The Official Draw for the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2013 was held this evening at Hysan Place in Hong Kong.
In late 2012, the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) and the International Rugby Board (IRB) unveiled an exciting format for the world-famous Hong Kong Sevens in 2013, with Hong Kong being awarded the hosting of a 12-team HSBC Sevens World Series (HSBC SWS) Pre-Qualifier tournament alongside a 16-team competition featuring the 15 core teams participating on the...
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The Official Draw for the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2013 was held this evening at Hysan Place in Hong Kong.
In late 2012, the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) and the International Rugby Board (IRB) unveiled an exciting format for the world-famous Hong Kong Sevens in 2013, with Hong Kong being awarded the hosting of a 12-team HSBC Sevens World Series (HSBC SWS) Pre-Qualifier tournament alongside a 16-team competition featuring the 15 core teams participating on the 2012/2013 HSBC SWS and the HSBC Asian Sevens Series 2012 champions Hong Kong.
On the HSBC Sevens World Series front, this year's Series is again a testament to the fast-rising parity in international sevens with five teams winning the five tournaments played to date. Fiji won the Series opener in Australia, Samoa won the Dubai Sevens, New Zealand won in South Africa, England won in Wellington and South Africa were crowned champions at the most recent HSBC SWS tournament in Las Vegas.
As the Series heads into Hong Kong, New Zealand top the table with 96 points, 23 more than second placed South Africa (76), Samoa and Fiji trail at 71 and 66 points respectively. France and Kenya are making a strong showing on the 2012/2013 HSBC SWS on 59 and 57 points respectively.
With the addition of the Pre-Qualifier, the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens remains the largest tournament on the HSBC SWS with 28 teams. The 2013 tournament marks the largest field ever hosted in the 38-year history of the Hong Kong Sevens and the first increase in the number of participating teams since the 24-team format was adopted in 1984.
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