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SCMP Reporter

SIR William Purves, back in town for the Sevens, felt rather deflated at the end of play on Saturday - somebody had let down the tyres of his company Jaguar.

 The canny, rugby-loving boss of the Hongkong Bank's parent company HSBC Holdings had enjoyed a sociable day catching up with old friends and watching the action before discovering that he was without a means of transport home.

 It seems that the offender was not targeting Sir William because he did not get an overdraft, rather the expatriate just had a few too many and took a sudden dislike to luxury cars.

  Stick from all sides for Campo  AUSTRALIA'S David Campese was the butt of most of the jibes over the Sevens weekend.

 The world's leading try scorer was abused in print, mocked by the announcers and booed by the crowd.

 Even BBC commentator Ian Robertson got into the act during the presentation of an autographed ball to finance company Merrill Lynch who bid a staggering HK$220,000 for it.

 ''I am going to ask Waisale Serevi to present the ball as he is used to passing balls while Campo is not,'' said Robertson, before adding with a grin ''but Campo is used to receiving cheques for HK$220,000''.

 The money will be put into the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union's Educational Trust which is used to put Chinese youngsters with a talent for the game through school.

 The first two recipients, brothers Chan Fuk-ping and Chan Wai-ping, have both played rugby for Hong Kong Schoolboys.

   Souvenirs in short supply  ORGANISERS were apologetic about the long wait for souvenirs which spectators had to endure over the gala weekend.

 Although the popular range of souvenirs was provided by Reebok, on contract from the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, the sales outlets were run by the stadium authorities.

 Originally it was planned to have eight sales booths but, to the chagrin of the Union, this was cut to four.

 ''We felt this year there would be no problems at the souvenir outlets but it seems that the stadium management underestimated the demand. Hopefully they will get it right next year,'' said a spokesman for the Organising Committee.

   Seventh heaven  FELICITY Probert celebrated her 15th birthday yesterday - at her 16th Sevens tournament.

 Hong Kong-born Probert was taken to her first Sevens by her dad when she was just 11 weeks old.

 ''I could not imagine a year without the Sevens,'' she said. ''They are the best.''    Cover boy covered up  THE man with possibly the biggest beer belly in the world, pictured in all his glory on the front page of the Sunday Morning Post, was back at the Sevens yesterday with his T-shirt on.

 The legend, appropriately enough, read: ''I ate all the pies.'' Washed down by a couple of thousand beers, we suspect.

   A seat fit for a king  THE King of Tonga arrived at the Sevens yesterday and was delighted that there was an extra large seat in the VIP area to accommodate him.

  His Excellency Taufa'ahau Tapou IV is a gentleman of larger than normal stature so the organisers arranged for the Hilton Hotel to provide a spacious chair for the royal posterior.

  He was said to have enjoyed the action despite Tonga going down to Korea in their Plate semi-final.



Deflating time for top bank executive