HONG Kong will stage the 1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
The International Rugby Football Board yesterday voted in favour of holding a second event and immediately awarded it to Hong Kong, who were the sole bidders.
Stuart Leckie, chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, and who will chair the event's organising committee, was delighted with the decision.
''On behalf of the Hong Kong Union, I am absolutely delighted. It is a tremendous recognition of Hong Kong's efforts to promote rugby in the region.
''In our submission, we pointed out that it would be a good psychological boost to smaller Asian countries.'' The IRFB members met yesterday in Bristol, England, to discuss a variety of issues, including whether or not a second sevens event should be held following what was acclaimed as a financially successful inaugural tournament in Edinburgh, Scotland, this year. Also, that if another event was viable, whether Hong Kong should host it.
The territory, whose own 18-year sevens tournament was a catalyst for the world event, were hot favourites and had the support of the southern hemisphere nations.