Tough Commonwealth draw for England

England have been pooled with hosts Australia in a tough draw for next year’s Commonwealth Games sevens.

England are seeded third in the competition behind defending Commonwealth champions New Zealand and World Cup winners Fiji.

Mike Friday’s men should qualify in the top two from Pool C – which also features Cook Islands and Sri Lanka – and they are then likely to face either Samoa or South Africa in the quarter-finals.

Wales have been drawn alongside New Zealand, who won their sixth IRB Sevens title last season, Kenya and Namibia in Pool A.

Second place in Pool A would probably pitch the Welsh into a quarter-final showdown with Fiji, who are firm favourites to win Pool B ahead of Scotland, Canada and Zambia.

If the Scots can qualify from the group in second place they are likely to face New Zealand in the last eight.

The sevens competition takes place in Melbourne’s Telstra Dome on March 16 and 17 next year – the same weekend as Ireland take on England, Wales host France and Scotland travel to Italy for the final round of RBS 6 Nations matches.

:: Commonwealth Games pools:

Pool A – New Zealand, Kenya, Wales, Namibia

Pool B – Fiji, Scotland, Canada, Zambia

Pool C – England, Australia, Cook Islands, Sri Lanka

Pool D – South Africa, Samoa, Tonga, Uganda