The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) yesterday dropped its claims to a place in the second division of international rugby by announcing it would not take part in next year's expanded Pacific Rim Championship. In a two-page statement, the HKRFU said it had reached the decision after holding extensive discussions with the International Rugby Football Board (IRB) and taking into consideration the SAR's 'present and future' playing strength. The decision comes after Pacific Rim officials refused to grant the HKRFU's request for an eligibility dispensation. Hong Kong had been hoping for a continuation of the exemption presently used in the tournament, where players only have to be in Hong Kong for the season prior to the competition to be eligible. But with the IRB pumping GBP1.2 million into next year's competition, the international authorities want to see the tournament run according to IRB rules - which means a three-year residency rule for players. Announcing the decision, HKRFU chairman Peter Duncan said withdrawal was the only 'realistic' option. 'I would firstly wish to pay tribute to those players who have represented Hong Kong in the original competition over the past three years,' he said. 'Besides providing scintillating rugby for the local fans, their results have exceeded the union's expectations. 'Naturally, we would have liked to continue with this. However, with the expanded competition, particularly with teams of the calibre of Samoa and Fiji, we were obliged to take a long, hard look at our present and likely future playing strength given the application of the new eligibility rules. 'We had the benefit of extensive consultation with administrators, coaches and leading players to ascertain our likely competitiveness, particularly in light of the availability of our rep players for the very considerable campaign that the new competition will entail. 'The only realistic conclusion was that we should not participate, sad as that may appear to be,' Duncan added. Later Duncan told Sports Post 'it would serve no purpose for Hong Kong to take part in the tournament and get thrashed'. 'No-one would want to see that,' he said. 'When you take into account all the travelling and time off work that players would need . . . it just wasn't feasible for us to continue.' Duncan was quick to stress there would still be plenty of representative rugby available to players in Hong Kong next year. 'The other nations in the tournament expressed sadness that we won't be there and also indicated a willingness to arrange friendlies if they are in the region,' Duncan said. Top IRB officials will also fly to Bangkok next month to meet Asian Rugby Football Union members during the Asian Games. 'They want to look at what they can do to expand rugby in Asia with particular reference to China. I think you'll see some movement on that front,' Duncan said.