New Zealand to defend Commonwealth Gold in rugby sevens at Glasgow

Monday, 14 July 2014 00:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel A total of 45 games will be contested across two days of fierce competition on 26 and 27 July at Ibrox Stadium in Scotland 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.

This will be the story at the Commonwealth Rugby sevens at Glasgow when the New Zealand All Blacks go all out to retain their Commonwealth Gold which they safe keep since the inception of the Commonwealth games in rugby football. The All Blacks who start winning the Gold at rugby sevens started in 1998 and continued in 2002, 2006 and 2010. In 1998 they beat Fiji in the final. Australia became third in this tournament. Four years later in 2002 New Zealand beat Fiji once again with South Africa claiming the third position. The 2006 Commonwealth Games was hosted by Australia in Melbourne with once again New Zealand stamping their class with the final win over England. Fiji ended on number three position. The last game in Delhi saw New Zealand winning the Gold and continue their winning streak at Commonwealth games this time over their traditional rivals Australia. South Africa claimed number three slot. A notable change from the pools released in January 2014 is the replacement of Nigeria with Barbados coming in. Nigerian Olympic Committee officially declined their invitation to compete in this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Sri Lanka sevens team faces tough task Sri Lanka will be having a tough task at the Glasgow Commonwealth Rugby sevens with the home team though prepared themselves through Mercantile rugby sevens, Inter club sevens and Carlton sevens will be featured in one of the toughest groups according to the world rankings. Sri

Lanka will have to face off England, Australia and Uganda in the group stages of this world tournament. The rugby loving public is surprised that the pool of 24 players brought down to 12 even without a trial game for this world event which will take place in Scotland on 26 and 27 of this month. The Sri Lankan outfit will be led by Fazil Marija who successfully led the national team to number three position in the Asian Rugby Sevens last year, later on qualifying to represent the 38th World famous Hong Kong sevens. The notable absentee from the touring party for this Commonwealth Games will be on form Nigel Ratwatte being omitted by national selectors. Former Science College and Kandy SC winger Richard Dharmapala will be making his sevens debut for Sri Lanka when he tours to Glasgow this month. This year’s Navy SC Centre C Stefano will be the coach of the side. Once more it was shell shock for the former Sri Lanka Sevens Coach Nilfer Ibrahim who was instrumental in bringing Sri Lanka into the number three position in Asia being dropped out. Nilfer told the Daily FT: “I am really disappointed to hear the news that I was not part of the tour. Also I am really let down; I got Sri Lanka to the top three but I have been overlooked. I need to re-think my priorities and will continue to coach Isipathana and Hambantota Sharks and will think twice before taking on national duty in future. It would have been ideal for me to get some exposure on this Commonwealth games under Stefano.”