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Tom Bell

The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens begins a new chapter on Friday when it makes its debut at the freshly completed Kai Tak Stadium.
A third home for the city’s premier annual sporting occasion will house the biggest audience in its 49-year history, with the 50,000 capacity configured for up to 47,000 fans.
Moving across the harbour to Kowloon gives a fresh look to a tournament long associated with Causeway Bay, following six years at Hong Kong Football Club then 41 editions at Hong Kong Stadium.
The upgrade furthers the evolution of what began on the same date, March 28, in 1976, when 3,000 watched a homespun, one-day iteration won by New Zealand’s Cantabrians. Entrance was free.


New Zealand again arrive as holders, having claimed the past two women’s as well as men’s crowns, with the modern-day Sevens a fully grown, big-budget, all-singing, all-dancing beast as they chase a double “three-peat”.
“The history of the tournament brings the best out of you,” Tomasi Cama, New Zealand men’s coach, said. “Most players make their mark here.
“We were fortunate last year to close the chapter at the old stadium. We have talked about how we can bring that history to the new stadium.”
Fiji men’s coach Osea Kolinisau felt similarly, saying: “Hong Kong is special for every Fijian player and we want to write a new history.”
The HK$30 billion Kai Tak Sports Park offers a blank page to do just that, to no little fanfare: the Hong Kong Tourism Board has promised an opening ceremony featuring a laser show to round off a month it has dubbed “Hong Kong Super March”.
Chris Brooke, chairman of organiser Hong Kong China Rugby, called the new venue “another incredible milestone”.
“We feel very fortunate, via the hosting of the Sevens, to be able to help strengthen the role of Hong Kong as one of the world’s most vibrant and accessible destinations for major international events,” he said.
Between blasts of music and pyrotechnics will be the matches that settle this leg of the HSBC SVNS Series, a globe-straddling roadshow indebted to the path blazed by Hong Kong. The expanding sevens landscape of 2025 features the likes of Brazil, Spain and, on the women’s circuit, China.
“We are excited for the new stadium, the National Games is here, so it is the first experience for players in the stadium,” Fan Shun-kei, China assistant coach, said.
The Chinese face the ultimate test on day one against New Zealand, who since Hong Kong glory last year have set the pace this season and collected a second successive Olympic gold.
Men’s Games glory in Paris last July went to France. Also the series champions, they will aim to better their 10-7 loss to the New Zealanders in a tense final almost 12 months ago. Five decades of evidence suggests the men in black, the second-most decorated team with 13 titles, will contend again, as will 19-time winners Fiji.
Argentina, the series leaders, arrive with back-to-back wins in Perth and Vancouver under their belts, but also “40 hours of flying” in their passports, according to coach Santiago Gomez Cora.

“That kills us. We have better results in America,” he said, but he keeps coming back and counts 22 previous Hong Kong Sevens as player, coach and even fan. “I love Hong Kong, my players know it’s my favourite.”
A side-plot will be the hosts’ showing after both men and women fell short in the second-tier Challenger Series. The men will defend their Melrose Claymores title; the women were runners-up last time.
“We want to put in a really good performance for ourselves and for everyone else, and win every game,” Jamie Bourk said as she contemplated her Sevens bow.
“Being on that plane to come to Hong Kong was always a highlight of the boys’ careers,” former New Zealand captain DJ Forbes said this week.
“Any new stadium always brings a lot of excitement. I’m sure everyone in the South Stand, in particular, will be doing their best to make sure that the players feel that vibe and the energy. It’s going to be a pretty, pretty massive three days.”
Additional reporting by Paul McNamara


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Sport

Hong Kong

Rugby

HK Sevens

Organisers hail ‘incredible milestone’ as event kicks off Kai Tak era with a record crowd, music and pyrotechnics


Organisers hail ‘incredible milestone’ as event kicks off Kai Tak era with a record crowd, music and pyrotechnics.


Kai Tak Sports Park

Hong Kong Sevens: Latest news