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.