Hong Kong Rugby Sevens: Leading the Pack

March 27th – 29th is now a vital date in the Rugby calendar thanks to the success of the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Tournament. What’s now considered the world’s premier Rugby Sevens Tournament was born in the boozer!  Well, to be precise – pre-luncheon drinks at the venerable old Hong Kong Club in 1975…

The South African chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, A.D.C. “Tokkie” Smith, was talking with tobacco company Promotions Manager Ian Gow about how Gow’s firm could sponsor a Rugby Tournament with top teams from throughout the world.  Less than a year later, clubs from Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Fiji played out the first Hong Kong Sevens Tournament.

The event grew throughout the 70′s and 80′s and progressed from club sides to representative teams.  By the beginning of the 90′s, demand for tickets outstripped the capacity of the stadium, so it was re-built in 1994 as the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium which is now the current venue.  The first Rugby World Cup Sevens Tournament was held in Scotland, where the game of Sevens originated, but Hong Kong hosted the second Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1997.

Sevens rugby is fast and furious but also plays an important role in developing good players. Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, George Gregan to name a few first demonstrated their speed and agility in the Hong Kong Sevens, and the IRB, recognising the value of the game of Sevens, launched its inaugural World Sevens Series in 2000 to allow  more players to benefit from Sevens competitions.

A core of 10 to 12 of the world’s top teams now participate in tournaments in Dubai, South Africa, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Asia but it’s the Hong Kong Sevens Tournament that is the IRB’s “Jewel in the Crown”.

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