Hong Kong Sevens: 7 successes from 2023 as the showpiece returned to ‘normal’
- The New Zealand and Hong Kong teams are among those who can look back with satisfaction at the second Sevens in five months
- No Covid-19 rules helped, but the finals were gripping, the women’s World Series comp was a hit and the crowd brought their ‘A’ game
As everyone recovers from a thrilling 2023 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, the tournament organisers and the city as a whole can reflect on a job largely well done.
Here are seven success stories from the weekend.
1. Finals night was epic
The women’s and men’s Cup finals were memorable, largely for the excellence and intensity of New Zealand as they outgunned Australia and Fiji respectively. So too were both of the bronze finals, and Hong Kong men’s emphatic victory over Canada to win the Shield.
But taking the biscuit had to be the men’s semi-final between Fiji and Great Britain. An unlikely comeback by the Britons forced sudden death after a crazy, chaotic final minute. In extra time, Fiji’s Terio Tamani danced over for a try and embarked on a high-tariff dive as he celebrated – slightly prematurely, because he almost grounded the ball out of play as he swooped to the turf.
The brief look of terror on his face before the winning score’s confirmation was priceless, and entirely in keeping with a barmy, breathless, boisterous half-hour.