Hong Kong Sevens 2024: schedule, results, players to watch, TV info, entertainment – all you need to know on day 1
- The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens gets under way on Friday, with games starting at 10.30am
- This year’s three-day rugby extravaganza is expected to be the last at Hong Kong Stadium before it moves to its new home at Kai Tak Sports Park from 2025
The hotly anticipated 2024 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens gets under way on Friday, with the world’s 12 best men’s and women’s teams vying to go down in history as the last winners at Hong Kong Stadium.
Both Hong Kong sides will aim to sign off from a venue synonymous with sevens by claiming the inaugural Melrose Claymores titles.
As we get set for three days of top-quality sport colliding with world-class partying, here is everything you need to know.
Hong Kong Sevens schedule
Strap yourself in for three long days. The Canadian and Japanese women have the honour of kicking off the tournament at 10.30am on Friday, with the heavyweight men’s duo of France and Australia starting the day’s last match at 8.56pm.
Hong Kong’s women and men both play China on the opening day, at 6.22pm and 7.24 pm, respectively. Argentina, the men’s world series leaders, meet defending Hong Kong champions New Zealand in a blockbuster clash at 3.58pm.
Gates open at 7.30am on Friday. On Saturday, you can enter the stadium from 7am, ahead of a 9.30am start. Fans are allowed in from 8am on Sunday, with the first match beginning at 9.40am.
How to watch Hong Kong Sevens
SCMP’s rolling coverage should be your first point of call. We will be across all the action on and off the field, and bring you the views of all the leading protagonists across three days of action and revelry.
Television viewers in Hong Kong can watch all three days’ action on RTHK, channel 32.
Can I take my own food and drink to Hong Kong Sevens?
The short answer is no. Steer clear of displaying “banners, bunting, flyers or publicity materials”, too, unless you have permission from stadium staff.
No alcohol is allowed in the seating areas of the stadium’s two upper levels.
Players to watch at Hong Kong Sevens
Michael Hooper, Australia
Make no mistake, a great of world rugby will be scooting across the Hong Kong Stadium turf this week. Hooper is 32, and, he says, “not the fittest, not the fastest”. Take those words with a pinch of salt. The Australian, who captained his national team to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, is smarting after missing out on selection for the 2023 tournament, and gunning for sevens Olympic selection. He is promising to “give it an absolute shift” on his debut in Hong Kong, and on that score, we believe him.
Michaela Blyde, New Zealand
The defending champion Black Ferns come to Hong Kong on a high, following world series triumphs in Los Angeles and Vancouver.
The irrepressible Blyde, a member of the Kiwis’ Olympic gold medal team from Tokyo 2020, and a sevens World Cup winner in 2018, scored a hat-trick of tries as New Zealand beat Australia in the Vancouver final. She crossed in the victory over France that sealed LA success, too. Somewhat ominously, Blyde said this week that her team are aiming to “set standards others cannot reach”.
Home favourites
Salom Yiu Ka-shing will be playing his 75th sevens tournament, and 13th in Hong Kong. Entering the home straight of a fabulous career, after savouring Asian Games glory last year, the 36-year-old is chasing Melrose Claymores honours to add to his personal treasure trove, ahead of an attempt to qualify for the Paris Olympics at June’s repechage in Monaco.
Hong Kong’s women, on the up under head coach Andy Vilk, will be looking to wing speedster Chong Ka-yan for inspiration. She scored her team’s try in the nail biting win over Thailand that secured Asian Games bronze last year.
The thirty-something pair of Natasha Olson-Thorne and Nam Ka-man will provide nous and leadership, after both were integral to Hong Kong’s quarter-final run at last month’s Challenger Series leg in Uruguay.
Can I buy Hong Kong Sevens ticket?
Three-day tickets were sold exclusively by the official Sevens website at HK$2,038 for adults and HK$989 for children, including handling fees.
But by Thursday, the event was declared a sell-out.
Ticket-holders are permitted to transfer their digital tickets for individual days to family or friends.
Hong Kong Sevens entertainment
Music on Friday is provided by Celine Tam, and the Cantopop group Lolly Talk, in addition to a DJ set from former England and British & Irish Lions No 8 James Haskell.
Saturday brings us legendary reggae band The Wailers, with singer Arnel Pineda, from American band Journey, booked to entertain the masses before Sunday’s third-placed matches and finals.
Draw for Hong Kong Sevens 2024
Men’s competition
Pool A: France, Fiji, Australia, Canada.
Pool B: Great Britain, Argentina, USA, New Zealand.
Pool C: Ireland, Spain, Samoa, South Africa.
Melrose Claymore: China, Japan, Hong Kong.
Women’s competition
Pool A: New Zealand, France, Brazil, Great Britain.
Pool B: Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Fiji.
Pool C: USA, Canada, Japan, Spain.
Melrose Claymore: China, Hong Kong, Thailand.
