Top seeds South Africa will play world champions Wales in the tournament’s opening match as Paul Treu’s side look to take a step closer to their first ever IRB Sevens World Series overall crown.
Australia’s young side will be looking to build on performances in their home event in Adelaide earlier this month when they beat both England and Samoa in the pool stages, while Germany complete Pool A.
England, who currently lie second in the 2008/09 IRB Sevens World Series standings with 76 points – 28 behind leaders South Africa – will also face European rivals France, Samoa and Georgia in Pool B.
Hong Kong winners Fiji will face a Kenyan side buoyed by their first ever Series Cup final appearance last time out in Adelaide in Pool C, which also features USA and Scotland.
Argentina are the top seeds in Pool D, the RWC Sevens 2009 runners-up drawn with defending Series champions New Zealand, who are still to win an event this season, Portugal and Canada.
Once again, the London event is the seventh and penultimate leg of the IRB Sevens World Series, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary.
“What an exciting season it has been so far, there have been so many surprising results over the last six tournaments it really is anybody’s guess as to which teams will reach the quarter finals never mind the finals,” said IRB Sevens Manager Beth Coalter.
“Right from the first tournament in Dubai last November it was clear that the 10th year of the Series was going to be hugely competitive. With London kicking off the last two tournaments this year and a bumper crowd expected, the scene is set for an incredible climax to the Series.”
