HONG KONG — The Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) is counting down to the start of the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens where this year’s Sevens will provide an interesting dress rehearsal for Rugby Sevens’ debut at the Olympic Games in Rio in August with all eleven presently qualified men’s teams taking part in a three-day format that will replicate the Games competition in Brazil. A further 11 of the 16 teams taking part in the final men’s Olympic qualifier in Monaco in June are also participating at the sold-out Hong Kong Stadium this weekend.
Samoa News photographer Barry Markowitz will be in Hong Kong to bring you images of all the action when Hong Kong welcomes 28 teams to the Sevens. This year’s Sevens will play host to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series competition amongst the 15 teams on the Series and South Korea, invited by World Rugby as the 16th team in the lead tournament.
A 12-team international qualifier competition featuring two teams from each of World Rugby’s six regions will also be held this weekend. The winner of that competition will be promoted to next year’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Cayman Islands become the 60th nation to have participated in the Hong Kong Sevens since its inception in 1976.
120,000 spectators are expected to attend across the three days of the tournament in 2016, which will push total attendance on this year’s Series past half a million spectators, according to World Rugby Competitions & Events Manager for Sevens Douglas Langley.
Fiji enters Hong Kong as the Series leaders on 106 points, one ahead of second-placed South Africa who are in turn one point ahead of hard-charging New Zealand, winners of three of the last four tournaments played. A resurgent Australia and an emerging United States round out the top five spots on the Series.
The near-parity in the Series makes a win in Hong Kong even more important for the teams and a pivotal factor in determining who will run out Series champions. The Cup winner in Hong Kong will receive 22 points towards their Series standings, while the runners-up are awarded 19 points. Third and fourth place finishers receive 17 and 15 points respectively.
A separate 12-team World Rugby Sevens Series qualification tournament will also be played.
SEVENS 2016 TO HONOR BETH COALTER AND JONAH LOMU
Immediately following the tournament’s Opening Ceremony on Friday, (8 April), at 17.46, rugby fans in the Stadium will lead and represent millions more around the world in remembering two pillars of the game: playing legend Lomu and former HKRU and World Rugby executive Coalter, both of whom passed away in late 2015.
Accompanying videos will be played on the big screen inside the Stadium during the commemoration.
RAISING FUNDS FOR CYCLONE WINSTON RELIEF IN FIJI
The Hong Kong Rugby Union has also confirmed details of its fundraising efforts to aid the relief efforts for the victims of Cyclone Winston in Fiji.
This year, all proceeds from the placement of personal messages on the Diamond Vision screen inside the stadium will be donated in aid of Cyclone Winston relief in Fiji.