Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The draw for the world’s most prestigious seven-a-side rugby tournament was made on Monday evening. A total of 40 teams international teams will take part in the Hong Kong Sevens over three days from April 7-9 across three separate divisions. The HSBC Sevens Series event will be the highlight but there will also be crucial core qualifier tournaments for both men’s and women’s sides with a dozen teams each aiming to become a regular part of the HSBC circuit for the 2017-18 season.
Only three Americas teams will be part of the main draw. The USA will head up Pool D with Argentina alongside Scotland and Russia. Canada will be in Pool B with current Series leaders South Africa, Kenya, and France. Vancouver champions England will share Pool A with Australia, Samoa, and invitational side South Korea. Lastly Pool C sees Olympic champions Fiji face off against New Zealand, Wales, and Japan.
A further four Americas sides have been entered into the Men’s Core Qualifiers. Jamaica have been placed in a very difficult Pool E with Germany, Tonga, and Uganda. Pool G features both Uruguay and Guyana along with Papua New Guinea and Olympic participants Spain. Local favorites Hong Kong headline Pool F which also boasts Chile, fresh from their historic win over Russia in Vancouver. Sri Lanka and Namibia round out the set.
Three women’s sides from the Americas will attempt to push their way on to the HSBC Women’s Series for next season. Jamaica are in Pool A with Japan, China, and the Netherlands. Sudamérica runners-up Argentina will play Kenya, Belgium, and hosts Hong Kong in Pool B. The second Sudamérica qualifiers Colombia are grouped with South Africa, Papua New Guinea, and Italy in Pool C.
The full schedule will be revealed at a later date.
MAIN DRAW
| POOL A | POOL B | POOL C | POOL D |
| England | South Africa | Fiji | USA |
| Australia | Canada | New Zealand | Argentina |
| Samoa | Kenya | Wales | Scotland |
| South Korea | France | Japan | Russia |
MEN’S QUALIFIERS
| POOL E | POOL F | POOL G |
| Germany | Hong Kong | Spain |
| Tonga | Chile | Papua New Guinea |
| Jamaica | Sri Lanka | Uruguay |
| Uganda | Namibia | Guyana |
WOMEN’S QUALIFIERS
| POOL A | POOL B | POOL C |
| Japan | Argentina | South Africa |
| China | Kenya | Colombia |
| Netherlands | Belgium | Papua New Guinea |
| Jamaica | Hong Kong | Italy |
