The win pushed them out to almost thirty points ahead of South Africa in second spot, with Fiji third and England fourth.
Australia finished the 2013/2014 IRB World Sevens series in fifth spot overall, and lost the final to New Zealand at Twickenham in May.
Australia is determined to finish top of Pool D, which would mean they avoid New Zealand and South Africa until the semi-final stage.
Aussies to watch
Cameron Clark, the son of Australian rugby commentator, Greg – is rapidly emerging as one Australia’s best Sevens players. He finished fifth on the point scorers tally for the 2013/2014 season, and finished the season as Australia’s sole representative in the World Sevens Team of the Season.
Skipper Ed Jenkins is well known in Australian rugby circles, and is Australia’s most experienced player. His leadership will be crucial in a squad which contains nine Commonwealth Games debutants.
One player who does have Commonwealth Games experience is Queensland Reds flanker, Liam Gill, who has been drafted into the Australian Sevens squad alongside the Australian Under-20s captain – Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon.
McMahon brings a good level of Sevens experience with him, and was a regular on the World Series circuit as recently as last year.
For Gill, his announcement among the 12-man squad heading to Glasgow came almost four years to the day since he played in the Commonwealth Games Gold Medal match in Delhi in 2010. He’s really excited to be heading to another Commonwealth Games, after a fairly chequered run with injuries for the Reds this season.
“The experience and the honour of representing your country at a Commonwealth Games is massive,” Gill told me during the Australian team’s preparation camp, prior to heading over to Glasgow.
“Both Sean [McMahon] and myself are so lucky, in that we get to come into an established team … and established leadership group, and a team and structure that is well set up. With everything set up, we’ve just got to focus on how games and how we can positively impact the team, which is good for us because we still finding our feet.
“Geraint [Jones, Australia’s new Sevens coach] has done a great job in the short time he’s been with the team, all the players have responded really well to him. So we’ve come in, and we’ve had a great time under Geraint and with the group of players. Both Sean and I are lucky enough to have played with a lot of the players through schoolboys, through Under 20s, and through Sevens, albeit a while back for me.”
Gill admitted that the Commonwealth Games program “had been on my mind” for large parts of 2014, knowing how much he enjoyed the experience in Delhi and in 2010, but that his involvement only became a possibility a few weeks out from the selection camp.
While he’s happy just be back playing at a high level after an at times frustrating season, Gill is determined to have success in Glasgow, and to then turn that success into bigger and better things on the rugby field for the rest of 2014.
“I’d love to be part of a successful team at the Commonwealth Games, that’s my immediate plan. Beyond that, I’d love to prove that I can play for the Wallabies again. I haven’t had that chance this year, and my Super Rugby’s been very stop-start,” Gill said.
“It’d be nice to be able to put together some game time over the Sevens tournament, and to prove that my fitness is there and that my skills are there, and just show that I am capable of playing for the Wallabies again.”
What to drink while watching
Exciting, skilful, and never a dull moment, you’ll need something to help you keep up with the helter skelter nature of sevens. A certain caffeinated, dark coloured beverage would do nicely, mixed with a barrel-aged spirit if so desired.
This article was first published on the Tenplay website here.
The Bush
Roar Guru
No they're all Commonwealth nations, not "ex". I think you're confusing having the Queen as your head of state with the Commonwealth of Nations - they're two separate things. We're a Commonwealth "Realm" as we have the Queen, if that helps.
The Bush
Roar Guru
USA does qualify - not interested though.
Old Bugger
Guest
Brett Are you aware of the loophole in IRB rules that opens the door for RWC hopefuls representing another nation? It seems, the inclusion of 7s in the Rio Olympics allows players who have not played test rugby in the past 18mths to switch allegiance if they have a passport for another country. Its because national Olympic representation is based upon a competitor's passport. The downside is the 18mth window may increase to a 3year window but that's beside the point as far as I'm concerned. Nevertheless, from NZRU's perspective, players such as Ice Toeava, Mils Muliaina, Soseni Anesi, Leila Masaga, Casey Laulala, Rudi Wulf, Benson Stanley, Frank Saili, Kevin Senio and not forgetting SBW, may all align themselves for Manu Samoa if they haven't played any test rugby in the past 18mths. Then you look at Mose Tuiaili, Ross Filipo, Jerry Collins, Brad Mika, Ben Afeaki, John Schwalger, Ben Tameifuna, John Afoa, Tony Tuitivaki and Frank Halai who can turn out for Samoa or Tonga with Joe Rokocoko and Sitivatu heading to Fiji. Rene Ranger and Piri Weepu have an opportunity with the Cook Islands except CI didn't make next year's comp. Admittedly, this allegiance switch applies to 7s for Rio in 2016, but it has the opportunity to reach into test rugby and personally, I think it's great for PI nations. It has been a disadvantage IMO, when so many active players can not represent their country of heritage because of the current restrictions of "one player, one nation" representation. I'm sure there are more players overseas who have at some time in their careers, represented one nation in test rugger and now find themselves on the outer for one reason or another. There are national unions that have strictly adhered to the current restriction to ensure the IRB doesn't waiver on this rule - well, all I can say is I'm glad the potential to change for so many players is now at the doorstep of so many smaller nations, that it can only inspire and grow the game in and for those nations. Hear, hear to the IOC for providing this loop-hole which I'd like to believe the IRB will now honour in the spirit that Olympic representation provides. I wonder how many other national sides will feel this impact?
ben
Guest
How does it work then? Whats the criteria in that case?
Tigranes
Guest
Mozambique is at the games but was never a part of the British empire
ben
Guest
Theoretically then the usa should be eligible then.....pre war of independence and all....must be a time limit imposed by her majesty or something.
ben
Guest
Aaaaah...thanx everyone for that. So really it should be the commonwealth and ex commonwealth games.
Bakkies
Guest
The Repêchage will consist of 4 from Europe, 3 from Africa, 3 from Asia, 2 from Oceania, 2 from North America and 2 from South America. Likely teams So France/Portugal, Spain, Germany/Belgium, maybe Georgia Oceania Samoa/Australia, Tonga NA Canada/USA, scraping the barrel there. South America Uruguay, Chile Africa Uganda, Namibia, Cote d'Ivoire? Asia Hong Kong, Korea, ? All competing for 1 spot that would be a decent tournament to watch.
Bakkies
Guest
The Olympics is only allowed 12 countries to compete so IRB sevens series results come under consideration. There are also regional qualifiers. If it was pure regional qualifying with the hosts the automatic team to enter the Pacific qualifiers will be very cut throat with Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Australia and NZ in the region. Means of qualification Date of completion Venue1 Berths Qualified Host nation 2 October 2009 N/A 1 Brazil 2014–15 IRB Sevens World Series 17 May 2015 Various 4 Confederation of African Rugby Various (home and away) 1 Asian Rugby Football Union Various (home and away) 1 FIRA – Association of European Rugby Various (home and away) 1 North America Caribbean Rugby Association Various (home and away) 1 Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby Various (home and away) 1 Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions Various (home and away) 1 IRB Preliminary Competition – Intercontinental Various (home and away) 1 Total 12 That's how teams will be entered so if going from results in this season's series remain similar in the next series Australia and Samoa would have to qualify through the regional process with the likes of Tonga. One of those teams would have to go in to a repêchage. IRB series SA, NZ, Fiji and possibly GB through England Federation of Oceania should be Samoa or Australia Africa Kenya South America Argentina Asia Japan FIRA France or Portugal NACRA Canada or USA The Repêchage will be very cut throat and some decent teams missing out on qualifying.
The Bush
Roar Guru
No Tonga at the games at all or just don't make into this tournament? No Northern Ireland? Probably too controversial... So if Australia tops their group, they're a good shout for a medal even though you don't have them as one of your favourites Brett?
Jerry
Guest
OK fine, there'll be a couple of minor nations missing who might have caused a boil over but were a long shot at featuring at the pointy end of the tournament. But all the heavyweights of 7's will be there. In fact, given the qualification processes for the 2016 Olympics, I'd imagine the Commonwealth Games 7's field be stronger than the Olympic one.
Bakkies
Guest
Argentina and USA are competitive on the tour.
Bakkies
Guest
47,000 jocks packed in to scum park for each session. The IRB sevens events in Scotland don't get that much interest.
Bakkies
Guest
The Womens RWC is on in France which would affect sides like Aus, NZ, SA, Canada.
atlas
Guest
I enjoy Sevens - is that allowed? It's the only CG event i'll make an effort to watch; just a pity Fiji are not there - but we still have 7 of the top 8 teams from the 2013-14 World Series If Australia were to win gold I expect it might get some media attention.
alicesprings
Guest
Ha..dont know where I've been! Just realised the Commonwealth games are on! There seems to be bugger all interest this time around..or other world events have been dominating the air time.
Jerry
Guest
It's a premiere 7's event, winner take all that only comes round every 4 years. The only rugby countries that aren't there are non events at 7's. Until 7's hits the Olympics, it's still a big deal.
sham
Guest
Seriously who cares? What a non event
atlas
Guest
Living in isolation as I am (Thailand) - how much TV coverage will there be in Australia of the Sevens? Expect I'll be able to find live streaming coverage of at least the semis/Finals (hope)
BigAl
Guest
plenty of republics in the Commonwealth (India etc.). I think SA were kicked out of the commonwealth over apartheid, then were "welcomed back" after they got rid of that - as per most things.