Help me, I am but a confused and simple man. From the advert and the article which both appeared in the South China Morning Post, on September 25, it can be deduced that a supporter of rugby in Hong Kong has two chances to get tickets for the 1997 Rugby Sevens, that is, one through the club allocation (15,000) and one through the ballot (3,000). Alternatively it could be deduced that as a supporter of rugby, you don't need to attend the national games, as you can get a ticket from taking your little child off to mini rugby every week (during the season) while you go off doing other things (golf etc). The third possibility is that those that attend the national games don't understand rugby until they become members of a club (including mini rugby). When you become a member there is nothing more to learn about rugby and so you don't need to attend any national games. That is why only 3,000 is earmarked for the people that go to the national games. Did 11,500 (15,000 less the 3,500 who attended HK v US) loyal followers all take their leave in June? Perhaps we will see from the attendance on September 29 and October 5. For myself I have camped out for the last four years and successfully secured tickets for myself and for two of my children (now adults being both over 12). In addition I attended the game against the US (with my two younger children to introduce them to rugby), which was the most exciting game I have seen since an England v Scotland game I saw in the mid-70s (by the way these are not the only games I have seen). Why do I support the Sevens so enthusiastically? It's because it is the coming together of some of the world's top players in one tournament, which with the national schedule I do not get to see. Perhaps, that is why 15,000 people do not attend the national games, but do go to the Sevens. NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
