The schedule for the 2022 Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens was announced today by the Hong Kong Rugby Union. The 2022 tournament will be played from 4-6 November in what is the first staging of a major multi-day event at the Hong Kong Stadium since 2019 before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 15 international teams taking part on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will be joined by Asia Rugby Sevens champions and defending Asian Games Sevens gold medallists Hong Kong in four pools of four next month.
The hosts were handed a hefty challenge for their first outing in front of a home audience in over three years, slotting into a highly competitive pool in Group A, with defending champions Australia, New Zealand and Samoa.
South Africa, France, and a newly combined Great Britain squad are joined by series debutants Uruguay in Pool B.
Defending Rugby World Cup Sevens world champions Fiji top Pool C – and are out to mark more milestones with six straight wins in Hong Kong, and a 20th overall success in the SAR in 2022. Out to stop them at the first hurdle are the USA, Spain and Japan.
Argentina and Ireland, who qualified for the World Series on their last outing in Hong Kong in 2019, are joined by Kenya and Canada in Pool D.
The teams have performed their magic and the tournament is shaping up to be amongst the most intriguing Hong Kong Sevens yet, capped by an even more unique second Hong Kong tournament on the calendar next April, when it is expected that the traditional 20,000 international visitors will flock back to Asia’s top rugby weekend.
More than 20,000 local fans have already purchased tickets for November’s tournament - which is capped at 85% of capacity due to venue Covid protocols, and will be relishing the prospect of the first Sevens since April 2019.
The savvy amongst them will know that the Sevens is a marathon and not a sprint, so the action begins with a leisurely Friday afternoon opener with eight games on the cards and a 15.30 kick-off.
The fun crescendos when Hong Kong runs out against HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series champions Australia - who enter wearing the champions’ mantle for the first time ever - in the final match of the evening at 19.03.
By then, even the most ardent of sevens afficionados will have had a long-awaited fillip of classic Hong Kong action with New Zealand versus Samoa (18.35) and France versus Great Britain (17.37) just a taste of the rugby rivalries on offer on day one, while Fiji versus Japan promises a track meet at 16.52.
Saturday (5 Nov.) ramps up the intensity further with 16 pulsating matches as the teams get stuck into their pools. South Africa and Great Britain tussle at 13.10, Australia battle Samoa at 14.00 and Argentina and Ireland face off at 15.10 in just a sampling of matches that will shape Sunday’s Cup run.
Hong Kong face a physical challenge with back-to-back hit outs with New Zealand (13.35) and Samoa in the day’s penultimate match at 17.35, before a titanic Pool A meeting between Australia and New Zealand closes Saturday night with a bang at 18.03.
The gates open at 07.30 on Sunday, (6 Nov.) for 21 do-or-die clashes as the race for the Cup, Plate, Bowl and the Hong Kong Sevens Shield heats up with the final kick off at 19.00.
Outside of the world class rugby on offer, fans can expect the typical full calendar of music and entertainment across the three-day event, from the opening ceremony on Friday right through to the final whistle on Sunday.
It would not be a Hong Kong Sevens without a few rugby stars and fans could find themselves rubbing (massive) shoulders with some legends of the game in the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Ambassadors including the one and only Waisale Serevi. Fiji’s King of Sevens will be joined by ex-New Zealand All Black Sevens captain DJ Forbes, England stars Phil Greening and Simon Shaw, Australia’s Adam Ashley-Cooper and former Welsh international Andy Powell.
With Hong Kong’s rugby community queuing up to celebrate the first Sevens since 2019, a festive weekend is on offer with three days of world-class sport, entertainment and live music at the 2022 Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
Hong Kong has relaxed its arrival protocols for travellers in September 2023. International visitors no longer need to compulsorily quarantine on arrival but can now self-monitor and test for three days before enjoying full access to Hong Kong Stadium.
Tickets can be purchased via the official Hong Kong Rugby Union ticketing platform: www.tickets.hkrugby.com. All tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis. Prices are frozen at 2019 levels with a three-day event pass at $1,950 for adults and $950 for children 12 and under while supplies last.
For more information on the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens please visit: www.hksevens.com.