New Zealand have been pooled with Argentina, Kenya and Tonga in Pool D for the sell-out IRB Sevens fixture next month.

The hosts will be looking to make it two wins in a row after beating South Africa 27-14 in front of their home crowd at George in December.

The two-day Westpac Stadium competition is the third leg of the IRB Sevens Series and New Zealand are leading with South Africa on 36 points. 

South Africa have been pooled with Australia, Canada and the Cook Islands.

Paul Treu’s team will look vastly different from the one which came so close to winning a consecutive title in the most recent leg in George, because so many of his top players have now returned to their Super 14 franchises.

England, runners-up in the 2005/06 IRB Sevens Series, will be looking to get Ben Ryan’s tenure as new head coach off to a winning start and face Samoa, Scotland and Papa New Guinea in Pool C.

Fiji do top the pool seedings, though, on the strength of the results from the last six tournaments and face France, Portugal and USA in Pool A.

The tournament begins on February 2.

Pool A: Fiji, France, Portugal, USA
Pool B: South Africa, Australia, Canada, Cook Islands
Pool C: England, Samoa, Scotland, PNG
Pool D: New Zealand. Kenya, Argentina, Tonga