PORTO – There are only 6 days left to the kick-off of the biggest ever World University Rugby Sevens Championship to be held in Portugal.
The city of Porto will have its first team on the 16th July – its sister team from Brazil will land 5 days ahead of the 4th WUC Rugby 7s. The Portuguese male and female national teams will arrive with the support of CP – Portuguese Railways on the 19th July, ready to join all other teams at the Melia Gaia Hotel.
The female team of Canada will be the second delegation to reach Porto, arriving on the 17th July. The following day will see Guam (female) and Lebanon (male) arrive in Portugal. The Canadian male team will arrive on the 19th as will Kenya (male), Italy (male and female), Chinese Taipei (male), Japan (male), Hungary (male), Poland (male) and Spain (male and female). The 20th of July will receive Belgium (male) and the male and female teams from Russia, Great Britain and Norway. The last team to arrive will be Ukraine (male) on the 21st July.
Rugby is in full swing and on the 21st July, the city of Porto will be full of colour from the participating countries’ marching parade from the historic Avenida dos Aliados, from 4 pm. All participating countries and teams will take part in this joyful and symbolic moment.
Teams from Australia, USA, Ukraine and France will sadly not participate in the competition, having pulled out less than 15 days before the event. The last withdrawal was confirmed yesterday, 6 days before kick-off, by team South Africa – current male World University Champions. However, the male team of Georgia has been accepted and will participate in this competition.
Due to these changes, the competition schedule will be redone before the 20th July.
(Source: OC)