England rugby officials ended months of uncertainty yesterday by confirming they will send a team to next year's Hong Kong Sevens. A spokesman from the Rugby Football Union's (RFU) Twickenham headquarters said the home union powerhouses would send a side to take part in the 1999 tournament. 'The decision has been made and all the thinking at the moment is that we will be sending a team to Hong Kong,' said RFU spokesman Martin Johnston. But Johnston indicated that England, who together with Ireland, Scotland and Wales stayed away from the 1998 tournament, may not be sending a full-strength side to the SAR. 'We're sending a side, but as yet we don't know what sort of side it will be. That is still something that is up for discussion,' Johnston said. 'We probably won't make a decision until the New Year.' Although the body comprising England's professional rugby clubs, the English Rugby Partnership, has indicated it will be willing to release professionals for the Sevens, it seems likely England will use the nucleus of the squad sent to September's Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. In March this year, the RFU issued a statement saying England would not participate in any sevens tournaments in 1999 in order to concentrate on the 15-a-side World Cup in Wales next October. Although yesterday's comments from Twickenham are a U-turn from the earlier position, few will bet on many players from the English 15-a-side set-up being drafted into the sevens squad. In Kuala Lumpur, a team of largely untested players were led by sevens specialist Chris Sheasby. Next year's event will be England's first appearance in Hong Kong since their unsuccessful 1997 World Cup Sevens campaign. Confirmation of England's participation represents victory for Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) officials, who lobbied British and Irish officials during the summer urging them to send teams to the tournament. As well as enhancing the tournament's international flavour, the presence of Five Nations sides helps the HKRFU sell overseas tickets. This year, sales of overseas tour packages in Britain were sluggish and many tickets were returned. Former All Black Shane Howarth will make his Test debut for Wales on Saturday after being selected for the one-off match against world champions South Africa at Wembley. The 30-year-old Maori, capped four times by New Zealand in 1994, qualifies courtesy of a Cardiff-born grandfather. The versatile England-based fullback, who plays for Manchester Sale, joins two other English Premiership players - the Quinnell brothers Craig and Scott - while another eight come from Cardiff and Swansea. Howarth described his selection as 'a huge honour'. He said: 'I will probably be pretty nervous on Thursday and Friday and won't be doing a lot of talking. It is a huge honour for me, although I don't think it will sink in until I get out there in front of 70,000 people.'