The city - and the world - came to the party on Friday as the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens kicked off its 30th edition at the iconic Hong Kong Stadium.
Befitting the occasion - and the venue - fans were greeting with the news that the event was a sellout, with the last of the 40,000 tickets available being snapped by visitors who have arrived in Hong Kong from the far reaches of the globe to celebrate this historic occasion and the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens’ rich history.
Out on the field of play, defending Hong Kong Sevens champions New Zealand got their title defences off to perfect 2-0 starts in the HSBC SVNS tournaments, while victories for the two Hong Kong, China teams over China kicked off the new Melrose Claymores tournaments - and raised the roof - late on day one.
Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper made his Hong Kong Sevens debut Friday as he tries to play his way into contention for the Australian squad going for gold at the Paris Olympics in July.
The Hong Kong Stadium was where the seeds of Olympics sevens rugby were planted and the moment wasn’t lost on the veteran.
“[The experience] was completely unique and I'm loving that atmosphere. I hear it's only going up from here,” said Hooper, who came on late as Australia started their Pool A campaign with a 12-0 win over Fiji,” said Hooper.
By the time local singing sensation Celine Tam, rising all-female Cantopop stars Lolly Talk and former England international and British & Irish Lions star-turned DJ James Haskell took to the stage, the sun had set and the stands were filling to near capacity with over 30,000 spectators in the house on Friday evening.
Fijian Mere Sowakula is making her third trip as part of the Islanders’ famed “Blue Wiggers” fans posse - and they were cheering on every moment of action.
“I always look forward to this one,” she said. “This is where the spirit, the joy, the fire of sevens is. It’s a meeting point for friends from all over the world. I have two friends here from the UK and we all came here to support Fiji and to support women’s rugby.”
There’s also a healthy Aussie contingent among the international visitors who are making up more than 40 per cent of the fans this year, a reflection of how Hong Kong’s mega events are bouncing back.
“We missed coming during the pandemic and even last year but we had to make it to the last one at this stadium, said Sydney’s Michael Thomas, who’s in Hong Kong for a week with three mates, taking in the Sevens and taking in town.
“There’s history here, isn’t there. So many great players have played and we’ve had so many good times. It’s just great to be back in Hong Kong.”
The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. The “M” Mark awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolising intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.