Travel Industry News at TravelNewsAsia.com since 1997
Thu, 3 November 2022

World's Greatest Rugby Sevens Party is Back! HK7s Taking Place 4-6 November

(03/11/22)  Fifteen of the world’s top rugby sevens nations are back in Hong Kong to battle it out with the hosts for one of world rugby’s most coveted crowns, the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Cup.

Taking place from 4 to 6 November, more than 30,000 fans will be at Hong Kong Stadium despite capacity being capped at 85% due to local regulations.

The Hong Kong Sevens, widely regarded as the greatest rugby sevens party on earth, has not taken place in the vibrant city since March 2019.

The 2022 edition will be a special one with Hong Kong - in an unique November window for the first time ever - given the honour of opening the 2022/23 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, and hosting the first multi-day mass sports event locally since the onset of the pandemic.

The Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is widely regarded as the greatest celebration of rugby sevens in the world. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com Click to enlarge.
HK7s - the greatest celebration of rugby sevens in the world. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

A double measure of sevens is in store for the fans with the World Series returning to Hong Kong again in April 2023, including a full edition of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series for the first time ever.

The Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens will then resume its cherished position as one of the world’s largest annual international rugby gatherings; in previous editions as many as 40 national teams have taken part in the men’s Series, men’s Qualifiers and the Hong Kong Women’s Rugby Sevens tournaments in Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong Sevens has been a flagship sports event in Hong Kong for almost half a century. We are extremely excited to welcome the return of this world-class sports event after a two-year hiatus. The intense matches among some of the world’s top rugby players will fill Hong Kong with enthusing energy, showcasing our dynamic city ambience to all spectators. Hong Kong is prepared to welcome the city’s most thrilling weekend of the year!” said Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director, Dane Cheng.

Since the last try was scored in Hong Kong in March 2019, Argentina and Ireland have cemented their spots in the upper echelon, while South Africa enter a pivotal season in the first year without inspirational coach Neil Powell.

Team Great Britain makes an appearance in Hong Kong for the first time in the 45-year history of the event, while New Zealand, winners of 11 cups in Hong Kong, return to the series full-time after a truncated appearance last year due to pandemic travel restrictions.

One constant in Hong Kong is fabulous Fiji. Fiji will be out to extend their record win streak here to six in a row, and potentially capture a 20th Hong Kong Cup overall in 2022.

They bring with them a man supremely experienced in navigating the cauldron of the Hong Kong Stadium in new coach and former England Sevens legend Ben Gollings, one of the Hong Kong Sevens’ “Magnificent Seven” team members.

“Hong Kong is a favourite tournament in Fiji. All the players love to play here and I loved playing here as a player, the energy and the atmosphere is incredible. This is a home away from home for Fiji, it is the pinnacle tournament back home and the one they all love to watch,” said Gollings. “When it comes to tournament time and knowing that that crowd and atmosphere will be there it is exciting. It’s the comeback event for Hong Kong and running out on Friday with that view and the stadium right on top of them will be spectacular. One of the things we do well is to play a style of rugby that ignites the crowds and the atmosphere, hopefully we will be able to do provide that spark this weekend.”

The draw has done them no favours with series champions Australia, New Zealand, and the raw physical challenge of Samoa also in Pool A. South Africa, Great Britain, France and Uruguay are in Pool B, Fiji, USA, Spain and Japan are Pool C and Argentina, Ireland, Kenya and Canada are in Pool D.

Chris Brooke, new chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Union summed up the emotions of many ahead of kick off saying, “The pandemic postponements have led to significant financial and staff losses in recent years, yet we are fortunate to have taken solace in the strength of our community at home and the support of our friends in rugby around the world. Many of us play rugby because it demands absolute teamwork, resilience, and a shared vision for success - traits which have sustained us as an organization in this time. Rugby also teaches you how to take a knock, get up, and get back in the game. Well, the HKRU are still standing and I am proud to say that this November the game is getting back to Hong Kong.”

Rugby pictures: Pictures from 2019 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2018 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2017 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2016 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2015, Pictures of the Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic Games Qualifier in Hong Kong, Pictures of Singha Thailand Sevens 2015, Pictures from the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour in Hong Kong, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2014, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2013, Pictures of Chartis Cup 2012 and Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2012.

Latest videos Electric Airport Taxis at Almaty Airport (ALA) in Kazakhstan - Exclusive Video Interview with Co-Founder, Auez Tulegenov, Novotel Living and Ibis Almaty Jetisu Hotels in Kazakhstan - Interview with GM, Arseniy Tagaev, and Almaty Marathon 2023 - Video Interview with CEO, Saltanat Kazybayeva.

Headlines: IndiGo Launches Fights Between Delhi and Almaty, Kazakhstan  Widerøe Appoints APG as Online GSA in United Kingdom  CapitaLand Ascott Trust Completes Sale of Four Serviced Residences in France  Air Astana Receives Five-Star Rating from APEX  United Airlines Appoints Michael Leskinen as CFO and EVP  Rosewood to Rebrand Three Lodges in New Zealand  New Dual-Branded Hotel in Kuala Lumpur Appoints Senior Management Team  Bonza to Launch Sunshine Coast - Darwin, Gold Coast - Darwin and Melbourne - Alice Springs  IHG Opens First avid Hotel in New York, USA  Austria to Order Embraer C-390 Millennium Multi-Mission Aircraft  Maldivian Orders Two ATR 42-600 Turboprop Aircraft  IndiGo Adds San Francisco to Codeshare Partnership with Turkish Airlines  Virgin Australia Upgrades Retailing Strategy with Sabre Air Price and Ancillary Solutions  TUI Expands Use of SITA OptiClimb to All Five Airlines in Group  Marshall J Orton Joins Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford as GM of F&B  China Airlines Launches Flights Between Taipei and Kumamoto, Japan  IATA FEGA Identifies Potential for LOT Polish Airlines to Reduce Fuel Consumption  British Airways Joins Fight Against Dementia by Partnering Alzheimer's Society  Hong Kong Int. Aviation Academy Launches First Cadet Pilot Programme  IndiGo Becomes Official Airline of Blue Tigers Indian Football Team  Marriott Opens World's Largest Aloft Hotel  Resort in Maldives Partners Karis Scarlette for Baa Atoll Ballet Retreat  Shady Abdelaziz Joins Four Seasons Hotel Tunis as DOSM  Intra-African Passenger Traffic to More Than Quadruple in Next 20 Years  Indian Air Force Takes Delivery of First C295 Aircraft from Airbus  Tailwind Air Appoints APG as Online GSA in USA  S Hotels Renovates and Upgrades IT Infrastructure at Key Properties in UK  AirAsia to Move Flights to New Airport in Siem Reap, Cambodia  Air Peace Orders Five Embraer E175 Aircraft  China Airlines Rewards FFP Members with Monthly Promotions  IHG Opens New-Build Holiday Inn & Suites in Geelong, Australia  Aruba Working with SITA to Upgrade Immigration Experience at AUA  Langham Opens Cordis Hotel in Xuzhou, China  SMBC Aviation Capital Expands 737 MAX Order Pipeline with Deal for 25 Boeing 737-8s  PHI Signs Agreement for 28 Airbus Helicopters  Anantara Chiang Mai Launches Ping River Cruises on Restored Rice Barge  Thaicom Orders a Flexible Telecommunications Satellite from Airbus  Korean Air Begins Transition to Electronic Air Waybills for Cargo  Tim Toerber Joins Assaia as Vice President of Business Development for the Americas  Elbit Systems Launches Capsule that Combines Skylark III with SkyStriker  Singapore Airlines to Resume Flights to Brussels in 2024  Vietnam Airlines Signs MOU for 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8s  Thai Airways Adjusts BKK-HKT Schedule; Increases Flights to China  Elbit Systems to Upgrade IDF's Mini Skylarks  DidaTravel Appoints Ala Andriuta as Head of Destination Marketing  Cathay Pacific to Resume Flights to Chennai, India in 2024  Qatar Airways Partners Chef Ton for Delicious Thai Flavours in Business Class  Air Astana Opens Flight Training Centre at NQZ, Kazakhstan  Vietnam Airlines to Launch Flights Between Saigon and Perth, Australia  SalamAir to Launch Year-Round Flights Between Muscat and Beirut, Lebanon  Air Astana Launches Flights Between Almaty and Tel Aviv, Israel  Hawaiian Airlines Opens Ticket Sales on First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Flights  Airlines Report Highest RPK and PLF on Record  IHG Signs Six Hotel Indigo Properties in Europe  Turkish Airlines Increases A350 Order Book with Deal for Ten -900s  IATA Reports Global Air Cargo Data for July 2023  Norse Opens Ticket Sales on Paris - Los Angeles Flights  Cartier Opens Boutique at Sydney Airport in Australia  Mazen Abilmona Appointed GM of Pullman Singapore Hill Street Hotel  Air France-KLM to Establish A350 Component Maintenance Services JV with Airbus  Alan Joyce Brings Forward Retirement; Vanessa Hudson Appointed Qantas Group CEO and MD  SAS Appoints Ginger Hughes as CTO; Paul Verhagen as CCO  Eric Pellen Joins Fairmont Amman as Executive Chef  Bombardier Partners Collins Aerospace for Avionics Upgrade on In-Service Global Jets  IndiGo Revamps Inflight Catering Service  FlyArystan to Launch Almaty - Delhi and Astana - Dushanbe Flights  Marriott Opens First Autograph Collection Hotel in Thailand  Construction Begins on Peppers Gladstone Hotel in Central Queensland, Australia  Natalie Dau to Conduct 4-Day Next-Level Performance Retreat at Chiva-Som, Hua Hin  KAI to Begin Serial Production of Light Armed Helicopters from Airbus  AirAsia Thailand Launches CNX - Lampang and NAN - Phrae Transfer Services  Mantra Melbourne Airport Hotel to Undergo Multi-Million Dollar Refurbishment  Qantas Removes Expiry Date on COVID Credits  Indonesia Signs MOU with Boeing for 24 F-15EX Fighter Jets  Airbus Opens Automated A321XLR Equipping Hangar in Hamburg, Germany  Novotel Living and Ibis Almaty Jetisu Hotels in Kazakhstan - Interview with GM, Arseniy Tagaev  Aeroflot to Increase Flights from Russia to Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand  Matthew Senyard Appointed Lodge Manager of Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti in Tanzania  Marriott Expands Luxury Collection to Japanese City of Nara  Embraer and CAE to Expand Pilot Training Program in Singapore  Marriott Opens First Moxy Hotel in Australia  Hong Kong Airport Reports July Passenger and Cargo Traffic  Few Tickets Still Available for Singapore F1 Grand Prix 2023  Qantas Orders 12 Airbus and 12 Boeing Aircraft  Finnair to Launch Flights Between Rovaniemi and Tromsø  Association of Asia Pacific Airlines Reports July's Passenger and Cargo Traffic  Bonza to Launch Flights Between Gold Coast and Launceston, Tasmania  Ramsey Saarany Appointed GM of Anantara Mina al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort  Emirates Reports One of its Busiest Summers Ever  EVA Air Extends Distribution Agreement with Amadeus  Almaty Marathon 2023 - 4K Video Interview with CEO, Saltanat Kazybayeva  Accor Hotels in Australia to Feature Peloton Bikes  Sabre Expands Presence in Fiji and South Pacific Islands with Airline Rep Services  Air New Zealand Orders Two ATR 72-600 Turboprop Aircraft  IndiGo to Operate All International Flights from BLR's Terminal 2  Electric Airport Taxis at Almaty Airport in Kazakhstan - Video Interview with Co-Founder  Elias Pertoft Appointed Pre-Opening GM of Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island  IHG Opens Third Hotel Indigo in Australia  Embraer E195-E2 Receives Type Certification from CAAC  Jörg Arnold Appointed Cluster Director of Andermatt Hotels and GM of The Chedi Andermatt  Marriott Signs Edition Hotel in Dali, China  Ethiopian Airlines to Launch Thrice Weekly Flights to London Gatwick, England  Boeing Appoints Alvin Liu as President - China  Charles Fisher Moves to Cairo as GM of Four Seasons Hotel  Jirarat Ninpadub Appointed GM of Le Meridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort  IndiGo to Launch Flights Between Delhi and Almaty, Kazakhstan  Accor Signs Second Sebel Hotel in Wellington, New Zealand  IHG Launches Garner a New Midscale Conversion Brand  Finnair Plus to Adopt Avios as Currency and Become a Spend-Based Platform  Two Luxurious Manor Homes Open at Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland  Thai AirAsia Reports Q2 and H1 2023 Results  Klook Survey Highlights Latest Travel Trends of Millennials and Gen Zs in Asia Pacific  Vietnam Airlines Signs MOC with Singapore Tourism Board  Aviation Safety and Training Singapore to Upgrade Flight Simulators with Lido FMS  Pictures from Miss International Queen 2023 Transgender Beauty Pageant in Pattaya, Thailand  Exclusive Video Interviews with 17 Miss International Queen 2023 Contestants  Living With One Eye - Six Years On by Steven Howard  HD Videos and Interviews  Podcasts from HD Video Interviews  RSS Feed - Travel Industry News  Ticker - Travel Industry News  Travel Industry News Archives  Travel Trade Shows  High-Res Picture Galleries  Travel News Asia - Latest Travel Industry News 

Subscribe to our Travel Industry News RSS Feed Travel Industry News RSS Feed from TravelNewsAsia.com. To do that in Outlook, right-click the RSS Feeds folder, select Add a New RSS Feed, enter the URL of our RSS Feed which is: https://www.travelnewsasia.com/travelnews.xml and click Add. The feed can also be used to add the headlines to your website or channel via a customisable applet. Have questions? Please read our Travel News FAQ. Thank you.

     
Advertising
Advertising
Copyright © 1997-2023 TravelNewsAsia.com