The Sri Lanka Sevens team led by Pradeep Liyanage took wing to Hong Kong with the aim of qualifying for the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens from the Asian region.
Besides Sri Lanka among other top-ranked teams in the fray will be Asian powerhouse Japan, their arch-rivals Korea, host nation Hong Kong, China, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Guam and India.
According to guidelines set out by the sport’s world controlling body, the International Rugby Board (IRB), the two top teams at the end of the RWC Asian qualifiers will qualify automatically for the RWC Sevens in 2009.
According to the latest rankings issued by the IRB for International Sevens rugby nations, Sri Lanka is occupying the sixth slot behind Malaysia.