Event Information
Venue
Australian Rugby Union and the International Rugby Board today announced the pools and draw for the upcoming 2008 International Rugby Sevens Adelaide on the weekend of 5-6 April.
Also confirmed today were the final four teams that will line up in Adelaide, with USA, Japan, Cook Islands and Tonga joining Australia, inaugural Adelaide Sevens champions Fiji as well as traditional rivals England, France, South Africa and 2006/07 iRB Sevens World Series champions New Zealand.
Argentina, Samoa, Canada, Scotland, Kenya and Wales round out the 2008 International Rugby Sevens Adelaide draw.
Current Sevens World Series leaders, and tournament top seed, New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A with Scotland, Argentina and Cook Islands, who secured their berth in Adelaide through the Papua New Guinea Sevens qualifying event in November last year.
Pool B is headed by 2007 Adelaide Sevens finalists Samoa who will play Pacific neighbours Tonga, Wales and Japan.
The host nation has been drawn with third seed South Africa in Pool C and will be joined by North American counterparts Canada and USA.
Australia will be hoping, with expected strong partisan support, to replicate their 31-0 demolition of the South Africans in last year's thrilling 2007 Plate Final when they play in the final match on Day One (Saturday).
Pool D looks to be the toughest group in the draw with defending champions Fiji drawn with England, France and Sevens specialist Kenya in what shapes to be a "group of death".
Australian coach Bill Millard said all 16 teams at the 2008 International Rugby Sevens Adelaide are competitive and can be a threat to any team in the tournament.
"Any team is capable of winning on any given day, there are no weak teams anywhere in this draw," he said.
"Earlier this year the Cook Islands beat England and teams like Tonga and Kenya have been in great form this season."
"We've been drawn into a tricky group with a very strong South African side and the North American teams have several Rugby World Cup players in their line ups and we'll have to be at our best to get through."
"We've had some good results against South Africa in the past, including beating them at the Darwin Sevens and the Plate Final here last season."
Tickets for the 2008 International Rugby Sevens Adelaide are currently on sale and with tickets starting from just $25.00 for adults and $60.00 for families, sports fans, event-lovers and families alike have the chance to join in the party.
Download the 2008 International Rugby Sevens Adelaide Draw (PDF file, 170KB).
Full draw information can be found at www.rugby.com.au.
For more information:
Keiran Smith
ARU Media Operations Coordinator
02 8005 5621
0423 755 948
