Newcomers determined to have a ball ... just like their ancestors

There are only 300 Mexican citizens registered with the consulate general in Hong Kong, and possibly 1,000 in total, but it will seem like there is a stadium full of them next weekend.

Ponchos and sombreros will be everyone's favourite accessory as Mexico becomes the 49th country to compete at the Sevens in its 35-year history.

'Mexicans have a passion for sports and love to celebrate,' acting consul general Andres Pena says. 'Mayans and Aztecs have played ball games since 1000 BC. They used a 2-4 kilogram rubber ball and played for both leisure and ritual. We hosted the Olympics in 1968 and the Fifa World Cup in 1970 and again in 1986 and we are all looking forward to taking our place on the Hong Kong Sevens stage.

'Rugby came to Mexico in the early 1900s with the British petroleum and mining companies. In 1973, the Mexican Rugby Federation was established. The game is taking off, not just in the lead up to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil but by us being at our first Hong Kong Sevens.'

The Mexicans are known for being generous and good natured people who love a party. Revealing both sides of the national character, the Mexican team, known as Los Serpientes, will this week visit the Po Leung Kuk Orphanage and also attend the team's national party at Pure Bar and Restaurant (2F Kinwick Centre, 32 Hollywood Road, Soho) on Tuesday.

Entry is HK$250 per person for MexCham members, HK$280 for non-members and HK$150 for youth under 16. The proceeds will go to Operation Breakthrough, a charitable organisation started by the Hong Kong Police in 1996, to help get disadvantaged children and first offenders involved in sport.