Hong Kong star Denmark hoping Dupont-factor helps ‘growing’ sevens share rugby spotlight with big brother 15s
- Hong Kong are preparing for the second leg of this year’s World Rugby Challenger Series in Uruguay
- Max Denmark was his team’s top try scorer in the opening Dubai leg, but says there is vast scope for personal and collective improvement
Max Denmark is eyeing a future where fast-and-furious rugby sevens captures the same attention and commercial backing as its big brother 15s code.
The shorter format received a mighty shot in the arm when French scrum-half Antoine Dupont said he would play sevens at the Paris Olympics.
The 27-year-old duly opted out of the ongoing Six Nations tournament, in favour of representing his country in HSBC SVNS Series rugby, and led his country to its first sevens title in 19 years at the Los Angeles stop on Sunday.
Denmark, who is preparing for a World Rugby Challenger Series leg in Uruguay this week, said Dupont's presence was “awesome, he is the best of the best”.
“You can tell from social media, sevens is growing and growing, and people are taking more interest in the faster version of the game,” Denmark added.
“It still has a long way to go before it can compete with 15s, but there is definitely an opportunity. The games are quick, end-to-end, and exciting to watch. For sevens to have the same viewership, and backing, as 15s would be amazing, and I hope I get to see the day it happens.”