Hong Kong Sevens set to return for first time since 2019

The Hong Kong Rugby Union has advised that it has received approval to proceed with the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in November this year.

Set to return for the first time in almost three years, running from 4th to 6th November, the three-day tournament is expected to be held with some Hong Kong Government restrictions which will include players being shuttled between hotels and the venue within a ‘closed-loop system’.

On Saturday, Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) Chief Executive, Robbie McRobbie, advised that approval to host the tournament had been received from “the highest echelons of the government” and that officials had “really swung behind” the idea of bringing the landmark event back after the Coronavirus pandemic made staging it impractical in 2020 and again last year.

McRobbie said he believed this could be a “watershed moment” for Hong Kong, and the decision sent an important message to the international community that the city was open for business, stating “hopefully, together with the international business leaders forum and the fintech conference and all the other good stuff that is in the works for November this will send an important message.”

Given that Hong Kong is likely to still have some COVID-19 restrictions in place, the Sevens will operate with a closed loop similar to that used during the Beijing Winter Olympics earlier this year, meaning players and those involved in running the event are likely to be limited to the confines of their hotel and Hong Kong Stadium.

However, capacity at the venue will operate at 85%.

McRobbie said overseas supporters would “absolutely” be welcome, provided they adhered to whatever quarantine requirements there were at the time.

During talks with Hong Kong Government officials, the HKRU was told that those deemed to be inside the closed loop would need to be in designated hotels before, during and in some cases after the event ended.

Because hotel workers could be regarded as part of this loop, the union could face the prospect of block-booking hotels.

With just three months to pull the tournament together, McRobbie has acknowledged that staging the Sevens will be “massively hard work”, noting “we’ve got an enviable track record of knocking it out of the park when it comes to putting on world-class events and I’ve no doubt we’ll do it.

After 2½ years of “treading treacle”, the return of the Sevens had put a spring back in the step of those who worked for the union, McRobbie said, adding that the event was “the thing that makes us whole, makes us complete, it’s at the very heart of us”.

HKRU Chairman, Patrick Donovan went on to say “after 3 ½ years without a Sevens I am confident this will be a very special event, all be it there lies plenty of hard work ahead for our dedicated events team. I would like to thank the Government, our sponsors, and World Rugby for their support, and I am delighted to be able to once again tell the world - see you at the Sevens!”

HKRU will be liaising with all stakeholders starting from next week and announcing further event details, including ticketing information, in the near future.

Image: Hong Kong Sevens.