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Hong Kong; February 7, 2012: HSBC Penguins, Borneo Eagles and Samurai International have been ranked as the main challengers to favourites BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians at next month’s GFI HKFC Tens in Hong Kong.

The 27th edition of the world’s leading 10-a-side rugby tournament will be held at Hong Kong Football Club from March 21-22 and feature 16 teams from Australia, New Zealand, UK, France, Malaysia, Singapore, mainland China and Hong Kong.

The star-studded BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians, losing finalists on their debut last year, are bringing an even stronger squad this time and have been ranked as top seeds.

Major players include Mils Muliaina, who won his 100th cap as he helped New Zealand win last year’s Rugby World Cup, fellow All Black Anthony Tuitavake and former Fiji winger Vilimoni Delasau.

Tana Umaga, the former All Blacks captain, will coach the invitational side while South African legend Chester Williams, a 1995 World Cup winner, is the manager.

Tournament Director Craig Wootten said this year’s tournament promised to be one of the strongest so far, as teams recruit stronger players and management teams.

“The APBs, Penguins, Samurai and Borneo all have a lot of motivation as each team is trying to win the GFI HKFC Tens for the first time, so I’m expecting some fierce contests,” Wootten said.

“Mils Muliaina will be a massive hit for the fans as they watch a living legend who helped New Zealand win the Rugby World Cup while becoming only the second All Black to win 100 caps. At 31, Mils is still in great shape and will be a huge draw.

“Anthony Tuitavake and Vilimoni Delasau are other exciting, attacking runners who fans love to watch. Tana Umaga and Chester Williams will both get a lot of attention, but they’ll be focused on getting the most out of an all-star squad and winning.”

Umaga, the former wing and centre who played 74 tests for New Zealand from 1997-2005, was confident the side could go one better than last March.

"Having heard about the APBs from my fellow All Blacks who have been involved previously, I can't wait to be part of this year's set-up," the 38-year-old announced.

"I can promise fans we will be coming to entertain and play some explosive rugby. We will have a tremendous mix of Rugby World Cup greats and some highly talented individuals from around Asia Pacific."

The second-seeded Penguins are also bringing a strong squad that will again be dominated by New Zealanders including Canterbury hooker Paul Ngauamo, one of the team’s top players last year.

Finalists in 2007 and 2008, the Penguins will be equally determined to get their hands on the Cup for the first time, having lost to the Barbarians after extra-time of last year’s semi-finals. The Penguins won the inaugural London 10s last June and in November successfully defended their COBRA 10s title in Kuala Lumpur.

Borneo Eagles are ranked third after reaching the semi-finals last year and were in top form last month as they won a third straight title at the ‘Hottest 7s in the World’ in Darwin, Australia.

Samurai, runners-up in the 2010 GFI HKFC Tens and top seeds last year, are ranked fourth and will be confident after defending their UK National Sevens Series last year.

Pyrenees of France are back for a fifth time and seeded fifth, one ahead of New Zealand Legends, who were knocked out by BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians in last year’s quarter-finals.

Panthers, one of three teams from Australia, are seeded seventh, while Hill and Associates Scottish Barbarians round out the top eight and look set to impress on their debut by including some Scotland sevens squad players.

Australian Country Invitational and the indigenous-focused Lloyd McDermott Foundation, coached by former Wallaby Glen Ella, are the two other Australian sides.

China Agricultural University of Beijing, making their 17th straight appearance, and first-timers Shanghai RFC will represent mainland China.

Hosts Hong Kong Football Club and the HKRFU Chairman’s X, made up of Hong Kong squad players, are the local challengers.

Overseas Old Boys will again bring back former Hong Kong-based talent, while Singapore-based Irish Vikings return for a 12th appearance.

Steve Thompson and Leon Lloyd, both former England internationals, will attend the GFI HKFC Tens on behalf of the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, the official charity for this year’s event.

Thompson, England’s most-capped hooker and a 2003 Rugby World Cup winner, and Lloyd will help with fundraising activities including targeted campaigns to ‘Buy A Bike’ and ‘Give a Ger’ (a ger is a Mongolian tent).

The event has returned to its traditional 16-team line-up after expanding to 24 last year for HKFC’s 125th anniversary, and will again be held on the Wednesday and Thursday before the world-famous Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

In recent years, star players have included rugby legends Joe Roff and Toutai Kefu (both 2006), Jonah Lomu (2007), Brian Lima (2008), Bobby Skinstad (2009) and Waisale Serevi (2010). In 2011, Australia legend George Gregan and former All Blacks Justin Marshall and Christian Cullen helped BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians reach the final.

Hong Kong Football Club has hosted the annual event since 1986, when it was staged to celebrate the club’s 100th anniversary. Last year’s tournament featured live television coverage for the first time, with Now TV broadcasting live action on Thursday as well as a post-tournament highlights show.

GFI, a leading brokerage service provider, has been the tournament’s title sponsor since 2006, while other sponsors this year include HSBC, UBS (both Gold Sponsors) and Swire Properties (Silver Sponsor).

Now TV is the Official Broadcaster for the second year, while suppliers include Heineken (Official Beer), Tsunami Sport (Official Kit) and Coast (Official Bar).

www.hongkongtens.com