Hong Kong handed tough draw for World Cup Sevens

Hong Kong were brought down to earth - soon after a cosmonaut up in the heavens had read a message for the VIP audience before yesterday's Rugby World Cup Sevens draw in Moscow - as they were pooled with England, Argentina and Portugal in what looks to be a tough group in the preliminary round of the June showpiece.

"We always knew we would face two top core teams in our pool and England and Argentina fall into that category. Our target is to finish as the top Asian team at the World Cup and thus help qualify our under-18 team for next year's Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing," said Hong Kong sevens coach Dai Rees.

The International Rugby Board will use the World Cup to pick six regional teams to play at the Youth Olympics when rugby sevens makes its debut. Asia will get one spot. Hong Kong, Japan and the Philippines are representing Asia at the World Cup from June 28-30.

A place at the Youth Olympic Games will add extra cachet for the sport in Hong Kong. Rugby sevens is on the verge of becoming the first team sport to gain elite status at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

"We all know how important it will be if our Under-18 team plays in Nanjing. Our profile among the rest of the Hong Kong sporting community will continue to rise," Rees said.