RODNEY McIntosh has been forced to pull out of the Hong Kong squad bound for the Japan Sevens next weekend.
The Hong Kong sevens captain has had to fly back home to New Zealand after learning that his mother is seriously ill.
McIntosh's place in the Hong Kong team will be filled by Andy Fields. The rest of the 10-strong team remains unchanged from the Hong Kong Sevens.
Gary Cross will coach the Hong Kong development team at the Third Arafura festival in Darwin, Australia, from May 3-14.
A preliminary 32-man squad was named yesterday by manager Jamie Scott. This will be pruned down to 25 later.
DEVELOPMENT SQUAD Forwards: Rob Bulloch (Police), John Carser (Police), Callum Crawford (Kowloon), Allan Clarke (Club), Brent Edwards (Kowloon), Warwick Heeson (Kowloon), Paul James (Valley), Rambo Leung (DeA), Iain Mathie (Kowloon), Chris Meads (Police), Rick Santos (Club Dragons), Charlie Stickland (Police), Steve Thompson (Kowloon), Andy Whitson (Valley), Alex Yuen (Gai Wu).
