Sports fans, rejoice! Hong Kong Sevens, the city’s premier rugby tournament, is slated for March 31 to April 2 at the Hong Kong Stadium. The general sales of tickets kicked off on February 9 and 25,000 tickets have been sold since. After a three-year hiatus, the event returned in November last year to the joy of many fans.
Organisers expect to draw 30,000 people each day compared to 27,000 daily audience in 2022. This comes after the government scrapped the social distancing caps as well as food and beverage restrictions.
This year’s edition is the first time in the tournament’s 45-year history that the full men’s and women’s competitions will take place simultaneously. Even better news for local fans, it’s also the first time that the Hong Kong men’s and women’s teams are playing at the same time.
The three-day event will have 28 teams competing and spectators can expect more than 70 matches in total. Participating in the men’s teams are Argentina, Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, Spain, South Africa, the United States, and Uruguay.
Meanwhile, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, and the United States are in the women’s tournament.
Prices for next month’s tournament are HKD 1,950 for adults and HKD 950 for children aged twelve and under. Fans can purchase the tickets via Klook. The single-day entrance ticket for March 31 costs HKD 790 while tickets for April 1 and 2 are priced at HKD 1,180.
Pool line-up revealed
The Hong Kong women’s team is facing off against New Zealand, Canada, and Great Britain. On the other hand, the men’s team is going against Great Britain, France, and Uruguay in their pool.
Men’s Pool:
A: Argentina, Fiji, Samoa, Canada
B: France, Great Britain, Uruguay, Hong Kong China
C: Australia, USA, Spain, Japan
D: Ireland, New Zealand, Kenya, South Africa
Women’s Pool:
A: New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain, Hong Kong China
B: Australia, Fiji, Ireland, Brazil
C: USA, France, Japan, Spain
The premier rugby tournament is back, bigger than ever
In addition to the unfettered access to food and drinks inside the stadium, Hong Kong Rugby Union chief executive Robbie McRobbie also mentioned that there will be “many bands and performances” over the three-day tournament.
Hong Kong pop star Joyce Cheng is performing as part of the opening ceremony on March 31. Internet sensation Plastic Bertrand and Korean pop star DK Soda are also making appearances.
The Hong Kong Sevens is one of the biggest events in the city, drawing 40,000 fans pre-pandemic. The first tournament started in 1976 with twelve teams playing among an audience of 3,000 viewers.
Last year’s edition had an 85 percent stadium capacity limit, with social distancing and masking regulations enforced. With the recent pandemic curbs, organisers hope that the event will have more international fans in attendance.
Get your tickets before they’re sold out!
(Hero and featured images credit: HongKong7s/Facebook)
Jianne Soriano
An introvert at heart, Jianne expresses herself best through her writing. Her passion lies in covering food and dining, music and entertainment, and arts and culture. When she’s not writing, you can find her visiting art exhibitions, watching movies or Korean dramas, or travelling solo.
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