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Robby Nimmo

For ESPN sports commentator Justin Sampson, the Sevens is a welcome respite from a harrowing year.
 Back home in Australia, bushfires struck in February. 
'Luckily, my family farm escaped the damage. However, my children's schools were closed and it was pretty touch and go for a while,' he said.
 Sampson (pictured) was spotted in the Deutsche Bank (DB) box in full German kit to match its Bierfest 2009 theme, complete with giveaways of German felt bats in typical DB blue, Heidi braids, aprons and German moustaches. Every year DB is determined not to be out-themed in their box and the annual innovation has made them iconic.
'I can't tell you what a welcome  this gig was, it's great to get back in the rugby heartland of Hong Kong,' said Sampson, who was master of ceremonies at the Deutsche Bank Valley Long Lunch on Friday across the road from the stadium.  
'The amazing thing about the lunch, is that not only has it been going for 14 years now and started as a charity, it's still kept up that goal, despite themes that change every year.
'I saw some big donations in Australia to help bushfire victims, but the donations for children's charity exceeded what we raised at the lunch last year. That says a lot about Hong Kong and the fact that even though times are tough, rugby people will always dig deeper.'
Added Sampson: 'I felt pretty silly in that lederhosen at first on Friday, but for charity it's worth it, and I wasn't the only large bloke wearing one. Former rugby legends Bobby Skinstad and Daniel Herbert, who were on stage, were also wearing them. You could say we were a beef fest at the beerfest.'



Achtung baby! DB box a sea of Heidi braids and German moustaches