Fiji ready to defend their title

Pools and schedule set for Hong Kong

Defending champions Fiji, the current leaders on the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens standings for the 2005/06 season, are ready for the challenge they face at the 30th annual Hong Kong Sevens.

Waisale Serevi's Fiji top the seedings in Hong Kong, the fifth event in the 2005/06 IRB Sevens Series.

Running for three days from March 31 to April 2, the event follows on from the Rugby Sevens tournament at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, which is held two weeks prior in Melbourne, Australia.

The long-established Hong Kong Sevens is a 24-team event with extra points up for grabs, the Cup champion for example winning 30 points instead of the 20 on offer from the other seven 16-team events in the world series.

With England having closed the gap on Serevi's men to 12 points in Los Angeles, their favourite stamping ground Hong Kong offers a further chance to take the season down to the wire in it's European climax in June.

Fiji, winners in Hong Kong last year at the RWC Sevens, face Kenya, Russia and Madagascar in Pool A, the latter side playing in their very first IRB Sevens event after the 15-a-side team performed such heroics in reaching last year's Africa Cup final.

Hong Kong has a knack of bringing the best out of the teams, so we can definitely look forward to another memorable tournament. With the extra points on offer, things could be even closer at the top going into the Singapore event  

England, out for their fourth consecutive Hong Kong Sevens title, face a resurgent Canada in Pool B, as well as the USA Eagles and home side Hong Kong, while third seeds South Africa face the strong dual challenge of Wales and Portugal - both so impressive early season - as well as China in Pool C.

Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand top Pool D and face Scotland, Japan and Singapore, while France top Pool E courtesy of their highest-ever seeding position and face Australia, Korea and Sri Lanka.

The Pumas of Argentina, who beat the French in the Plate final in Los Angeles, top pool F and face a tough battle against Samoa and testers against Italy and Chinese Taipei.

"Throughout the season since December we've seen an extremely high general standard of play that seems to be rising constantly," said IRB Tournament Operations Manager Beth Coalter.

"The series is looking more and more competitive and Hong Kong has a knack of bringing the best out of the teams, so we can definitely look forward to another memorable tournament. With the extra points on offer, things could be even closer at the top going into the Singapore event."

From Hong Kong, the IRB Sevens Series will travel to Singapore on 8-9 April, before its climax in Paris and Twickenham in late May and early June.

Hong Kong Pools:

Pool A: Fiji, Kenya, Russia, Madagascar
Pool B: England, Canada, USA, Hong Kong
Pool C: South Africa, Wales, Portugal, China
Pool D: New Zealand, Scotland, Japan, Singapore
Pool E: France, Australia, Korea, Sri Lanka
Pool F: Argentina, Samoa, Italy, Chinese Taipei

Schedule (Kick-off local times - GMT +8):

Day 1 - March 31:
Match 1: Pool A 16:30 Fiji v Madagascar 
Match 2: Pool B 16:52 England v Hong Kong 
Match 3: Pool C 17:14 South Africa v China 
Match 4: Pool D 17:36 New Zealand v Singapore 
Match 5: Pool E 17:58 France v Sri Lanka 
Match 6: Pool F 18:20 Argentina v Chinese Taipei 
Match 7: Pool A 18:42 Kenya v Russia 
Match 8: Pool B 19:04 Canada v USA 
Match 9: Pool C 19:26 Wales v Portugal 
Match 10: Pool D 19:48 Scotland v Italy 
Match 11: Pool E 20:10 Australia v Korea 
Match 12: Pool F 20:32 Samoa v Italy

Day 2 - April 1:
Match 13: Pool A 10:30 Kenya v Madagascar 
Match 14: Pool B 10:52 Canada v Hong Kong 
Match 15: Pool C 11:14 Wales v China 
Match 16: Pool D 11:36 Scotland v Singapore 
Match 17: Pool E 11:58 Australia v Sri Lanka 
Match 18: Pool F 12:20 Samoa  v Chinese Taipei 
Match 19: Pool A 12:42 Fiji v Russia 
Match 20: Pool B 13:04 England v USA 
Match 21: Pool C 13:26 South Africa v Portugal 
Match 22: Pool D 13:48 New Zealand v Japan 
Match 23: Pool E 14:10 France v Korea 
Match 24: Pool F 14:32 Argentina v Italy 
Match 25: Pool A 15:22 Russia v Madagascar 
Match 26: Pool B 15:44 USA v Hong Kong 
Match 27: Pool C 16:06 Portugal v China 
Match 28: Pool D 16:28 Italy v Singapore 
Match 29: Pool E 16:50 Korea v Sri Lanka 
Match 30: Pool F 17:12 Italy v Chinese Taipei 
Match 31: Pool A 17:34 Fiji v Kenya 
Match 32: Pool B 17:56 England v Canada 
Match 33: Pool C 18:18 South Africa v Wales 
Match 34: Pool D 18:40 New Zealand v Scotland 
Match 35: Pool E 19:02 Fiji v Australia 
Match 36: Pool F 19:24 Argentina v Samoa