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Alvin Sallay

THE organising committee of the Hong Kong Sevens have decided that they will not make any changes to the current format of the tournament.

  'We will be sticking to the same format next year,' said Stuart Leckie, Hong Kong Rugby Football Union chairman yesterday. 'We will stay with 24 teams and eight preliminary pools.'   There has been a groundswell of opinion recently that the Hong Kong Sevens should be changed, to make way for more competitive matches on the first day of the tournament.

  But the organising committee of the Hong Kong Sevens which on Thursday night had their wrap-up meeting for the 1995 event, have decided that no changes will be brought in next year.

  'We are not saying that we will never change it. But for the moment, it is felt that there is nothing to gain from changing the format,' said Leckie.

  The second Rugby Sevens World Cup, which will be held in March 1997 in Hong Kong, also played a role in the organisers sticking to the same format.

  'Our successful bid to host the Sevens World Cup was based on the success of our tournament and its existing format,' said Leckie.

  Meanwhile sponsors of the Hong Kong Sevens, Cathay Pacific and Hongkong Bank, have verbally said they are committed to backing the tournament next year too, according to Leckie.

  'They have categorically said they were delighted with this year's tournament and have said verbally that they want to be involved next year too,' said Leckie.

  The only sticky point during the wrap-up meeting for the 1995 Hong Kong Sevens was the state of the pitch.

  'The pitch held up quite well this year,' said the HKRFU chairman. 'But it could have been better and should have been better. As I understand it, the pitch will be re-turfed and re-seeded.

 'We hope that in 1996, the state of the pitch will be far better than this year.' 



HK Sevens format to stay the same