NEW Zealand, Fiji and Western Samoa, who between them have won the past seven Hong Kong Sevens tournaments, have been kept apart in the qualifying events leading up to the 1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Rugby World Cup (RWC) yesterday released the draw for the three tournaments from which 21 out of 64 teams will qualify for the 1997 World Cup at the Hong Kong Stadium.
It was feared that a qualifying series would jeopardise the chances of all major sevens nations playing in the territory.
But RWC has ensured that the territory can confidently expect all the top teams to qualify for the tournament.
However, Gordon Tietjens, coach of defending Hong Kong Sevens champions New Zealand, questioned the need for teams like New Zealand to qualify.
New Zealand must undertake the long journey to Lisbon, Portugal, in June next year for what appears to be a formality. Eight countries out of 24 qualify from the Lisbon event.