Hong Kong Sevens

Infobox sports league
logo=HK7.jpg
pixels = 150px
caption=Hong Kong Sevens Logo
sport=Rugby sevens
founded=1976
teams=24
country=22 countries
champion= flagicon|NZ New Zealand
website = [http://www.hksevens.com www.hksevens.com] The Hong Kong Sevens (Chinese: 香港國際七人欖球賽) (referred to as Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens for sponsorship reasons) is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby union. It is held annually at the last weekend of March in Hong Kong and is organised by the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU). The tournament lasts 2 and a half days, commencing on a Friday afternoon, and concluding on the Sunday evening.

History

The Hong Kong Sevens were established in 1976 after a discussion between the chairman of the HKRFU, South African entrepreneur, A.D.C. "Tokkie" Smith, Duncan McTavish (HKRFC then captain) and Ian Gow, a Rothmans' Tobacco company executive. Gow wanted his firm to sponsor a rugby tournament with top teams from throughout the world. McTavish and Smith suggested that a Rugby sevens tournament would be logistically more feasible and be a better spectacle than a 15-a-side tournament. After an initial proposal was refused by the Rugby Football Union in England, the HKRFU changed focus and sent out invitations to Asian and Pacific sides.

On 1976-03-28, clubs from Indonesia, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Fiji participated in the first Hong Kong Sevens Tournament at the Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley sponsored by Rothmans' Tobacco and Cathay Pacific. This was an important step as this was one of the first rugby tournaments that attracted commercial sponsorship. Of the countries represented in the inaugural sevens tournament, only Australia and New Zealand did not send national sides, instead being represented by the Wallaroos and the Cantabrians respectively. These two clubs met in the final where the Cantabrians won 24-8.

The series then grew into a competition with national representative sevens sides competing, and with this growth, the tournament moved to the Hong Kong Government Stadium in 1982. In 1994, the venue was deemed too small for the tournament and was rebuilt into a 40,000 seat stadium now named the Hong Kong Stadium. Today, 24 national representative sides compete in the tournament.

In 1997 and 2005, the Hong Kong Sevens was not held; taking its place was the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, which Hong Kong hosted in both years. Fiji won both World Cup Sevens tournaments held in Hong Kong.

Dressing Up/Party Atmosphere/The South Stand

The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens is traditionally one of if not the biggest event on the Hong Kong sporting calendar. As such, there is a tremendous party atmosphere, with particular emphasis on the South Stand, where hordes of rugby fans dress up and dance for most of the duration. Activities that typically ensue as the weekend progresses include the throwing of empty beer jugs around the South Stand, Mexican waves, and streakers running across the pitch. Since 2007 the South Stand has been made officially accessible to over-18s only, due to its hyper and somewhat provocative atmosphere, although this rule is not strictly policed.

The Hong Kong Sevens typically draws the biggest crowd and is the biggest party on the IRB Seven's Calendar.

Past Champions

*1976 Cantabrians (provincial team from New Zealand)
*1977 Fiji
*1978 Fiji
*1979 Australia
*1980 Fiji
*1981 Barbarians
*1982 Australia
*1983 Australia
*1984 Fiji
*1985 Australia
*1986 New Zealand
*1987 New Zealand
*1988 Australia
*1989 New Zealand
*1990 Fiji
*1991 Fiji
*1992 Fiji
*1993 Samoa
*1994 New Zealand
*1995 New Zealand
*1996 New Zealand
*1997 (Rugby World Cup Sevens)
*1998 Fiji
*1999 Fiji
*2000 New Zealand
*2001 New Zealand
*2002 England
*2003 England
*2004 England
*2005 (Rugby World Cup Sevens)
*2006 England
*2007 Samoa
*2008 New Zealand

A developing ground for young players

The Hong Kong Sevens has proved to be a very fertile ground for nurturing young players [cite website |url = http://www.hksevens.com/General-Info-History-History.htm |title = History of Hong Kong Sevens] . For New Zealand, Jonah Lomu [cite web | work=allblacks.com | url=http://www.rwcsevens.com/History/Great+Players/lomu.htm | title=Lomu: A giant on any stage | accessdate=22 July | accessyear=2006] and Christian Cullen were first introduced to the international game at the Hong Kong Sevens. For Australia, former Australian captain George Gregan first demonstrated his ability at the Hong Kong Sevens in the same team as Joe Roff and Ben Tune. Sevens launched the careers of Rupeni Caucau, Marika Vunibaka and Vilimoni Delasau to name just a few Fijians. For England, Austin Healey, Josh Lewsey, Mathew Tait, and David Strettle have developed their game at the Hong Kong Sevens. For Wales, James Hook has gone on to play at fly-half for his national team after playing in the Hong Kong Sevens [cite web | url=http://www.wru.co.uk/114_6904.php | title=Welsh Rugby Union: Wales Squad for Hong Kong Sevens 2006] . South Africa, also, have seen Brent Russell and Kabamba Floors showcase their variety of skills at the event.

The game of Rugby sevens naturally encourages players to run at their opponents with ball in hand. These skills are crucial to the fifteen-a-side game, but are rarely experienced by young players in the fifteen-a-side game.

ee also

* Singer Sri Lankan Airlines Rugby 7's
* Rugby Sevens
* IRB Sevens World Series
* Rugby World Cup Sevens

External links

* [http://www.hksevens.com/ Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Coverage]
* [http://www.manusamoa.net Manu Samoa Rugby Supporters Website ]
* [http://gohongkong.about.com/od/photosofhongkong/ig/Hong-Kong-Rugby-Sevens/ Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Pictures]

Notes