Inter-state 7-A side rugby tourney in Bangalore from July 15

Mumbai, July 11 (UNI) India's leading rugby players, representing 12 states, will be seen in action during the Hutch Inter-State 7-A side Rugby Tournament, which will be played at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore from July 15.

The two-day tournament, conducted by the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), would determine the top eight teams that will participate in the upcoming National Games in Guwahati in October, a release here today said.

There will be a total of four Pools of three teams each and there would be a league system for the first round, with YTWO games per team in the first round and after the first round. The top two teams in each pool will qualify for the National games.

The next few years would be crucial for the development of the sport on a national level, leading up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games being hosted by India. As the host, India will directly qualify for the tournament and take on the other much-fancied rugby playing nations (and Commonwealth members) like New Zealand, Australia and England amongst others.

To facilitate the development and selection of the Indian team, the Ministry of Sports wants to include Rugby 7's as an event in the National Games every year, which will have eight of the top states competing for the honors, the release added.

The following are the 12 states participating Teams: Maharashatra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Manipur, Harayana, Delhi, Orissa, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

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