The city’s biggest party is ready for another go-around. Photo: Sam Tsang
Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/2187072/hong-kong-sevens-43-days-and-counting-heres-five-things-you HK Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens: 43 days and counting, here’s five things you need to know
- This year’s edition of the rugby sevens tournament holds special weight as teams continue to fight for their tickets to Tokyo 2020
- Can Fiji make it five in a row or will the upstart Americans pull off an upset?
Fans on the third and final day of the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens. This year’s tournament is less than 50 days away. Photo: Sam Tsang
Forty teams from 34 international rugby unions will descend upon Hong Kong Stadium in 43 days for the city’s number one event.
As the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens gears up for its 2019 edition, here’s five things to know about this year’s tournament as you start planning your costume:
Party Time
The extravaganza will draw nearly 40,000 colourfully dressed and happy-go-lucky fans to So Kon Po each day from April 5-7, filling Hong Kong Stadium to the brim. The Hong Kong Rugby Union will also have two fan zones outside the gates, which will feature rugby demonstrations, games, food, music and live TV viewing for the games taking place inside.
Olympic Qualification
New Zealand head into the tournament ranked first on the men’s side. Photo: AFP
The top four finishers on both the men’s and women’s World Rugby Sevens Series this season will book a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. The draw for all three competitions (world series, men’s qualifier and women’s world series qualifier) takes place on March 11. Right now on the men’s side the top four teams are New Zealand, US, Fiji and South Africa. England are two points behind the Blitzboks. On the women’s side, New Zealand are first with the US in second and Canada and Australia tied for third.
Fiji go for five in a row
Can Fiji make it five in a row in Hong Kong? The odds are not bad given their record this year in the World Series. Photo: AFP
The Fijians love Hong Kong, with the men’s team looking to win their fifth straight title. So far this year, they have come first in Cape Town and Hamilton and sit third in overall standings. Their main opponents? The upstart Americans have come second at the last four stops and are tied for first overall with the All Blacks Sevens.
Carlin Isles and the speedy Americans
Speedster Carlin Isles leads an upstart American team who could play spoiler to favourites New Zealand or Fiji in the World Series category. Photo: AFP
The US sevens squad has been the most consistent team in 2019. They are led by speedy back Carlin Isles who has 151 tries over 201 matches. Isles has an odd goal: he wants to wear a rugby jersey and compete in the 100 metres at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Turns out this isn’t just a pipe dream, as the 28-year-old has a personal best of 10.13 seconds and wants to qualify for the US track and field team in June via the trials.
Yiu catching up to Varty
Salom Yiu scores against Cook Islands. The veteran winger is gunning for a berth at next year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Photo: HKRU
Salom Yiu Kam-shing will make his 10th appearance for Hong Kong in the Sevens Series Qualifier division, inching towards Rowan Varty’s 12 appearances. The speedy winger added an Asian Games gold to his illustrious career, played well during the Asian Rugby Sevens Series and was a standout for the 15-a-side’s failed repechage bid for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, which took place in France last November.
Will this be the 31-year-old’s swansong tournament if he is selected?