Birth of a legend: when Hong Kong held its first international rugby sevens event
- Now the world’s most prestigious sevens event, the tournament started in 1976, with 12 teams – and a win for New Zealand
- Controversies surrounded the inclusion of expats in the Singapore team, a broke Sri Lanka, and the loss of a key Hong Kong player
“HK to hold 12-nation rugby tournament”, ran a South China Morning Post headline on February 8, 1976. “Following the success of the Wales visit both on and off the field, the Hongkong Rugby Football Union are now preparing for what almost certainly will be their most adventurous rugby tournament. This is the Rothmans Cathay Pacific International Rugby Seven-a-side Championships which will be held on Sunday, March 28.”
The 12 nations confirmed to play were Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga and Hongkong.
“Although it is too early to consider the relative strengths and weaknesses of the countries invited, clearly New Zealand and Australia will be powerful sides,” speculated the Post, adding that Fiji, Tonga and Japan would also be ones to watch.
On February 24, the Post reported that Hong Kong had been “drawn into a tough group” with Fiji and Malaysia. “The Fijians should have the finesse and speed to take both sides.”
Despite controversies over whether the Singapore team should include expats, the side from Sri Lanka arriving “without a cent in their pockets” because of their nation’s “rigid control over foreign exchange” and one of Hong Kong’s most prominent players quitting, the tournament went ahead as planned at the Hongkong Football Club, in Happy Valley.
The championship was won by New Zealand, who “gave a fitting climax to a day of excellent rugby with a brilliant display in the final to beat the Wallaroos of Australia by 24 points to eight”.
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