The USA Sevens team has been handed the toughest of tests on day one of the USA Sevens in San Diego, where they face the IRB Sevens World Series runaway leaders South Africa in their opening pool match.
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Al Caravelli's USA side is drawn in Pool A alongside the Boks, who were unbeaten in storming to two opening Cup title successes in Dubai and George late in 2008, as well as much improved Australia and North American rivals Canada, whom the Eagles replaced this season as a 'core' team on the global circuit.
Defending Series and USA Sevens champions New Zealand are second seeds in San Diego and top pool B, in which they face Kenya, France and Uruguay.
The two sides in joint third place in the Series standings, England and Fiji, head the remaining pools. England face Pacific Island giants Samoa and also line up against Japan and the auld enemy Scotland in Pool C.
Waisale Serevi's Fijians also face a tough task in Pool D. George semi finalists Argentina are more than capable of beating them, while Wales will be out to improve on their pre-Christmas form and Mexico complete the line-up.
For the third year running the USA Sevens tournament will be played at baseball's PETCO Park in San Diego, a unique backdrop for what has so far proven an extremely successful event with 35% year-on-year growth.
"USA Sevens is about engaging a new rugby fan base through creating a unique American entertainment spectacular with rugby as its hub," said Touranament Director Dan Lyle.
"Building on the Olympic model of cultural diversity has enabled the US to capture the imagination of a major TV network, ABC, the support of the nation's seventh largest city in San Diego and an attendance figure expected to top 50,000 this year."
The USA Sevens will also offer all the teams a final opportunity to prepare for the Rugby World Cup Sevens for both men and women on 5-7 March in Dubai.
The tournament will bring together 40 men's and women's teams from 31 nations for what will be the world's biggest ever festival of Sevens rugby.
"With Rugby World Cup Sevens just a couple of weeks after the USA event, what goes on in San Diego will be key for coaches and will no doubt determine their final line-ups for Dubai," said the IRB's Sevens Manager Beth Coalter.
"San Diego also offers some of the women's teams crucial game time ahead of the World Cup. USA's women hosting New Zealand, England, China, Canada and South Africa in their own competition, so probably four of the top six sides in the women's Sevens game," Coalter added.
USA Sevens tickets
Tickets are now ON SALE for the USA Sevens at San Diego's state-of-the-art Major League Baseball stadium PETCO Park.
