The crowds might have failed to flock to So Kon Po, but the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union said yesterday they were pleased with the outcome of the first registration for the ballot for tickets to next year's World Cup Sevens.
An estimated 3,500 people registered for the ballot during Hong Kong's 22-19 Pacific Rim Championship victory at Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday.
Pieter Schats, executive director of the HKRFU said: 'It was a success. While things can always get better, we are happy with the outcome.' HKRFU secretary Peter Else added: 'I had expected such a turnout and I'm not disappointed. I think there will be a keener turnout at the two Fiji games in October.' Both Schats and Else brushed aside the possibility the public might have voted with their feet at the HKRFU's decision to bring in a ballot system.
Last month the HKRFU scrapped the time-honoured public sale of tickets and announced a ballot ticket distribution for the March 21-23 World Cup Sevens and future Hong Kong Sevens.