Chasing pack want Fijian blood

Singapore announce pools and schedule

The chasing pack want some Fijian blood as they head into back-to-back International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens series tournaments - Hong Kong and Singapore - in the next month.

The pools and schedule have been announced for the Singapore Sevens, the sixth event in the 2005/06 IRB Sevens Series, with Fiji again topping the seedings.

To be held on April 8 and 9 in the Singapore National Stadium, the event follows on directly from the Hong Kong Sevens and offers Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, China and Korea further opportunity to showcase their ability against the more seasoned core teams.

Fiji, out to win their first-ever overall IRB Sevens series title, face Australia, Japan and hosts Singapore in Pool A.

With the table looking much closer now after the Los Angeles event, and with some many sides able to win in Hong Kong, events in Singapore will be crucial in shaping the standings table going into the last two events in Europe  

England are second seeds and face the tough Samoans as well as Kenya and Korea, while South Africa face the Pumas of Argentina, Scotland and Hong Kong in arguably the toughest pool.

Defending Singapore Sevens champions New Zealand face France, Canada and China in another tough group and, while an overall series defence is surely beyond them now, they will be as prepared as ever.

IRB Tournament Operations Manager Beth Coalter said: "Last year's Singapore Sevens was very well supported, both by the sponsor and the fans, and that was matched by the heroics on the pitch in what can be very oppressive heat and humidity for the players.

"With the table looking much closer now after the Los Angeles event, and with some many sides able to win in Hong Kong, events in Singapore will be crucial in shaping the standings table going into the last two events in Europe."

From Singapore, the IRB Sevens Series travels to Europe and its climax in Paris and Twickenham in late May and early June.

Singapore Pools:

Pool A: Fiji, Australia, Japan, Singapore
Pool B: England, Samoa, Kenya, Korea
Pool C: South Africa, Argentina, Scotland, Hong Kong
Pool D: New Zealand, France, Canada, China

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

Day 1 - April 8:
Match 1: Pool D 12.00 New Zealand v Canada 
Match 2: Pool D 12.22 France v China 
Match 3: Pool C 12.44 South Africa v Scotland 
Match 4: Pool C 13.06 Argentina v Hong Kong 
Match 5: Pool B 13.28 England v Kenya 
Match 6: Pool B 13.50 Samoa  v Korea 
Match 7: Pool A 14.12 Fiji v Japan 
Match 8: Pool A 14.34 Australia v Singapore 
Match 9: Pool D 14.56 New Zealand v China 
Match 10: Pool D 15.18 France v Canada 
Match 11: Pool C 15.40 South Africa v Hong Kong 
Match 12: Pool C 16.02 Argentina v Scotland 
Match 13: Pool B 16.24 England v Korea 
Match 14: Pool B 16.46 Samoa  v Kenya 
Match 15: Pool A 17.08 Fiji v Singapore 
Match 16: Pool A 17.30 Australia v Japan 
Match 17: Pool D 17.52 Canada v China 
Match 18: Pool C 18.14 Scotland v Hong Kong 
Match 19: Pool B 18.36 Kenya v Korea 
Match 20: Pool A 18.58 Japan v Singapore 
Match 21: Pool D 19.32 New Zealand v France 
Match 22: Pool C 19.54 South Africa v Argentina 
Match 23: Pool B 20.16 England v Samoa  
Match 24: Pool A 20.38 Fiji v Australia