Philippines joins HK, Zimbabwe,Tonga in World Sevens

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Volcanoes drew reigning Asian Games champion Hong Kong, Tonga and Zimbabwe as groupmates in the World Rugby Sevens Series qualifiers following the recent official draw for the prestigious tourney set April 5-6 at Hong Kong Stadium.

The Volcanoes 7s, who qualified for the meet after placing third in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series last year, expect to have their hands full in Pool E ranged against a higher-ranked and in-form Hong Kong team that’s enjoying home advantage and Tongan and Zimbabwen sides that had already seen action in five Rugby Sevens World Cup meets.

Only one spot in the elite field in the World Rugby Sevens Series is at stake in the HK qualifiers and the Filipinos should land in the Top 2 of the pool or be one of the two best third place finishers to advance to the quarterfinals and get a crack at the semis, finals and the coveted gold medal.

If they do get past the group stage, the Volcanoes brace for tall odds with former World Rugby Seven Series core participant Russia, Ireland, Uruguay and Jamaica from Pool F and Germany, Chile, Uganda and Cook Island from Pool G possibly on their path as the qualifiers go deeper.

Former New Zealand All Blacks mainstay Frano Botica, the Phl head coach, and his assistant, Canadian David Johnston, have assembled a crack 18-man pool for this campaign with 13 from the 2018 squad that achieved qualification returning to the fold. They are slated to undergo high-intensity training beginning March 22 for eight days before embarking on their mission in Hong Kong.