Argentina pull out of Hong Kong Sevens

Argentina have pulled out of this weekend's Hong Kong Sevens tournament amid concerns about war in Iraq.

Argentinean officials also expressed concern about the outbreak of a mystery disease in the Hong Kong area of China.

The South American nation are the third nation after France and Italy to withdraw from the tournament because of the mysterious pneumonia, which has killed 10 people and affected more than 200.

Argentina will be replaced by Holland, while Namibia and Tonga step in for France and Italy.

The Hong Kong Sevens, scheduled for March 28-30, is the fifth leg of the International Rugby Board's rugby union World Sevens series.

The annual tournament is a hugely popular event among many British expatriates in Hong Kong, who turn it into a weekend-long party.