HK 7s the best chance to close gap

The Hong Kong 7's next month is the best chance for teams in the IRB 7's series to close the gap on current points leader England and New Zealand.

The 24 teams have been group into 6 pools of 4 teams and unlike in past tournaments where the pool winners will meet with the runner up from the other pool this tournament will have the top 8 team with highest points been rank from 1 to 8 when the pool game is completed.

This format is use for teams to try and score more points in their pool game with the top 2 sides meeting the 7th and 8th place team in the quarter finals.

The Digicel Fiji 7's team is in Pool D with Kenya, Russia and Malaysia for next month's Hong Kong 7's.

Joint World Series leaders New Zealand and England top Pools A and B respectively. New Zealand will face France, Portugal and Korea, while England will play USA, Japan and China.

In Pool C defending Hong Kong Sevens champions Samoa are matched against Scotland, Tonga and Mexico.

South Africa will line up against Wales, Hong Kong and Spain in Pool E and finally, sixth seed Australia face seventh seed Argentina as well as Canada and Zimbabwe in Pool F.  

Hong Kong carries extra points for the successful teams, with 30 points going to the Cup champions and also offers the largest prize purse in international Sevens of $US150,000.

The Hong Kong 7's will be held on the 25th to the 27th of next month.

Story by: Dreu Vukailagi