SCOTLAND 7S STEP OUT IN THE GAMES VILLAGE
Thursday, 30 September 2010

The Scotland 7s squad took time out today to explore the Games Village after arriving in Delhi yesterday morning.
Following a light weights session at the gym in the morning, the squad toured the international zone, taking time to pose for photographers before heading to a pool session at the village leisure complex.
Scott Newlands and Hefin O’Hare, both experienced IRB Sevens World Series players, are adjusting well and already settling into their daily routine, which includes much more than just their physical sessions.
O’Hare said: “We’ve all been on the IRB circuit and this is how it’s run for us, so we’re just slipping back into our usual competition routine.”
Newlands explained the typical daily schedule for the boys: “When we wake up we take our heart rate and then do an activity together to get our appetite up and get the day started – today we did some boxing to music for ten minutes which was fun.”
“If we’re doing weights, like today, we’ll do our own specific programmes related to sevens, and the rest of the day involves a mixture of meetings, some more training, perhaps some media activity and we also have to fit in our physio appointments and compulsory rest.”
Both first timers at the Commonwealth Games, the multi-sporting environment in Delhi is a different experience for them, but it is one they are relishing.
Newlands added: “We’re normally just around rugby guys when we compete, and now there are an awful lot more athletes around. Everyone’s trying to work out who is from the various sports and we’re meeting lots of new people.
“It’s a massive honour to be part of this event and we can’t wait until the Games start.”.
Scotland 7s’ routine continues now for the next ten days, with a few warm-up matches planned against non-pool opponents, before the two day competition commences on Monday 11 October at Delhi University.
The Scots have a tough pool, including reigning Commonwealth gold medallists New Zealand, but they are aiming high and hoping to continue their fine form from the IRB series where they reached the semi-final of their home event in Edinburgh last May.
Scotland 7s 12-man squad
Mike Adamson, Alex Blair, Scott Forrest, Chris Fusaro, John Houston, Lee Jones, Stuart McInally, Scott Newlands, Hefin O'Hare, Colin Shaw, Andrew Turnbull, Scott Riddell
COMMONWEALTH GAMES, RUGBY SEVENS POOLS (ALL TIMES ARE LOCAL, Delhi is 5 hours 30mins ahead of BST)
Pool A: Canada, Guyana, New Zealand, Scotland
Pool B: India, South Africa, Tonga, Wales
Pool C: Kenya, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa
Pool D: Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Uganda
DAY ONE: Monday 11 October
10.06am - Scotland v Guyana
1.12pm - Scotland v Canada
5.32pm - New Zealand v Scotland
DAY TWO: Tuesday 12 October
9am (match 25) - Bowl Quarter-final - 3rd Pool A v 4th Pool B
9.22am (match 26) - Bowl Quarter-final - 3rd Pool D v 4th Pool C
9.44am (match 27) - Bowl Quarter-final - 3rd Pool C v 4th Pool D
10.06am (match 28) - Bowl Quarter-final - 3rd Pool B v 4th Pool A
10.38am (match 29) - Cup Quarter-final - 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B
11am (match 30) - Cup Quarter-final - 1st Pool D v 2nd Pool C
11.22am (match 31) - Cup Quarter-final - 1st Pool C v 2nd Pool D
11.44am (match 32) - Cup Quarter-final - 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A
1pm (match 33) - Bowl Semi-final - Winner Match 25 v Winner Match 26
1.22pm (match 34) - Bowl Semi-final - Winner Match 27 v Winner Match 28
1.44pm (match 35) - Plate Semi-final - Loser Match 29 v Loser Match 30
2.06pm (match 36) - Plate Semi-final - Loser Match 31 v Loser Match 32
2.28pm (match 37) - Cup Semi-final - Winner Match 29 v Winner Match 30
2.50pm (match 38) - Cup Semi-final - Winner Match 31 v Winner Match 32
3.22pm (match 39) - Bowl Final - Winner Match 33 v Winner Match 34
3.50pm (match 40) - Plate Final - Winner Match 35 v Winner Match 36
4.20pm (match 41) - Bronze Medal Match - Loser Match 37 v Loser Match 38
4.45pm (match 42) - Gold Medal Match (Cup final) - Winner Match 37 v Winner Match 38
5.25pm - Medal Ceremony
Rugby Sevens is one of ten core sports at the Commonwealth Games and made its debut in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, but Manchester in 2002 was the first occasion Scotland competed. Now an approved Olympic Sport, included in the 2016 Games, sevens takes on an even greater significance as part of the Commonwealth Games.

This article was posted on 30-Sep-2010, 18:10 by Hugh Barrow.