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Chile are preparing for their appearance at this year’s USA Sevens (13-14 Feb) by participating at a domestic tournament this weekend. The Viña Sevens will see 16 top sides from Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina descend upon the Valparaíso Region for the 24th edition of the event.

Urguauy’s national side, ‘Los Teros’ will also be participating at the three day event in the Valparaíso Region. The event starts on Friday with eight teams battling out to qualify for four remaining spots in the pool stages, that will start on Saturday.

The Chileans have participated in five World Series tournaments since 2000 either in South America or the USA. They were last seen on the world stage in San Diego back in 2008, losing in the Shield final in Australia. They have been drawn against Samoa, Kenya, Scotland in Pool C in Las Vegas.

They qualified for the fourth leg of the IRB Sevens World Series event off the back of their performances at the South American Championships back at the beginning of 2009.

"This will be a weekend where there will be a great sporting spirit and a healthy team spirit between members of the 16 sides involved in this tournament," said the Mayor of Viña del Mar, Virginia Reginato,

Chile Squad:
Juan Pabloleon, Ricardo Sifri, Aldo Cornejo, Oliver Bassa, Benjamin Pizarro, Javier Reyes, Felipe Brangier, Lucasse Ccatore, Tomas Olave, Aldo Villavicencio, Edmund Oolfos (coach).

Miller Viña Sevens Friday Qualifying Teams (four to qualify for main draw):
Liceo Mendoza, Banco RC, U. de San Juan, San Juan RC, Rugby de Cuyo invitación, Los Troncos, Sporting y Old Macks B.

Miller Viña Sevens Saturday Pool Stages:
Pool A: Hindu, The Vultures, Old Georgians, Qualifier
Pool B: Chile, Newman, U. Catholic, Qualifier
Pool C: Uruguay, Marist, Vineyard, Qualifier
Pool D: Old Macks, The Tabal, PWCC, Qualifier