The Philippines, Asia's new success story, and Guyana will make their debuts at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in March, a development which sees rugby extending its traditional borders even further.
'The Philippines only became a full member of the International Rugby Board two years ago but have now won a place ... on merit. They are a success story and I'm delighted they will be making their debut,' Hong Kong Rugby Football Union chairman Trevor Gregory (pictured) said yesterday.
Guyana has been invited by the IRB, under whose patronage the HSBC Sevens World Series is being held with the March 23-25 event being the sixth stop in the nine-leg series. Guyana won the North American Caribbean Rugby Association Sevens championships in November.
The Philippines earned their invitation by virtue of finishing fourth in the inaugural HSBC Asian Sevens Series last year. This will be the first time the Philippines will take part in the IRB World Series. The two nations will become the 50th and 51st countries to compete at the Hong Kong Sevens since its inception in 1976.
The Philippines were tied alongside South Korea in fourth place at the end of the Asian Sevens Series, but pipped the Koreans on a count-back. The other three Asian teams among the 24 teams announced for the showpiece yesterday by organisers are top-ranked Japan, No2 Hong Kong and No3 China.
'We only have four spots available for Asia now and these berths are decided by the HSBC Asian Sevens Series,' Gregory said..
'Last year we only had two ranking tournaments in Shanghai and Kota Kinabalu but this year we will expand it to three and next year to four.
