Teams announced for Commonwealth Youth Games
The first appearence of women's rugby in a tournament run by the Commonwealth Games Foundation will take place at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa between 5th and 11th September.
Published by John Birch, January 25th, 2015
3 minute read
Six teams have been invited to take part in the women's tournament – the first time young female athletes will compete in a Rugby Sevens competition at a Commonwealth Youth Games. They are:
Canada, Scotland, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands and Samoa.
Making the announcement, David Grevemberg, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation said:
“We’re delighted to unveil the Commonwealth nations and territories teams invited to compete in what is one of the world’s great international Rugby Sevens competitions for young athletes and we’re especially pleased to be making history by having the first women’s Rugby Sevens tournament at a Commonwealth Youth Games.”
Vitolio Lui, Chief Co-ordinator of the Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games said:
“Rugby Sevens is fast and furious contest with high point-scoring, hard hits and heroic sprints with just 14 minutes to win the game. It’s all about teamwork, skills and stamina and everyone’s got a job to do.
“Given the high quality of Rugby Sevens competition within the Commonwealth, we look forward to seeing some exciting and excellent performances in Samoa.”
World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset added:
“Rugby Sevens is reaching out, attracting and inspiring new young audiences around the world. We are excited about our Commonwealth Youth Games opportunity to showcase the future global stars of the men’s and, for the first time, the women’s Rugby Sevens. We are sure that the sport’s winning blend of breath-taking action, competitiveness and entertainment will prove a hit in rugby-mad Samoa.”
Commonwealth Games Associations from the selected nations and territories now have until March 1st to confirm whether they will take up their Rugby Sevens slots along with all the other sports in which they intend to compete.
The Samoa 2015 Youth Games takes place from September 5-11 and will involve around 1000 Young Commonwealth Athletes aged 14-18. This will be the fifth Commonwealth Youth Games with previous Games held in Isle of Man (2011), Pune India (2008), Bendigo, Australia (2004) and Edinburgh in Scotland (2000).