Coronavirus: Hong Kong Sevens organisers relieved to avoid cancellation after taking decision to postpone showpiece
- Chief executive Robbie McRobbie says World Rugby first presented the option of moving the tournament to October 11 days ago
- McRobbie says logistical challenges became too much of an issue and they accepted the new date and are now looking forward
The game’s governing body offered the HKRU a chance to move the 2020 Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens to October from April, and chief executive officer Robbie McRobbie said it was something they had to accept.
“We felt this would provide the clarity, and the confidence, and it would be a better decision all around for the tournament,” he said. The virus, officially known as Covid-19, has now claimed the lives of more than 1,300 people and infected more than 59,000. Virtually all of the deaths have occurred within the Hubei province of China where the virus was first reported.
“That was the first mention of it,” said McRobbie of World Rugby raising the idea more than a week ago. “Of course, there are lots of moving parts, there then had to be discussions with the Hong Kong government, who again have been extremely supportive, we had to make sure we could actually get the bookings in the stadium, with the (Hong Kong) Tourism Board, also the Home Affairs Bureau. So lots of stakeholders had to be consulted and our sponsors obviously were key players in this whole process.”