All teams for Hong Kong named

Submitted by TemoL on Fri, 29/01/2010 - 8:18am

This year's tournament again welcomes the 12 core teams that participate in all eight of the IRB Sevens World Series events - Argentina, Australia, England, defending Hong Kong champions Fiji, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, reigning IRB Sevens World Series champions South Africa, USA and Wales.

Added to this established mix are 12 other aspiring teams, six from outside the Asian region and six from within.

Representing the rest of the world are Canada, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Tonga and Zimbabwe. Russia makes a first return after back-to-back Bowl wins in Hong Kong in 2007 and 2008, and following a strong start to the season in Dubai and George, while Italy returns for the first time since 2007.

Closer to home, the Hong Kong Sevens continues its traditional role as a hotbed of Asian rugby development. The six teams set to participate - China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, Thailand and the hosts Hong Kong - are the first to qualify through the new Asian Rugby Sevens Series, established in October 2009.

Thailand is returning to the Hong Kong Sevens for the first time since 2004.