New Zealand may have conquered all after winning the 15 aside Rugby World Cup in 2011, but the Hong Kong Sevens is a different ball game. Or you would think so, however the Kiwis are at the top of this year's IRB Sevens table, won the 2010-11 title and are the reining Hong Kong Sevens Cup holders.
This year’s premier international sevens rugby tournament the Cathay Pacific Airways & HSBC Hong Kong Sevens sees the inclusion of women’s rugby. In 2011, the one-day tournament ten-team, the Cable&Wireless World Worldwide Hong Kong Women’s Rugby Sevens was played concurrently with the Hong Kong Sevens.
This year, on March 23 the women’s tournament will be incorporated into the Hong Kong Sevens. Last year, the Canadian women’s team collected the cup after an undefeated record in the pool round and then soundly beat the USA (26-5) in the semi-final and France (28-14) in the final.
After three rounds of the men’s 2011-12 IRB Sevens, New Zealand are again at top of the table equal with the entertainers of the competition Fiji. The Hong Kong Sevens expands to 24 teams from the usual 16 teams in IRB Sevens tournaments. Teams compete in sevens rugby’s most prestigious event in pools and then are ceded for the play-offs in four divisions.
New Zealand will again be the team to beat after winning their tenth Hong Kong Sevens title in 2011 after disposing of England 29-17 in the Cup final, while South Africa won the Plate; Canada won the Bowl and Kenya won the Shield. However, then defending Shield holders Hong Kong were knocked out by China who bowed out in the semi-finals for the Shield.
Despite a disappointing 2011 Hong Kong Sevens, the host team is on the rise with their highest ever IRB world ranking of 26, on the back of a tournament win at the Dubai Sevens. While the Chinese team still languishes at 62 on the world rankings.
The carnival atmosphere of the tournament with the throng of the crowd makes the Hong Kong Sevens the island’s best sporting carnival. Tickets go fast and are distributed through rugby clubs before being made available to the general public.
// March 23-25, Hong Kong Stadium, 55 Eastern Hospital Rd, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Three-day pass: HK$1,500 (adults), HK$150 (children) Hong Kong Sevens (www.hksevens.com) E: info@hksevens.com P: (852) 2504 8311 (Tickets are sold through www.cityline.com; P: (852) 2314 4228)
