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Hong Kong Sevens as it happened: laser show and city’s men light up Kai Tak on day 1

Hong Kong’s women run in five tries against Kazakhstan, and opening ceremony dazzles before city’s men sweep past China

Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens opening ceremony at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 10:00am, 28 Mar 2025Updated: 10:16pm, 28 Mar 2025

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Introduction

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Honestly, it feels as though we’ve been talking about this day for months, which, when you think about it, we have.

Through the test events, the dark days of December and the last Sevens in Causeway Bay, everything has been building up to this.

The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens has finally reached Kai Tak Sports Park, the shining jewel in the city’s entertainment crown and for the next three days the centre of all our attention.

There have been 26 games on Friday, an opening ceremony with lasers and a fan village, with 43,000-plus fans expected. We followed it all in our live coverage of day one.

More from our reporting:

– Hong Kong Sevens ready to grow into new home, New Zealand eye double three-peat

– Exclusive | ‘Super March’ good for Hong Kong as focus turns to quality: tourism minister

Reporting by Lars Hamer, Mike Chan, Paul McNamara, Harvey Kong, Wynna Wong, Jiang Chuqin, Oscar Liu, Shah Sahari.