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The fun and games kicks off at the Hong Kong Sevens today with World Cup champions Wales, and joint Series leaders South Africa and England stepping back into spotlight.

It is fifth leg in the eight-tournament IRB Series, but more importantly it is the most prestigious of all the tournaments on the circuit steeped in history and with 30 points up for grabs.

Wales, for obvious reasons, will be under pressure after producing one of the biggest upsets in recent memory by winning the World Cup in Dubai, a tournament where all the top guns - like South Africa, England, New Zealand and Fiji - were knocked out at the quarterfinal stage. The Welsh only carry three of that squad that triumphed in the desert, but are still hopeful of success here.

For the others, like number one seeds South Africa, it is a case of wanting to put the disappointment of Dubai behind them and chase the IRB series title. Bok Sevens coach Paul Treu is convinced his squad has put the disappointment of their early Dubai exit behind them and they are ready for the run-in to the 2009 IRB Sevens Series title - starting in Hong Kong.
The tournament has four teams in each of the six pools.

Only the first-placed sides in the pools plus the two best second-placed sides advance to the quarters. A slip-up can therefore mean the end of the road for the Cup title here.

The Boks have been pooled with France, Uruguay and Korea in Pool A for the tournament that finishes on Sunday.

England, who are seeded second and eliminated the Boks in the San Diego tournament less than two weeks ago, top Pool B where they will have to beat World Cup champions Wales, Japan and China to advance to the quarters, while New Zealand, seeking their first win in the 2008/09 IRB Series, are pooled with Australia, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

San Diego Sevens winners Argentina have been the most consistent team in recent weeks and head Pool D as fourth seeds and face three tough matches against Portugal, Tonga and Hong Kong.

However they must do it all without top IRB try-scorer Santiago Gomez-Cora who is injured and other top players who were not released because of commitments to the national 15s squad.

Fiji and Samoa are in Pool E with Canada and Chinese Taipei, while Kenya, Scotland and the United States and joined in Pool F by a combined West Indies team in what looks an extremely tight group.
Friday also sees the Women in action with world champions Australia’s Wallaroos the overwhelming favourites to take away the crown with England, New Zealand, and the USA not making the journey to Hong Kong.

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