SCOTLAND and Wales have turned down invitations to play at next year's Hong Kong Sevens.
Both have cited domestic fixture congestion as reasons for their absence from the world's premier sevens tournament.
Scotland were beaten by Hong Kong in the preliminary round this year and did not fare too well in the Plate competition. Wales' last appearance at the Hong Kong Sevens was in 1993.
There have been fears that due to next year's 15-a-side Rugby World Cup in South Africa in May, most countries would concentrate on 15s and decline the Hong Kong Sevens invitation.
But Welsh Rugby Union press officer Robert Cole said while the World Cup did play a part in his Union's decision to turn down the chance of coming to the Hong Kong Sevens, the main reason was severe local fixture congestion.
''Towards the end of March we will be faced with a heavy backlog of Cup and league games. This is due to the fact that Wales will have a number of international commitments next season,'' said Cole.
