Long before Samoa and Kenya take centre stage at the Hong Kong Stadium today, the race for the one promotion place onto the 2016-17 series will begin between 12 regional qualifiers also here in Hong Kong. 

Last year Zimbabwe's hearts were broken at the death by Vladimir Ostroushko, whose try after the hooter booked Russia onto this year's series as full-time tourists. 

This year's qualifier draw looks stronger than ever. Hosts Hong Kong line up with Germany, Zimbabwe and the Cayman Islands; former series core side Spain are pooled with Papua New Guinea, Chile and Mexico, while last year's relegated series team Japan start with matches against Olympic hosts Brazil, Tonga and Morocco.

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The competition is also an intriguing dress rehearsal ahead of the last chance saloon repechage qualifier in June for the 12th and final Olympic place, with 11 of the 16 teams set to play that tourmament in Monaco here in Hong Kong.
 
Among those sides are Germany, who performed well enough in Europe's Sevens Grand Prix Series last year to keep themselves in the reckoning for Olympic inclusion, and series promotion.

"These are really exciting times for us and for German rugby. We've been working towards this for so long and we're really happy to be here and looking forward to the big tournament," said Germany's captain Clemens von Grumbkow, their only player with previous world series experience having played in London a few years ago.

"I've heard so much about the (Hong Kong) tournament, and watched it on TV for so many years, to finally be here is so exciting, we can't wait to step out onto that field."

Germany's up-turn in form has also manifested in the 15-a-side game, with the side retaining their European Nations Cup status this season at the expense of relegated Portugal.

"It's been a good European campaign for us. We've been working hard to improve rugby in Germany and now we want to hopefully want to show what we can do in sevens."

But are Germany really capable of going all the way and booking an unlikely place at Rio 2016?

"It's going to be really tough and there are lots of very good teams in the (Monaco) draw, like Canada and Samoa, but you can feel in Germany right now that we're starting to move things in the right direction.

"There's a lot of potential in Germany. There's lots of big business there to invest in the game. We need to get more young kids playing the game, and Germany can become a big rugby nation."