Sevens: Singapore and Paris could face the chop in sevens series shake-up

In a radical shake-up, two tournaments look set to be cut from the IRB Sevens Series for next year.

The three-year contracts for Dubai, George, Wellington, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore, London and Paris are up at the end of the current series in June. Only four tournaments are safe from the cull, with the popular and profitable Dubai, Wellington and Hong Kong tournaments certain to be retained under the new deal along with London.

The other four tournaments - George, Los Angeles, Singapore and Paris - are being reviewed and a senior IRB source has indicated that Paris and Singapore are most under threat with Scotland and Fiji likely to replace them.

Singapore officials have made a late desperate bid to be included. The Singapore Sports Council has promoted the event extensively and has wined and dined IRB officials this week.

However, crowd figures on day one weren't impressive and while the organisation of the tournament and the city itself is superb, the extreme heat is a major factor counting against Singapore. Added to this, the national stadium is being demolished next year with a new one not expected to be completed until 2012.

IRB sevens tournament operations manager Beth Coulter hinted that Singapore was in trouble. "Their stadium is due to come down next year and the facilities they have to offer wouldn't be up to a really good standard until 2012," she said.

Last year's Paris sevens only attracted a few hundred spectators on the final day and France were in the final. It's likely a strong bid from Scotland will see it replace France as hosts of the penultimate tournament in the series. Melrose is the birthplace of Sevens and would be a logical venue.

Two other tournaments have had their problems. George in South Africa is hamstrung by its location with no direct flights from Dubai. Up until last year the event wasn't well attended.

Los Angeles has struggled with its profile in the US and the Americans only participate in a handful of tournaments. But the IRB still sees North America as a vital rugby market and LA is likely to be retained.

-HERALD ON SUNDAY