Hong Kong Sevens: twice in a season just the ticket as 2023 tournament arrives
- After November rebirth, Sevens this weekend discards Covid masks and gives equal billing to women’s teams, with 35,000-plus crowd
- Fiji, Australia and New Zealand lead men’s contenders, and New Zealand the women’s, while Hong Kong aim to cut it with the world’s best
The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens will continue to make up for its lost years when it takes place for a second time in five months this Friday to Sunday.
With over 35,000 spectators anticipated on day one and 30,000-plus on days two and three – most of them locals – Hong Kong Stadium is set to give full voice to that sentiment, as the world’s most revered sevens tournament reassumes its traditional spring slot.
This 46th edition is another step forward for Hong Kong after an easing of pandemic restrictions freed it to cast off the surgical masks and Covid tests of its relaunch last November. Perhaps more striking still will be the strides taken for women’s rugby.
Women have been playing in the Hong Kong Sevens since 1997, but this year have 12 teams involved alongside 16 men’s sides as the city stages its first HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series event.
Mini and junior rugby, meanwhile, will have their days in the sun – or perhaps Friday’s forecast showers – for the first time since 2019. Back, too, is the march-past, on Saturday afternoon.