One year to go until Sevens at the Commonwealth Games

PENICUIK, SCOTLAND - JULY 17: (EDITORS NOTE: IMAGES STRICTLY EMBARGOED FROM ANY FORM OF PRINT, BROADCAST OR ONLINE USE UNTIL 00.01 BST ON TUESDAY JULY 23, 2013) Soldiers from the Royal Highland Fusiliers form a giant number one to mark one year until the 2014 Commomwealth Games on July 17, 2013 in Penicuik,Scotland. The 23rd of July marks one year to go until the opening of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. More information about activities and events to mark one year to go at www.glasgow2014.com/press-releases. (Photo by Getty Images)

Commonwealth constants: New Zealand celebrate their fourth Commonwealth title in a row at the Delhi Games, 2010

By Alan Dymock

ONE YEAR to go. That’s the word in Scotland as Glasgow prepares to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Some of the biggest names in sport will be heading towards Scotland’s west and rugby is no exception, with sevens the game to watch next summer. The tournament – which has been won by New Zealand in all of the previous four Games – begins at Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium on July 26, 2014, and will run over two days.

How many years to go?: Scotland is ready

Tickets go on general release on August 19, with prices beginning at £15. Tickets can be purchased online via the Glasgow 2014 ticketing site and potential spectators must fill out a ticket application form.

Scotland captain Colin Gregor took some time out from his preparation for the upcoming HSBC World Sevens Series, which begins in Australia in October, to speak to Rugby World about the big event. The half-back said: “As an entire squad the Scottish lads have a responsibility to do all they can to promote the Commonwealth Games and the One Year To Go campaign has really hit home for me what a special event it is. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I have been to Ibrox a couple of times to watch Aberdeen get beaten by Rangers and I’ve been to see an Old Firm match there. That was Ibrox at its best and we would love to have it as busy as that and with a slightly different, but just as impressive atmosphere. Everything now is geared towards that.”

The whole Scotland squad have also been getting involved with the local community in preparation for the Games. Around 70 kids took part in skills sessions with the team last week as part of the ongoing One Year To Go campaign that has athletes from several disciplines introducing children from all over Glasgow to some of the sports they will be able to see next summer at the Commonwealth Games.

As it stands England are the only side form the UK and Ireland to win a Commonwealth medal at sevens, taking silver in the 2006 Games in Melbourne. Can one of the home nations go on to win the whole thing and break the All Black streak next year?

Read the IRB Sevens Player of the Year in 2009, Ollie Phillips dissect the recent Sevens World Cup in the September edition of Rugby World – out now!

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Rugby World

One year to go until the Commonwealth Games

January 2025