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Thursday 11 January 2007
Fiji to rekindle status in Wellington
Fiji will look for an improved performance when it heads pool A at the Wellington 7s in New Zealand, and the San Diego 7s in USA, a week later.
Fiji claimed the New Zealand International Sevens title last year to lay the foundations for a first IRB 7s World Series title, but this season host nation New Zealand head into the Wellington event on 2-3 February at the top of the standings after a fine win in George in December. Fiji do top the pool seedings, though, on the strength of the results from the last six tournaments and face France, Portugal and USA in Pool A.
Dubai winners and joint Series leaders South Africa head Pool B where Australia, Canada and the Cook Islands lie in wait. England, runners-up in the 2005-06 IRB 7s World Series, will be looking to get Ben Ryan’s tenure as new head coach off to a winning start and face Samoa, Scotland and Papa New Guinea in Pool C.
Pool D at the Westpac Stadium is headed by hosts New Zealand and Gordon Tietjens’ side will face Argentina, Kenya and Tonga in the opening matches on day one.
From Wellington, the teams will travel to San Diego for the USA 7s on 10-11 February. It will be the first time that the USA leg of the IRB series has been hosted in San Diego after three years in Los Angeles.
The seedings remain unchanged for the USA Tournament held at PETCO Park, but there are changes in the participating teams with West Indies and Chile replacing Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands.
In San Diego Fiji again top Pool A and will play Argentina, Scotland and West Indies, while South Africa head Pool B and face Samoa, Portugal and Tonga.
Host nation USA have a tough draw in Pool C where they will face number three seeds and defending champions England as well as Australia and Kenya. New Zealand head Pool D and will face France, Canada and Chile.
"The new IRB Sevens World Series got off to an exciting start with two highly competitive and unpredictable tournaments in Dubai and South Africa,” said IRB Tournament Operations Manager Beth Coalter commented
"There is nothing to choose between South Africa and New Zealand at the top of the standings heading into the Wellington tournament, but it will be interesting to see how champions Fiji respond after a slow start. Both events promise to be well-attended and I am sure that fans will be treated to some exceptional rugby.”
Wellington 7s pools
Pool A: Fiji, France, Portugal, USA
Pool B: South Africa, Australiam Canada, Cook Islands
Pool C: England, Samoa, Scotland, Papua New Guinea
Pool D: New Zealand, Argentina, Kenya, Tonga
San Diego 7s pools:
Pool A: Fiji, Argentina, Scotland, West Indies
Pool B: South Africa, Samoa, Portugal, Tonga
Pool C: England, Australia, Kenya, USA
Pool D: New Zealand, France, Canada, Chile
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