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Nick Jordan in Delhi

Monday marks the start of the fourth Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens taking place at Delhi University.

The stadium, with its scoreboard repaired, plays host to the sixteen teams from 9am local time kicking off when South Africa play Tonga in the pool stages of the two-day event. Home nation India are next on against Wales with three-time champions New Zealand playing Canada in Match 3.

Temperatures are expected to climb to an intense 34 degrees Celsius with light winds throughout the day.

"Our preparation has been very good," said Indian National Sevens Coach Usaia Biumaiwai. "For our team it's history. Playing against the World Cup champions Wales is a big thing for them."

India trained at the venue today as the electronic scoreboard which crashed to the ground on Thursday was being repaired. An official said new screen modules replaced those that were damaged and the scoreboard, allegedly worth £250,000, is fully operational.

The Delhi University ground, built especially for the Sevens and which seats 10,000, looked picture-perfect this afternoon and Commonwealth Games officials are hoping for a bumper crowd. Poor attendances have marred other events in the first eight days but according to Chairman Suresh Kamaldi, the Sevens is sold out. And India are excited about the opportunity to play at home.

"I'm sure we won't win a medal but we want to show the local people they can play and they can compete," he said. "We're not only thinking of the Commonwealth Games, but thinking of the future of rugby in India."

The local spectators will be treated to the usual high-octane action of Rugby Sevens with nine of the top 12 sides in the world in attendance.

In Pool A New Zealand, the winners in Melbourne, Manchester and Kuala Lumpur, start as favourites with the returning Liam Messam, the captain four years ago, strengthening a core provided by DJ Forbes, Lote Raikabula and Tomasi Cama.

Scotland and Canada (ranked 11th and 12th in the world) will enjoy a good tussle for second, though newcomers Guyana are likely to struggle.

Injury-hit South Africa play Wales, Tonga and India in Pool B. Although the IRB Series winners in 2008-09 should make the quarter-finals, both the red-shirted teams will be competitive. Wales have two players returning from the RWC Sevens win in Dubai last year whileTonga finished third behind Australia and Samoa in Darwin last week.

Current IRB champions Samoa are without Uale Mai are expected to be too strong for Kenya, ranked eighth, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea in Pool C.

And with Australia, third last season, and England (fifth) facing off in Pool D the penultimate match of Day One is certain to be a classic. The last time the teams met, in Edinburgh, the game finished at 21-21.

Both teams, who will be too strong for Uganda and Sri Lanka, are of medal-winning quality and dare we suggest that losing this match to head to the opposite side of the draw from New Zealand would not be the worst result?

With Sevens superstars such as IRB Player of the Year Mikaele Pesamino, England’s Dan Norton, All Black wingers Hosea Gear, Ben Smith and Zac Guildford and a Wallaby duo of Luke Morahan and Lachie Turner in attendance, the scoreboard is likely to be clicking over regularly on the first day.

Day 1 CMW Games Pools

Pool A:  New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, Guyana

Pool B: South Africa, Wales, Tonga, India

Pool C: Samoa, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia

Pool D: England, Australia, Uganda, Sri Lanka

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Nick Jordan is in Delhi with thanks to Herbalife, nutrition for a better life