The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens is much more than Asia’s largest sporting event, the tournament’s annual arrival in the city signals celebrations across the city, the closest Hong Kong has to mardi gras. Inside the stadium, fans dress up, drink and, if there is time, watch one of the best rugby tournaments in the world. Outside, pubs, bars and restaurants offer special Hong Kong Rugby Sevens deals to attract the thousands of fans who couldn’t get inside the stadium.
What: Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Tournament
When: April 7-9, 2017
Where: Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay
Tickets: Tickets cost HK $ 1,500 for 3 days, but were oversubscribed. See our article on where to buy Hong Kong Sevens tickets for more information.
What is sevens?
Sevens is a shortened, fast-paced version of traditional rugby. Much faster, higher scoring, and with fewer rules, Sevens has a much wider appeal than the original fifteen-year-old version. The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens is the main event in the largest Sevens tournament to tour the world, with the ultimate champions decided on the points won in all tournaments.
The game Sevens is often used as a training ground for players to prove themselves, before turning fifteen. Two of the best players to honor the Hong Kong tournament have been Jonah Lomu and David Campese, who honed their game in several Sevens years, before dominating world rugby.
Do I need to be a fan of rugby?
While rugby is undoubtedly top-notch, much of the crowd shows up for the drink and atmosphere rather than rugby. The fun of the fast and furious Sevens game is that it lasts less than fifteen minutes anyway, and most of the time in the stadium is spent getting into the carnival atmosphere. Even if you are not a fan of rugby, attendance is highly recommended.
Where can I experience the best of the Sevens?
The legendary South Stand is home to the most boisterous supporters and the singing, shouting, and Mexican waves are usually started by the South Stand crowd. South Stand supporters also dress up, donning ghostbuster costumes to cheerleaders, as they cheer on the teams. If your team is not making an appearance, you will be encouraged to choose an adopted country and shout it out to the final. Be warned; South Stand is also home to the most dedicated tournaments for drinkers, and while it’s nice, the atmosphere can be too raucous for some.
Immediately outside the stadium is the rugby village, where you can enjoy a big screen inside the cheers of the royal stadium. Wan Chai’s pubs and bars will be packed during the tournament and will feature television games of rugby sevens, as well as prizes, games and offers at reduced prices.
Learn more about where to watch, eat and drink in our comprehensive Hong Kong rugby guide,
What do I need to know?
With a large expat community participating in the tournament, England is considered the favorite city, along with Hong Kong, and China draws a mixed reception of boos and cheers. Possibly due to the number of Brits present, both Australia and New Zealand tend to find themselves on the receiving end of a boo. Smaller nations, such as Fiji and Samoa, are popular with the crowd, while Canada and the United States are also well received. One thing you can trust, the loudest boo is always reserved for the French.
