KEY POINTS:
New Zealand have been handed a tough assignment at the Wellington round of the International Rugby Board's sevens world series in Wellington on February 6-7.
The match schedule released today has New Zealand facing Australia as well as Wales and relative unknowns Niue on the first day of the two-day tournament.
South Africa are the tournament's top seeds after winning the first two titles of the new season in Dubai and George.
They face arguably the toughest pool challenge of all the top sides.
The South Africans will play series regulars Kenya and Scotland as well as Tonga, who reached the Cup semifinals in Wellington this year.
After finishing runners-up in Dubai and winning the plate in George, England are third seeds and top pool C, in which they face Argentina, France and Canada.
Fiji head pool D and will play against Samoa, whom they have already beaten in two Cup quarterfinals this season, as well as George Cup quarterfinalists the United States and the Cook Islands.
South Africa top the series standings on a maximum 40 points, ahead of New Zealand on 28 and England and Fiji on 24.
- NZPA
