Hong Kong Sevens to return in November after two consecutive years of postponements and cancellations
- World Rugby Sevens announces ‘condensed’ 2021 Series with most events scheduled for after Tokyo 2020
- Organisers reiterate players, staff and wider community’s health and safety remain ‘the top priority’
The Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is set to make its long-awaited comeback on November 5-7, governing body World Rugby Sevens announced on Wednesday.
In a Covid-19-impacted “condensed” 2021 Sevens Series, Hong Kong is sandwiched between the Singapore Sevens on October 29-30 and Emirates Dubai on December 3-4. There will be five women’s and four men’s events in all, with Hong Kong, Dubai and Cape Town the only venues hosting joint events.
Organisers insisted that the health and safety of all the players, staff and wider community remains “the top priority” as they continue to “closely monitor global developments with the Covid-19 pandemic”. It also reiterated that it will “work closely with the relevant national governments and health agencies to ensure the safe and secure delivery of the events”.
The Series will make its official return in Paris in May having had the remainder of its previous season – Hong Kong, Langford, London, Paris and Singapore legs – cancelled.
“Today’s announcement ... marks a significant and exciting moment for rugby seven’s re-emergence from the impacts of the global Covid-19 pandemic and we thank HSBC and all Series partners for their unwavering support, and host organisations and participating unions for their hard work, patience and spirit of collaboration,” said World Rugby’s interim chief executive Alan Gilpin in an official statement.