Hong Kong earns key role in Sevens World Series

Hong Kong's dream of becoming a bigger part of the HSBC Sevens World Series came closer to fruition yesterday after the International Rugby Board increased the number of core teams from 12 to 15 next year with the additional three to be decided at next month's Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

For the first time in the history of the Hong Kong Sevens, the tournament will be split into two competitions, one for the 12 core teams in the series - the likes of New Zealand, Fiji and England - and the other for the remaining 12 teams, where the top three will qualify for the 2013 world series.

The new format is designed to give countries more opportunities as sevens prepares to make its debut at the 2016 Rio de Janiero Olympics.

'As we build towards Rio 2016 and our Olympic Games debut it is important that opportunities exist for all nations to progress to series core-team status if they are good enough,' IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said.

'The new system provides every nation competing in their regional qualifying tournaments with a direct opportunity to gain core-team status and compete in every round of the world series.

'Hong Kong is an iconic event and unique in its 24-team status. We are delighted it will also host the direct qualifying event to compete on the entire Sevens World Series.'