Two Up Front has confirmed its status as Asia's premier rugby publisher by winning the race to produce the official souvenir programme for the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

The Hong Kong-based sports publishing and media relations company beat off intense competition to secure the prestigious contract, impressing the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union with its plans to produce an attractive and innovative programme that will set a benchmark for future major tournaments.

"This will be the single most important sporting event ever held in Hong Kong and we are confident Two Up Front will produce a souvenir programme to match the occasion," said Beth Coalter, the HKRFU’s 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens manager. "We are looking forward to working with Two Up Front on what is a vitally important part of the weekend’s entertainment."

Mr Niall Donnelly, Two Up Front's editorial director, said. "We are committed to publishing a high-quality programme that achieves two objectives – to offer spectators an all-encompassing guide to the tournament while providing them with a fitting memento to a world-class event."

Twenty-four of the world's top teams, including holders New Zealand, three-time Hong Kong Sevens champions England and perennial crowd favourites Fiji, will contest the fourth edition of the Rugby World Cup Sevens at Hong Kong Stadium on March 18-20, 2005.

The 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens programme will add to Two Up Front's impressive catalogue of publications which includes Rugby Talk (the official  magazine of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union), the official souvenir programme for the 2004 Asian Rugby Championships, and the souvenir programme for the 2004 Watsons Water Champions Challenge tennis tournament in Hong Kong.

Two Up Front also handles media relations for major sporting events, including the inaugural China Open tennis tournament in Beijing and the 2004 Omega Hong Kong Open golf tournament.