THE IRFU is to make a bid to stage the World Cup seven aside championship in 2001. Efforts in that direction will be made initially by IRFU officials when they visit Hong Kong next week.

The World Sevens, which took place for the first time in Murrayfield in 1993 takes place every four years. The championship this season is being held in Hong Kong, which has a long established tradition of holding sevens tournaments. This year's tournament, which starts next week is, however, for the world title.

There were suggestions that Hong Kong would be the permanent base for the World Sevens, but that is unlikely to get the necessary level of support.

IRFU president Bobby Deacy will lead the Irish delegation in next week's fact finding mission in Hong Kong and IRFU senior vice president Niall Brophy and secretary Philip Browne will accompany him. Ireland's two International Board representatives, Syd Millar and Tom Kiernan, will also be in Hoag Kong as representatives of the Board.

Having seen the set up in Hong Kong, the IRFU will make a presentation of their plans to stage the next championship to the International Board. The sevens championship, just like the rugby World, Cup, is run by Rugby World Cup Ltd (RWC), who operate under the jurisdiction of the International Board.

Ireland reached the semifinal of the inaugural World Sevens in 1993 losing narrowly to Australia in the last minute of the game. The championship was eventually won by England. Ireland will again be among the, contestants in Hong Kong next week.