Commonwealth Games: Forbes savours meeting with Queen

DJ Forbes. Photo / AP

DJ Forbes is not short of crowning moments in his illustrious sevens career but lunch with the Queen will surely be right up there for the New Zealand skipper.

The 31-year-old did not even have time to change out of his dress shirt as he arrived for Friday's press conference in Glasgow; standing out like a sore thumb among his dressed-down colleagues.

But Forbes savoured the occasion and - with New Zealand bidding for a fifth consecutive gold at Ibrox Stadium this weekend - he will now turn his focus to a different kind of crown at the home of Rangers Football Club.

"I'm not sure how I got nominated, but to be amongst the Queen with some of the other athletes was special," said Forbes.

"I met Kate and Wills earlier in the year and meeting the family has been pretty good. My etiquette was on point; I made sure I was sitting properly.

"There wasn't too much meet and greet. She was ushered into the dining hall and the athletes got a chance to take a few photos. We were pretty reserved and made sure we didn't offend her in any way".

Forbes is building up an illustrious list of regal acquaintances. The royal family are ardent followers of rugby and there will be no shortage of interest in this weekend's competition.

If New Zealand they are going to continue their record at the Commonwealth Games, then they must overcome Canada, Scotland and Barbados in the pool stages.

South Africa, who finished second in the World Series, will provide the biggest challenge in the latter stages, but they are likely to be without Springboks winger Bryan Habana.

The Toulon star missed the cut-off date to be named in South Africa's 12-man squad, but he has been placed on standby in case of any injuries. Forbes, however, is not concerned about a possible face-off with XVs star.

"Everyone knows the game is changing," said Forbes. "No disrespect to Habana, but I think he knows the pressure that comes with jumping across to the seven-man code, where the skillsets and the demands are extremely different.

"He could lift the team morale. But the coach will know that, to be good at sevens, you've got to be playing for a bit longer than a week. If they do go ahead with him then so be it, we will see it as an opportunity to test ourselves against one of the best wingers in the world."

New Zealand are unbeaten in 25 games in Commonwealth competition. Forbes was part of the victorious team at Delhi 2010 and - after a week-long camp in Holland - he is satisfied with preparations for this year's event.

"The camp was top notch," he said. "The club we trained at are like a New Zealand rugby club, in terms of the support that turned out for us. We played a local Dutch side and I think 5,000 plus turned out to our training venue. The facilities were great, the food was good, and our hotel was right on the beach, which was good for recovery."