The Bajans will replace the west Africans in Pool A and will be up against reigning Commonwealth Games and International Rugby Board (IRB) Rugby World Cup Sevens champions New Zealand, Canada and host nation Scotland.

It is unclear why the Nigerians made the decision to withdraw from the Games and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) - which oversees participation at the Commonwealth Games - did not respond to a request for clarification from insidethegames.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said they are still seeking information regarding the decision, while a spokesperson for Glasgow 2014 told insidethegames: "We have received formal confirmation that Nigeria has withdrawn from the rugby sevens competition at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

"The draw will be unchanged with the replacement fulfilling Nigeria's fixtures."

A spokesman for the IRB could not shed any light on the decision either.

"It's disappointing for the Nigerian rugby team and their Rugby Union but it's a matter for the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Nigerian Olympic Committee as to why they made that decision," the IRB's Mark Egan told insidethegames.

"But it's a great opportunity for Barabados."

Ibrox Stadium will host the rugby sevens competition at Glasgow 2014 ©Getty Images



At last year's North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Sevens Championships, Barbados missed out on an automatic qualification spot for Glasgow 2014 after losing to Trinidad and Tobago in the third-place play-off.

With the withdrawal of Nigeria, the Bajans have been handed an unexpected chance to showcase their skills in Glasgow and director of the Barbados men's sevens squad, Joe Whipple, is delighted with the turn of events.

"The boys are understandably overjoyed to have earned this opportunity, but now the real work starts," he said.

"The teams that we will face in our group in Scotland are all core teams on the IRB Sevens World Series circuit, so they will have the advantage of having played a full season of high level rugby going into the Games.

"We need playing time as a group and to get bigger and fitter to compete at that level."

Whipple and his squad are set to meet up for a week-long training camp at Loughborough University in mid-March in preparation for the Hong Kong Sevens at the end of next month, which will see Barbados competing with 11 other nations in a Sevens World Series qualifying tournament for the right to become a core team on next season's full Sevens World Series circuit.

Barbados will face a daunting task in Pool A where they come up against reigning Commonwealth Games champions New Zealand ©Getty Images




Following the Hong Kong tournament, Barbados are set to take part in a number of sevens events in the United Kingdom, which will act as warm-ups for the Commonwealth Games which are due to get underway on July 23.

"These tournaments are critical to our preparations," added Whipple.

"They will allow us to see which of our players can compete at the highest levels, who has the commitment to improve all aspects of their game, and how effective our playing style is against the big teams."

Sixteen teams will compete in the rugby sevens competition at Glasgow 2014 and along with Pool A, Pool B contains South Africa, Kenya, Cook Islands and Trinidad and Tobago, Pool C is made up of Samoa, Wales, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia, while England, Australia, Sri Lanka and Uganda line-up in Pool D.

Other absentees from Glasgow include Fiji, currently suspended from the Games due the Pacific island's military Government, while Tonga missed last year's Oceania Sevens tournament which doubled as a Commonwealth Games qualification event, as it reportedly could not afford to pay the NZD $12,000 (£6,000/$10,000/€7,300) participation fee.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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