Hong Kong 7s

Both tournaments have been moved from April to October.

In a statement, World Rugby said the health and safety of players, fans and everyone working on the event is their highest priority.

"This prudent decision has been taken in order to help protect the global rugby community and the wider public and was taken based on the World Health Organisation and relevant public authority travel and health guidelines. The decision is fully supported by stakeholders, including unions and commercial partners."

Coach Gordon Tietjen says it’s every team’s dream to play and win at the World Seven’s capital, the Hong Kong 7s.

Currently placed seventh in the World Series standings, Tietjen says they want to improve its performance to get automatic qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The defending champions take on Kenya in pool play today and Australia and New Zealand tomorrow.

Coach Gareth Baber said Fiji had been training away from the limelight of central Hong Kong but were now hoping to be energised by their supporters.

"We deliberately went and stayed out of Hong Kong because of how busy it is. We needed to gain focus," Baber said.

"I haven't seen a huge amount of supporters yet. I know that come Friday and Saturday that will be a different case," he said.

The 13-man squad travelled to Hong Kong last weekend ahead of the tournament, which starts on  Friday. The winner of the competition will gain a place in next season’s World Rugby Series.

Captain Billy Dardis, Ian Fitzpatrick, Hugo Keenan, Terry Kennedy, Harry McNulty, Bryan Mollen, John O’Donnell and Mark Roche all ran out at Hong Kong Stadium last year, while Foster Horan was the 13th man.

Now in Hong Kong for the first time are Jordan Conroy, Adam Leavy, Mick McGrath and Greg O’Shea.

And, according to Holland, that is not a bad thing for two reasons: the best players possible are required for Olympic success, and secondly, competition for spots will only serve to help Australia’s current players by never letting them feel “safe".

"We haven’t got the results we wanted this year so it does open a little bit of a door up for some of those guys to come and give it a shot,” Holland said.

The Aussie men’s team head to Hong Kong this week, looking to win their first title at the iconic tournament since 1988.

The French scored three tries in the first five minutes and a upset looked on the cards until the All Black Sevens fought back.

RNZI reports captain Tim Mikkelson scored just before half time and he and Kurt Baker touched down in the second half for the New Zealanders to sneak hom.

Under the lights of a packed Hong Kong Stadium, crowd favourites England ended a fine first day at the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens by beating South Africa 21-14 to take a welcome confidence boost into day two.