March Dates May Change If Hong Kong Secures Last Leg Of Sevens

The Hong Kong Sevens "will have to be pushed back a fortnight" to mid-April in '16 if the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union's "ambition to become the climactic final leg" of the Int'l Rugby Board Sevens World Series "is to be realised," according to Alvin Sallay of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. HKRFU Chair Trevor Gregory said, "We might have to play our tournament a few weeks later, in mid-April. We have to be flexible, otherwise there is no chance we can be the final leg if we stick to the event in March." The HKRFU's wish to become the final leg "is based on the fact that the Hong Kong Sevens -- the largest tournament in the World Series -- can easily decide both the promotion and relegation spots at the same event." For any shift in the calendar to take place, the English union "will have to see the benefits of hosting the start of the World Series -- in September -- rather than being the final leg as it is at Twickenham in May" (SCMP, 3/31).