England have been drawn in the same group as Australia for the pool phase of the sevens competition at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, it was announced today (Thursday)
 
They are joined in Pool D by Namibia and Sri Lanka in the draw, which was announced by the International Rugby Board and Commonwealth Games Federation.  The top two teams from each pool progress to the quarter-finals.   
 
England won the silver medal at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, going down 29-21 to New Zealand in the final. They also beat Australia 14-12 and Sri Lanka 61-0 in the pool phase of the competition four years ago.
 
Australia finished third in the 2009 the IRB Sevens World Series behind Samoa and New Zealand, with England fifth.
 
Rugby sevens made its Commonwealth Games debut at the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998. New Zealand have won gold at all three Commonwealth Games to feature the sport.
 
New Zealand head Pool A in Delhi, where they are joined by Scotland, Canada and Guyana. South Africa are joined in pool B by Wales, Tonga and India, with IRB Sevens World Series champions Samoa topping pool C where they face Kenya, Uganda and Papua New Guinea.  
 
The sevens competition in Delhi takes place on 11 and 12 October, marking almost exactly a year since the International Olympic Committee announced the inclusion of rugby sevens as an Olympic sport.
 
"Having sevens played at the Commonwealth Games plays an integral role in the ongoing development and promotion of rugby around the world. The event features teams from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, North America and the Caribbean and continues to attract some of the world's top players, delivering exciting matches and attracting new fans," said IRB President, Bernard Lapasset.
 
"Sevens has consistently proven to be successful at the Commonwealth Games and this year we are particularly excited that the event is being held in India, where Rugby is reaching out to new, young audiences in a rapidly developing market for our sport. We are looking forward to what promises to be a memorable tournament for the global rugby family."
 
Mike Hooper, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation added: "With a record crowd of 50,000 at the final rugby sevens session in Melbourne in 2006, the rugby sevens tournament has become one of the most sought-after attractions at the Commonwealth Games, providing an excellent spectacle for both fans and television viewers.
 
"The inclusion of some of the world's best sevens teams and star players from every corner of the world continue to broaden the Games' global appeal even further."
  
The 2010 Commonwealth Games take place in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. They will feature 17 sports - archery, aquatics (swimming, synchronised swimming & diving), athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, rugby 7s, shooting, squash, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling. With the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Commonwealth Games England is entering a breath-taking four years of sport.

Commonwealth Games England (GCE) is the organisation responsible for selecting and organising England's team at the Commonwealth Games.   England finished second to Australia on the medal table at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games with 36 golds, 40 silvers and 34 bronzes.

Sport England is responsible for building the foundations of sporting success, by creating a world-leading community sport system of clubs, coaches, facilities and volunteers. Their focus is growing and sustaining the numbers of people taking part in sport and improving talent development to help more people excel.
 

For further information about Commonwealth Games England please contact the Commonwealth Games England press office at Matchtight Ltd on 07765 071683 or 07831 755351 or see the CGE’s website at www.weareengland.org <http://www.weareengland.org <http://www.weareengland.org> >