The triumphant Hong Kong sevens squad savoured double joy as they returned home yesterday from Kandy, Sri Lanka. Not only was it the first time that they had won the Sri Lankan Sevens, but more importantly the victory has pushed them to the top of the Asian rankings.
'We are the number one team in Asia. The Sri Lankan Sevens is an IRB satellite event - the only one in Asia - and by winning it we are the top-ranked sevens team in the region,' revealed a delighted Ivan Torpey, the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union's head of performance.
The significance of being number one in Asia will be felt fully only next year when the International Rugby Board holds the Asian qualifiers for the 2009 Sevens Rugby World Cup in Dubai. Hong Kong now could avoid South Korea, who they beat 37-5 in the Cup final in Kandy, and Japan in the preliminary rounds.
'As yet, we haven't looked at how the teams will be seeded for the qualifying tournament for the Sevens World Cup next year. But these rankings will obviously have a bearing,' said Jarrad Gallagher, the IRB's Asian development manager.
There will be three qualifying berths for Asia at the 24-team Sevens World Cup in 2009. Hosts Arabian Gulf will get an automatic entry.
'Of course, we will take into account the fact that Japan did not play in Sri Lanka. Another factor could be how these teams finish at next year's Hong Kong Sevens. But definitely Hong Kong's status as number one will contribute towards the seedings for the Asian zone qualifying tournament,' Gallagher said.