Ardent suitor the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union has still not been able to get England to say 'yes' to taking part at this year's Silver Sevens.
The English RFU, which has almost traditionally held a stand-offish view on taking part in the Hong Kong Sevens, has yet to announced whether it will send a team to the March 24-26 tournament.
'If I had a bet on whether England would be playing at the Hong Kong Sevens, I couldn't say at the moment if I would win it,' said HKRFU executive director Allan Payne yesterday.
'There will definitely be four teams from the Six Nations. We have also received 22 confirmations . . . only one berth is left open,' added Payne, leaving little room for doubt as to which country is still holding out on appearing at the 25th birthday of the Hong Kong Sevens.
The HKRFU said last year that every effort would be made to get England back to Hong Kong.
The red rose of England was seen at the Hong Kong Sevens in 1995 and 1996. They also played at the Rugby World Cup Sevens here in 1997.