The Official Draw for the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2007 was held this evening, (Feb. 15), at Hong Kong's Exchange Square. The Draw offered up another fascinating mix of traditional rugby rivalries and unique match-ups between the rugby world's powerhouse nations and minnows that have made the Hong Kong Sevens famous worldwide as an international festival of rugby.
Attending tonight's draw were the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, The Hon. Rafael Hui, GBS, JP, and Mr T Brian Stevenson, SBS, President of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union. Also attending were Mr Dane Cheng, General Manager, Corporate Communications of co-title sponsor Cathay Pacific Airways and Mr. Joseph Gallagher, Head of Investment Banking, Asia-Pacific, of co-title sponsor Credit Suisse. Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) Chairman Mr Trevor Gregory, Mr Allan Payne, Executive Director of the HKRFU, and Hong Kong Sevens Tournament Operations Director Mr Rod Mason were also on hand to officiate this eveningˇ¦s ceremony.
With the four IRB Sevens World Series tournaments played to date having been won by four different teams, (South Africa won in Dubai; New Zealand won in George, South Africa; Samoa won in Wellington and Fiji won the USA Sevens in San Diego), the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2007 is shaping up to be among the most competitive ever.
Currently Fiji and New Zealand are tied on top of the IRB Sevens World Series with 60 points each, closely followed by South Africa with 56. Samoa, after winning their first ever IRB Sevens World Series event in Wellington, lies in fourth place on the points table with 48 points. Four-time Hong Kong Sevens champions England are also within striking range of the lead in fifth place with 36 points after reaching the Cup semi finals in the season's opening two tournaments (Dubai and George). In total, only 24 points separate the five teams at the top of the table, a deficit that is easily remedied by taking home the Cup in Hong Kong with its expanded championship points offering of 30 points by virtue of being the only 24-team tournament on the IRB World Sevens Series.
The 30 series points up for grabs to the Cup champion in Hong Kong make this year's Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens an important factor in determining the final IRB Sevens World Series standings. Adding to the excitement is the event's US$150,000 prize purse, the most lucrative on the IRB Sevens circuit.
In line with IRB Sevens regulations, the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2007 Official Draw sees the top 12 teams ranked based on their results from the preceding six IRB Sevens tournaments. For the Hong Kong leg, the seeding period runs from last year's London and Paris Sevens through the first four IRB Sevens World Series 2006/2007 events.
For invited teams outside of these events, rankings are based upon appearances and results in earlier IRB Sevens events, as well as on past Hong Kong Sevens and satellite series results. All seedings and rankings have been ratified by the IRB.
By virtue of their series-leading performances to date Fiji is the tournament top seed and heads Pool A. Fiji will meet second-seeded Pool A team Scotland, the tournamentˇ¦s 12th seed overall, along with Portugal and Sri Lanka.
South Africa is the tournament's second overall seed in Pool B. The champions in Dubai will face a challenge from pool mates Wales, the tournament's 11th seed, as well as Tonga and Chinese Taipei.
In Pool C, Samoa, Cup winners in Wellington and Cup finalists at the most recent circuit event held in San Diego, are matched with Canada, Japan and China.
Pool D sees New Zealand, winners of the George Sevens in South Africa, drawn with Kenya, the 9th seed in this year's Hong Kong Sevens. Russia and Italy complete the pool.
Pool E features fifth tournament seed England, who always enjoy strong support in Hong Kong. The English under new coach Ben Ryan will take on Argentina who currently lies in the 10th on the IRB Sevens World Series standings. Korea and Hong Kong complete Pool E.
Traditionally one of the toughest pools due to the seeding structure of the Hong Kong Sevens, Pool F features sixth seeded France in a head-to-head clash with the tournament's seventh seed, five-time Hong Kong Sevens champions Australia. Tunisia and USA were also drawn into the final group in the third and fourth tiers respectively.
Quotes from this evening's Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2006 Official Draw:
Entering his first Hong Kong Sevens as the new Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, Trevor Gregory, commented on the results of tonight's draw , saying:
"From a rugby perspective, this year's Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens is shaping up to be one of the most evenly contested yet. With Fiji and New Zealand tied at the top of the table and with only 12 points separating the top four teams, this year's series hangs in the balance. With extra series points on offer, the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2007 will go a long way in deciding the overall IRB Sevens World Series champions. "
Cathay Pacific Airways' General Manager of Corporate Communications Mr Dane Cheng said: "Cathay Pacific is delighted to join once again with Credit Suisse as co-sponsor for the 2007 Hong Kong Sevens. The airline is committed to bringing great events to its home city and the Sevens is one of the best - a feast of top sporting action in a unique festival atmosphere. It's an event Hong Kong can be proud of."
"Credit Suisse is proudly celebrating our 10 th year of sponsorship to the Hong Kong Sevens in 2007. The tournament looks to be as competitive and exciting as ever and we are delighted to extend our support to Hong Kong's flagship sporting event and one of the world's premier rugby occasions," said Mr Joseph Gallagher, Head of Investment Banking for Credit Suisse in the Asia Pacific region.
The Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2007 will be played from March 30 to April 1, 2007 at the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium.
For more information on the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2007 please visit the HKRFU's official Sevens website at http://www.hksevens.com
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