The pools for the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens have been confirmed. A total of 28 teams will take part in seven pools split between the main draw and the HSBC Sevens Series core qualifier competition. Six teams from the Americas will be participating, three in each category.
The three-day tournament begins on Friday, April 6. With the Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens slated to begin the following weekend, a number of teams are expected to bolster their rosters for Hong Kong to prepare. Teams also competing in the Gold Coast include Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Kenya, Australia, Canada, South Africa, England, Scotland, Wales, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, and Jamaica.
MAIN DRAW
Las Vegas champions USA are joined in Pool D by Argentina, Wales, and France. Canada have been placed in Pool B along with Vancouver runners-up Kenya, Australia, and Spain.
Vancouver champions Fiji are in Pool A beside New Zealand, Russia, and Samoa. HSBC Series leaders South Africa headline Pool C which also contains England, Scotland, and invitational side South Korea.
POOL A | POOL B | POOL C | POOL D |
Fiji | Kenya | South Africa | USA |
New Zealand | Australia | England | Argentina |
Russia | Spain | Scotland | Wales |
Samoa | Canada | South Korea | France |
CORE QUALIFYING DRAW
Japan will look to restore their HSBC Sevens Series core status and will start in Pool E with Uganda, Georgia, and South American representatives Chile.
Pool F has a very competitive look to it with Papua New Guinea, Germany, Hong Kong, and Zimbabwe all experienced at this level.
Relative newcomers Ireland are in Pool G along with the Cook Islands, Rugby Americas North qualifiers Jamaica, and hopefuls Uruguay, who competed in the North American leg of the main circuit.
POOL E | POOL F | POOL G |
Japan | Papua New Guinea | Ireland |
Uganda | Germany | Uruguay |
Chile | Hong Kong | Jamaica |
Georgia | Zimbabwe | Cook Islands |