BBC "loses" Hong Kong Sevens

RUGBY UNION

RUGBY UNION

The BBC has lost the television rights to the Hong Kong Sevens, but another British company, Communications Services International Ltd, has won the bidding for the 1996, 1998 and 1999 Sevens tournaments. The World Cup Sevens are to be held in Hong Kong in 1997.

The veteran stand-off, Naas Botha, has been named in the President's XV to play a Transvaal Invitation XV in an exhibition match on Saturday, fuelling speculation he could make a World Cup comeback. The Springboks captain, Francois Pienaar, will play for the Transvaal side in his first match since undergoing a knee operation in December.

TOUR MATCH (Pretoria, SA): Northern Transvaal 23 Western Samoa 13.