Rugby: Thomson mindful of Delhi dangers

New Zealand sevens representative Adam Thomson at Otago training at Logan Park yesterday. Photo...
New Zealand sevens representative Adam Thomson at Otago training at Logan Park yesterday. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Adam Thomson says Delhi could be a dangerous place and he wants to make sure all security promises are met when he arrives in the Indian city for the Commonwealth Games.

Thomson and Otago rugby team-mate Ben Smith are in the 12-strong New Zealand sevens team going to the Games next month.

But as security concerns mount, monsoon rains arrive and worries continue that facilities will not be finished or up to scratch, doubts are increasing over Delhi's capability to stage a successful Games.

Thomson said the New Zealand Rugby Union was keeping the players up to date with what was happening with security, and thoughts of safety threats had crossed his mind.

"You've got to be concerned and want to make sure things that they [Games officials] say are in place are in place," he said.

"It can be a dangerous place and there is a bit of a threat there.

They [NZRU] are going to keep updating us with security."

Promises had been made by the Indian army and police that strong security measures would be in place, he said.

New Zealand sevens team manager Ross Everest has travelled to Delhi to check on security measures and venues.

It was reported yesterday Delhi police had taken control of all Games venues, and about 175,000 paramilitary had been deployed to guard the city from terrorist strikes.

Thomson, an Otago and former All Black loose forward, had not thought of pulling out of the event, but if the risks were too high he would withdraw, he said.

He was not focusing on the security issues, as doing so was "a negative" and was just wasting time.

Any decision on the team's not going to Delhi would probably be made when the team was in Dubai for a week of training before the Games, he said.

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