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The pools and match schedule have been announced for the Emirates Airline London Sevens at Twickenham on May 23-24 with hosts England drawn in the same pool as defending champions Samoa.

England, who currently lie second in the 2008/09 IRB Sevens World Series standings with 76 points – 28 behind leaders South Africa – will also face European rivals France and Georgia in Pool B.

Top seeds South Africa head to the UK in confident mood knowing a good showing could bring the dream of a first IRB Sevens glory that much closer. They will play world champions Wales in the tournament’s opening match. Australia’s young side will be looking to build on performances in their home event in Adelaide earlier this month when they beat both England and Samoa in the pool stages, while Germany make their 2008/2009 debut to complete Pool A.

"Wales have done very well recently and it will not surprise me at all if they recall most of their WC Sevens winners for the last two tournaments," said coach Paul Treu.

"Australia has also improved with every tournament this season and they finished as pool leaders for the first time recently in Adelaide. Germany is a bit of an unknown quantity but the competitive nature of Sevens is such that you cannot underestimate any of the teams," added Treu.

IRB Sevens Manager Beth Coalter said rugby enthusiasts can expect another exciting tournament in London: "Right from the first tournament in Dubai last November it was clear that the 10th year of the Series was going to be hugely competitive. With London kicking off the last two tournaments this year and a bumper crowd expected, the scene is set for an incredible climax to the Series."

Hong Kong winners Fiji will face a Kenyan side buoyed by their first ever Series Cup final appearance last time out in Adelaide in Pool C, which also features USA and Scotland. The Fijians will be sniffing some World Cup revenge after they were humbled by the Africans at the quarter-final stage.

Argentina are the top seeds in Pool D, the RWC Sevens 2009 runners-up drawn with defending Series champions New Zealand, injury plagued and winless this season, with Portugal and Canada also joining them.

Once again, the London event is the seventh and penultimate leg of the IRB Sevens World Series, which is celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

“What an exciting season it has been so far, there have been so many surprising results over the last six tournaments it really is anybody’s guess as to which teams will reach the quarter finals never mind the finals,” said IRB Sevens Manager Beth Coalter.

“Right from the first tournament in Dubai last November it was clear that the 10th year of the Series was going to be hugely competitive. With London kicking off the last two tournaments this year and a bumper crowd expected, the scene is set for an incredible climax to the Series.”

Norton and Merriman on the move

In other news, England and Wales Sevens representatives, Dan Norton and James Merriman, have been snapped up by the recently relegated Bristol. Norton formerly was with Gloucester Rugby, whereas World Cup Sevens winners Merriman is moving from Neath Rugby.

"James Merriman's speed and ball skills will bring a new dimension to our attack. Dan Norton is a proven talent with great speed and has shown his ability for England U20s last season and currently for the England Sevens. He now needs an opportunity to play regularly in a team and forge his obvious talent," said Coach Richard Hill.