Behind the scenes at Hong Kong Sevens as insider tells of bear hugs, crying Fijians and a lost wheelchair
- Sean Moore came for his first Sevens in 1997, returned a year later to work in the tournament and now runs its marketing
- Ahead of the last edition at Hong Kong Stadium, he shares his favourite memories and some of the things people do not see
In more than a quarter of a century of working at the Hong Kong Sevens, one man has seen it all, from New Zealand’s memorable 2014 victory haka in torrential rain to the Beach Boys playing live.
Having travelled from the United States in 1997 to watch for the first time, Sean Moore fell in love with the event and the city. A year later he began working at the Sevens and now runs the tournament’s marketing, as managing director of Elite Sports Asia.
No one, then, is better placed to lift the lid on an event that has defined a city’s sporting character for almost 50 years.
Ahead of the last tournament to be played at Hong Kong Stadium, the Post asked Moore to share some of his abiding memories, and what people do not see behind the scenes.
What was the first job you had at the Sevens?
PR flack, chasing teams for interviews, launching the world’s largest mooncake at the old Furama hotel – general dogsbody, really.
I have always had the less than envious job of trying to prod a praying and crying Fijian seven to go up and get their trophies before the broadcast cut away.