appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Andrew McNicol

The 2021 Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens will be postponed from April until November, the Post understands. An official announcement will be made by governing body World Rugby on Thursday.
Originally slated for April 3-5, the decision comes as no surprise given Hong Kong is struggling to contain cluster outbreaks and untraceable infections in trying to combat its fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The writing was on the wall after the government had earlier this month cancelled its annual New Year and Lunar New Year fireworks display and parades scheduled for January and February. All sporting events in Hong Kong are either postponed or cancelled for the foreseeable future.
With many of its competing nations going through their own government-imposed travel and quarantine restrictions, it has become impossible for organisers to deliver the event’s large-scale logistical requirements.

The Union, in tandem with World Rugby which oversees the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, has agreed that a postponement to early November would be the most sensible solution.
They will be betting on a vaccine bringing some order to the world and countries opening up to travel. Studies have shown that more than half of the Sevens spectators come from overseas. The weather is also favourable at that time of the year.
Hong Kong Sevens ‘makes no commercial sense’ unless stadium half full
The Union is already reeling from this year’s Sevens postponement-turned-cancellation. It is desperate to stage the event which generates 95 per cent of its annual revenue.
In February, the Union had similarly postponed the city’s marquee sporting event from April to October. Then in June, World Rugby called off remaining tournaments of its 2019-20 Series season citing the pandemic, cancelling the Hong Kong, Langford, London, Paris and Singapore legs.

Where the Sevens fits into a new revised schedule for next year is unclear, but it could mean it stages the climax, as opposed to its original role as the Series’ opener.
It would have been one of the very few rugby sevens competitions leading into the also-postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, now rescheduled for July 23-August 8.
The postponement also allows World Rugby to perfect a Covid-19 bubble or protocol model that will have to be employed at Tokyo 2020, providing the Games go ahead. Many of the World Series teams will be competing in Tokyo.

The Hong Kong Sevens is estimated to bring nearly $400 million to the Hong Kong economy each year. In 2019, the Sevens raked in HK$116 million and HK$55 million in corporate box income and tickets, respectively.
The next Sevens will be the 45th iteration, with the event being held every year since 1976, even playing through Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in 2003. The deadly disease ripped through the city, killing 299 of the 1,755 people it infected.

On Wednesday, the Union also announced the postponement of its annual New Year’s Day Youth Tournament due to “ongoing Covid-19 social distancing restrictions”.


Hong Kong Sevens dates released, world championship to again start in city

How ‘rubbish’ Olympic medal inspired New Zealand star Ruby Tui’s rush to greatness

Hong Kong Sevens proves to be in rude health on 50th anniversary

Hong Kong rugby legend Salom Yiu hunting next generation of local stars

Hong Kong Sevens

Hong Kong Sevens postponed for second straight year as city battles fourth wave of Covid-19

The South Stand in full flow at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2019 – the last time the event was staged. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** **LOW RES** Fiji wins the Cup final match against France on the last day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 07APR19 R7 SCMP / Winson Wong

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Fans at South Stand cheer on the second day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 06APR19 R7 SCMP / Sam Tsang

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** South stand fans at the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at Hong Kong Stadium on April 06, 2018. 06APR18 R7 SCMP / Winson Wong

View of a rugby ball at the Victoria Harbour photographed from Central, in promotion for the 2019 Hong Kong Rugby Sevens. 03APR19 SCMP / Nora Tam

Hong Kong Sevens to kick off the World Sevens Series in April 2021

Big crowds are expected to be back for the Hong Kong Sevens in April 2021. Photo: AP

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Kalione Nasoko from Fiji against South Africa during the Cup final at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2017 rugby tournament, on April 09, 2017. 09APR17 [R7] SCMP / K.Y. CHENG

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Fans cheer during the World Rugby Women's Sevens quarter finals at Hong Kong Stadium during the HK Sevens 2019. 05APR19 R7 SCMP / Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong Sevens cancellation leads to HK$151 million loss, but HKRU says it has reserves to weather Covid-19 storm

Rugby fans at the 2019 Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at Hong Kong Stadium. Will they get to return in 2021? Photo: AP

Hong Kong women's sevens rugby. Hong Kong captain Melody Li makes a run against China. Photo: HKRU

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** ***LOW RES*** National anthems were played before the Cup final match between Fiji (in white) and France (in blue) on the last day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 07APR19 R7 SCMP / Winson Wong

Hong Kong vs Cook Islands during Rugby World Cup Qualification 2019 Play-off at Hong Kong Football Club, Causeway Bay,, Hong Kong, on 7 July 2018, Hong Kong SAR, China. Photo by : Ike Li / Ike Images

Handout image shows Rugby player Salmon Yiu training at home, part of a body of work by sports photographer Brian Ching "Our Work From Home" a photo exhibit showing how Hong Kong athletes creatively adapted to the challenges of working from home during social distancing, 2020. [05JULY2020 RADAR POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: BRIAN CHING

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Interview with Robbie McRobbie (right), Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) on the second day of the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at the Hong Kong Stadium on April 07, 2018. 07APR18 R7 SCMP / Roy Issa

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Fans dressed in costumes cheer at the South Stand on the last day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 07APR19 R7 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Vilimoni Botitu of Fiji lifts up by his teammate Josua Vakurunabili (#2) after winning the Cup final match against France on the last day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 07APR19 R7 SCMP / Sam Tsang

Hong Kong Sevens: top coaches Ben Ryan and Mike Friday back decision to scrap World Series; cannot wait for next season

Hong Kong Sevens fans will have to wait until next April to see some action. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

This picture shows the United States players acknowledge the crowd during the 2015 Rugby Seven tournament in Hong Kong. 28MAR15

Ben Ryan, former Fiji rugby coach poses for photographer in Wan Chai. 14OCT16 SCMP / Edmond So

New Zealand's 7s rugby team celebrates on the podium after winning the World Rugby Sevens Series men's final rugby match between New Zealand and South Africa at the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town on December 15, 2019. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)

Hong Kong Sevens cancelled: HKRU chief Robbie McRobbie defiant – ‘we will survive’

The 2020 Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens hasve been cancelled. Photo: Felix Wong

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Interview with Robbie McRobbie, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) on the second day of the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at the Hong Kong Stadium on April 07, 2018. 07APR18 R7 SCMP / Roy Issa

Hong Kong Sevens cancelled as World Rugby calls off 2020 World Series

Rugby fans cheer during the annual Hong Kong Sevens. It will not go ahead in 2020. Photo: AP

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** ***LOW RES*** Vilimoni Botitu (#7) of Fiji lifts up by his teammate Josua Vakurunabili after winning the Cup final match against France on the last day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 07APR19 R7 SCMP / Winson Wong

Sport

Hong Kong

Rugby

HK Sevens

Rugby community

Hong Kong Rugby Union

Coronavirus


Hong Kong Rugby Union and World Rugby mutually agree postponement from April to November 2021 due to pandemic
This year’s edition was similarly postponed to October until World Sevens Series officially cancelled remaining events



Hong Kong Rugby Union and World Rugby mutually agree postponement from April to November, similar to this year’s Sevens, which was ultimately cancelled.
