Becoming a core world-series team would have big implications for the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, as the team would be forced to once again look at the issue of contracting players full time.
HKRFU head of performance and national coach Dai Rees said it would be a 'whole new ball game' if the sevens team finished in the top three of the second-tier competition next month.
'This move by the IRB is fantastic and it will be a massive incentive for the players, but if we qualify then it becomes a whole new ball game. We will then have to look at having full-time players,' Rees said.
'We had always hoped we could play in more than one event, possibly three or four, in the world series. But playing in all nine tournaments next year calls for more players and more resources.
'We will have to take it one step at a time. First we have to qualify, so we will keep the other issue [on the backburner] until after March.'
The HKRFU dabbled with contracting players full time a few seasons ago when a handful, including Rowan Varty, Keith Robertson and Mark Wright were handed full-time contracts. But this was canned after one season.
