Sri Lanka women’s team to participate at Hong Kong Sevens

The Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) announced the teams participating in the Hong Kong Women’s Rugby Sevens 2016 (HKWRS) which will be worked off on 7 and 8 April.

Ten international teams will take part as HKWRS marks its 19th year, making it the world’s longest running international women’s rugby sevens competition. Nine national teams from four continents alongside hosts Hong Kong will take part in the competition; Argentina, China, France, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Thailand will lock horns in the two-day event which will have the draw early next week.

France, Kenya and Japan have already qualified for the Rio Games in August this year when Rugby will return to the Olympics for the first time since 1924.

Argentina, China, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong will compete in the Olympic repechage tournament in Dublin in June, making the HKWRS an important preparation event for the final stage of Olympic qualification. The winner in Dublin will be the 12th and final team to qualify for the Women’s Rugby Sevens competition at the Rio Games. Asia is well-represented with the hosts Hong Kong, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka and Thailand all taking part. Japan and China finished first and second in Asia while Hong Kong claimed the number three position. Sri Lanka who missed out in the development sevens last month in Chennai, too were lucky to be participating at this mega sevens tournament early next month.

The opening day’s (April 7) action will be at Kings Park in Kowloon. Day Two will be held at Hong Kong Football Club (8 April) with the final once again being held under lights at the Hong Kong Stadium as a main focus of the opening day of the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. (SJ)