Hong Kong Sevens will go ahead despite city’s ongoing protests, new chairman says

New chairman Patrick Donovan says the plan remains the same, the Hong Kong Sevens will go ahead next April despite the city’s ongoing protests

Hong Kong Rugby Union is also in talks with World Rugby for some ‘second tier’ games next year

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New chairman Patrick Donovan says the Hong Kong Sevens will go ahead in April despite the city’s ongoing protests. Photo: AP

Published: 9:30am, 24 Oct 2019Updated: 12:31pm, 24 Oct 2019

New Hong Kong Rugby Union chairman Patrick Donovan wasted no time in putting his stamp on the top job.

In his first interview since taking office in July, he said fans can relax, the city’s iconic Hong Kong Sevens tournament will go ahead despite ongoing protests in the city that are heading into their fifth month.

“I’m absolutely committed to the Hong Kong Sevens continuing next year,” said Donovan, who took over from Peter Schats who held the position since 2014. “We continue to regularly engage in dialogue with sponsors, government and all stakeholders, and there is nothing at this point in time that would lead me to view the Sevens being cancelled.”

HKRU chief executive Robbie McRobbie said earlier this month: “We are fully committed to continuing.”

Multiple high-profile sporting events have fallen victim to the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, which started over a now-shelved extradition bill and have extended to an anti-government movement. These include the Hong Kong Formula E-Pix, Hong Kong Tennis Open, the Harbour Race swim, the Clearwater Bay Open golf, the Cyclothon and the Hong Kong Squash Open.

New chairman Patrick Donovan said they haven’t had any conversations about cancelling the Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Dickson Lee