Wellington is hoping to join Hong Kong and stage the Sevens tournament over three days next year.

Sevens becomes an Olympic sport in 2016, with a women's event to also become part of the programme.

Wellington Rugby Union CEO Greg Peters says they need to include a women's component at their tournament, and to do that will need an extra day. He says a decision on whether they move to three days next year is imminent.

"We understand that it will be in the coming months, in advance of the 2011 tournament, so that we've got some certainty or in fact if we were unlucky enough to lose the event, someone else will have plenty of time to plan for the 2012 tournament."

Mr Peters says if they move to three days the tournament will start on the Thursday night.