World's Greatest Rugby Sevens Party is Back!
HK7s Taking Place 4-6 November
(03/11/22)
Fifteen of the world’s top rugby sevens nations
are back in Hong Kong to battle it out with the hosts for one of
world rugby’s most coveted crowns, the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong
Kong Sevens Cup.
Taking place from 4 to 6 November, more than
30,000 fans will be at Hong Kong Stadium despite capacity being capped at 85%
due to local
regulations.
The Hong Kong Sevens, widely regarded as the
greatest rugby sevens party on earth, has not taken place in the
vibrant city since
March 2019.
The 2022 edition will be a special one with
Hong Kong - in an unique November window for the first time ever -
given the honour of opening the 2022/23 HSBC World Rugby Sevens
Series, and hosting the first multi-day mass sports event locally
since the onset of the pandemic.
A double measure
of sevens is in store for the fans with the World Series returning
to Hong Kong again in April 2023, including a full edition of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series for the first time ever.
The Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens will then
resume its cherished position as one of the world’s largest annual
international rugby gatherings; in previous editions as many as 40
national teams have taken part in the men’s Series, men’s
Qualifiers and the Hong Kong Women’s Rugby Sevens tournaments in
Hong Kong.
“Hong Kong Sevens has been a flagship
sports event in Hong Kong for almost half a century. We are
extremely excited to welcome the return of this world-class sports
event after a two-year hiatus. The intense matches among some of
the world’s top rugby players will fill Hong Kong with enthusing
energy, showcasing our dynamic city ambience to all spectators.
Hong Kong is prepared to welcome the city’s most thrilling weekend
of the year!” said Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director,
Dane Cheng.
Since the last try was scored in Hong Kong in
March 2019,
Argentina and Ireland have cemented their spots in the upper
echelon, while South Africa enter a pivotal season in the first
year without inspirational coach Neil Powell.
Team
Great Britain makes an appearance in Hong Kong for the first time
in the 45-year history of the event, while New Zealand, winners of
11 cups in Hong Kong, return to the series full-time after a truncated
appearance last year due to pandemic travel restrictions.
One constant in Hong Kong is fabulous Fiji. Fiji
will be out to extend their record win streak here to six in a
row, and potentially capture a 20th Hong Kong Cup overall in 2022.
They bring with them a man supremely experienced in
navigating the cauldron of the Hong Kong Stadium in new coach and
former England Sevens legend Ben Gollings, one of the Hong Kong
Sevens’ “Magnificent Seven” team members.
“Hong
Kong is a favourite tournament in Fiji. All the players love to
play here and I loved playing here as a player, the energy and the
atmosphere is incredible. This is a home away from home for Fiji,
it is the pinnacle tournament back home and the one they all love
to watch,” said Gollings. “When it comes to
tournament time and knowing that that crowd and atmosphere will be
there it is exciting. It’s the comeback event for Hong Kong and
running out on Friday with that view and the stadium right on top
of them will be spectacular. One of the things we do well is to
play a style of rugby that ignites the crowds and the atmosphere,
hopefully we will be able to do provide that spark this weekend.”
The draw has done them
no favours with series champions Australia, New Zealand, and the
raw physical challenge of Samoa also in Pool A. South Africa,
Great Britain, France and Uruguay are in Pool B, Fiji, USA, Spain
and Japan are Pool C and Argentina, Ireland, Kenya and Canada are
in Pool D.
Chris Brooke, new chairman of the
Hong Kong Rugby Union summed up the emotions of many ahead of kick
off saying, “The pandemic postponements have led to significant
financial and staff losses in recent years, yet we are fortunate
to have taken solace in the strength of our community at home and
the support of our friends in rugby around the world. Many of us play rugby because it demands absolute teamwork,
resilience, and a shared vision for success - traits which have
sustained us as an organization in this time. Rugby also teaches you how to take a knock, get up, and get back
in the game. Well, the HKRU are still standing and I am proud to
say that this November the game is getting back to Hong Kong.”
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