World Cup sevens draw

New Zealand should face few problems advancing through the early stages of the rugby sevens World Cup in Russia after receiving a favourable pool draw.

New Zealand are alongside the United States, Canada and Georgia for the June 28-30 tournament in Moscow where they will pursue a second world title in six attempts.

Despite their ongoing success in the annual International Rugby Board world series, New Zealand have struggled at the four-yearly World Cup, having been eliminated last time out in the quarter-finals at Dubai in 2009. Their sole title came at the 2001 tournament in Argentina.

Surprise 2009 champions Wales weren't so fortunate in the draw made in Moscow on Thursday, finding themselves grouped with traditionally-strong Fiji.

There are six men's pools, with the winners of each plus the two best second-placed teams advancing to the quarter-finals.

In the 16-team women's competition, New Zealand are pitted against pool opponents Canada, the Netherlands and Tunisia. Australia are defending champions.

The World Cup will be the last edition before rugby sevens makes its Olympic at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Rugby World Cup sevens pools:

MEN

Pool A: Australia, Spain, France, Tunisia

Pool B: South Africa, Scotland, Russia, Japan

Pool C: Samoa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Philippines

Pool D: New Zealand, USA, Canada, Georgia

Pool E: Fiji, Wales, Tonga, Uruguay

Pool F: England, Argentina, Portugal, Hong Kong

MEN

Pool A: Canada, New Zealand, Netherlands, Tunisia

Pool B: Australia, South Africa, China, Ireland

Pool C: USA, Spain, Brazil, Fiji

 Brycy if its true you are only as good as your last match the ab test and sevens sides are not to hot?

Bean Brain when yr sitting as far out in front of everyone else as the ABs are, we can afford the luxury of a loss or two and still be numero uno...

being a world cup its probably is the most coveted 7s title at the moment, 7s in the future are going to have some tournaments which will be considered must wins by the top teams. world cup, olympics and the hong kong 7s which IMO is the best tournament of the regular 7s circut.

NZ teams are looking good as usual and we should face very little challenges in the pool stages, so i hope against georgia and canda we bech our stars early once the game is in the bag and save them for the knockout final stages.

GO NZ 7S!!!

Brycy

Interesting - but the New Zealand team for the WC will be bucked up - the present squad was not to convincing in Las Vegas.   Any news on the Hong Kong Sevens?