Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
Scotland drawn with Sevens champions New Zeland
ESPN Staff
January 14, 2014
New Zealand continued their winning streak in 2010 © Getty Images
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Hosts Scotland will face the challenge of defending Commonwealth Games champions New Zealand, while England have been drawn alongside Australia, for the Sevens competition at Glasgow 2014 this summer.

Joining England in Group A are Sri Lanka and Uganda while Scotland will face the All Blacks along with Nigeria and Canada in Group C. Wales have been drawn into Group B with Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia. The top two sides from each group advance to the quarter-finals.

Sixteen teams will compete a total of 45 games over two days at Ibrox Stadium. New Zealand come into the competition after winning gold at all four Commonwealth Games which has featured Rugby Sevens, most recently defeating Australia 24-17 at Dehli 2010, in a competition which also saw South Africa pip England in the bronze medal match.

Greg Warnecke, Head of Sport for Glasgow 2014, said: "Glasgow will welcome most 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"

The Rugby Sevens are set to feature at the next Olympic Games for the first time at Rio 2016 and the IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset believes the shorter version of the sport is going from strength to strength.

He 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."

The full schedule of the competition - set to take place on July 26 and 27 - will be announced next month.

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

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