Hong Kong Sevens to keep World Series men’s qualifier for 2020, alongside men’s and women’s core events

All matches in three tournaments will be played at the Hong Kong Stadium, with the women’s event coming to the city for the first time

Hong Kong’s men’s and women’s team will be guaranteed spots over the three days of competition

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Ireland players celebrate qualifying for the World Series after their victory over Hong Kong in the final. Photo: SCMP / Benjamin Sieur

Published: 5:29pm, 3 Sep 2019Updated: 10:57pm, 3 Sep 2019

The Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens competition line-up has been finalised, with the city to stage the men’s and women’s core World Series events along with the men’s qualifier.

Hong Kong Rugby Union chief executive Robbie McRobbie said the three-day festival of rugby will remain largely the same over the next four years as the previous cycle. The 2019 Sevens featured a women’s core status qualifying tournament, which will be replaced by a full World Series event alongside the traditional men’s competition in 2020.

All matches will be played at Hong Kong Stadium and McRobbie is confident the men’s qualifier will remain part of the Hong Kong Sevens set-up for the next four-year cycle.

“The difference is that the women’s qualifier is being swapped for a core series tournament,” said McRobbie. “So, three tournaments, the same as before and all of it at the Hong Kong Stadium.

Brazil’s women win their qualifier final to earn a place in the 2019-20 women’s World Series. Photo: SCMP / Felix Wong

“World Rugby I don’t think has made an announcement of how the qualification tournaments will work but I expect Hong Kong to still be part of the qualifying process.