Rugby Sevens Action will return to the centre stage with the HSBC SVNS Series and the all-important Hong Kong Sevens.
The upcoming edition of Hong Kong Sevens is scheduled from April 5 to 7, 2024. It will be the final time that the rugby event will take place at the Hong Kong Stadium before moving to the new Kai Tak Sports Park in 2025.
Hong Kong Sevens 2024 tickets have been on sale since December. The Hong Kong Sevens isn’t just a sporting event but a spectacle of sport and entertainment in the heart of Hong Kong. Fans around the world look forward to this event every year.
The pools for the Cathay/ HSBC Hong Kong Sevens are now confirmed.
Robbie McRobbie, CEO of Hong Kong China Rugby, spoke in anticipation of an incredible weekend of rugby action. The event is on track to be a first sellout since the pandemic.
In the 12-team men’s competition, France, who made history in winning their first seven titles in Los Angeles, will lead Pool A, with third-ranked Fiji and fifth-place holders Australia and Canada.
Team Great Britain tops Pool B, with Series leaders Argentina, winners of all three tournaments (Cape Town, Perth, and Vancouver), in second.
USA and New Zealand, in eighth and sixth spots on the HSBC SVNS table, respectively, round out the Pool.
In Pool C, Ireland is second, finishing 2nd in Perth and the USA.
Spain, Samoa, and South Africa will join them.
The Women’s series is an exciting battle between Australia and New Zealand. Both sides have claimed two titles to date. Australia won the two opening legs in Dubai and Cape Town, while New Zealand won the most recent tournaments in Los Angeles and Vancouver. Ireland won the cup in Perth.
Only four points separate the two women’s leaders ahead of Hong Kong, with Australia on 90 and New Zealand on 86. France is in third on 74. USA and Canada round out the top five as the action moves to Hong Kong.
Fans who attend the women’s matches with Hong Kong Sevens 2024 tickets will witness an epic brawl between the Black Ferns and the Wallaroos 7s.
New Zealand tops Pool A ahead of France, Brazil, and Team Great Britain. Australia heads Pool B over South Africa, Ireland, and Fiji, while fourth-placed USA heads Pool C with Canada, Japan, and Spain.
World Rugby Sevens General Manager added these words.
“The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is always a highlight in the global rugby sevens calendar for players, teams and fans alike, and 2024 promises to be a year to remember.”
“With the clock counting down until rugby sevens kicks off the Olympic Games in Paris, the action on the pitch will be hotter than ever with World Rugby’s revamped HSBC SVNS competition formula providing fans with even more excitement, jeopardy and entertainment than ever.
The Melrose Claymores competition, introduced by Hong Kong China Rugby in 2024, will also be featured across all three tournament days.
China, Japan and hosts Hong Kong China will participate in the men’s competition, while China and Thailand join Hong Kong China in contesting the women’s competition.
Gates open at 07:30 on Friday, April 5, with over two hours of mini and youth rugby to start the weekend before the tournament officially kicks off 10:30 with Canada versus Japan women.
The tournament’s opening ceremony will occur between the two Hong Kong China games in the Melrose Claymores at 18:42. The day’s final match will be France versus Australia men at 20:58, with play ending at 21:30.
Saturday, April 6, sees gates open from 07:00, with mini rugby games leading up to the start of play at 09:30. At 14:09, Hong Kong China women will face Thailand in round two of the Melrose Claymores competition, followed by the famous Hong Kong Sevens March Past and some island beats from legendary reggae band, The Wailers.
At 15:11, Hong Kong China men will play Japan in their second Melrose Claymores match, followed by the start of HSBC SVSNS quarter-finals action. Action finishes with the placing match semi-finals at 20:30.
Sevens Sunday in Hong Kong, April 7, opens at 08:00 with mini and youth showcase matches through 09:40. The final round of Melrose Claymore’s action will follow, with China playing Thailand in the women’s bracket and Japan in the men’s.
Tickets for the Hong Kong Sevens 2024 are still available.
The adult three-day pass costs HKD 1,950, while the children’s pass costs HKD 950 for those aged between two and 12. Children under two years old can enter free of charge. Purchase your tickets on the official website now.
Promotional packages are available for hardcore fans. The three-day Captain’s Corner Pass (HKD 15,000) and the Captain’s Corner Upgrade Pass (HKD 13,050) give ticket holders an excellent view of the pitch, overlooking the South Stand. They also include free-flow drinks, lunch, and snacks.
In addition, Klook is offering a three-day pass and a Klook HKD 500 coupon for just HKD 2,450 per person. Overseas fans can take advantage of Cathay’s exclusive packages in specific markets such as Australia, Canada, India, Japan, and more. Trip.com also has ticket bundles that include weekend tickets plus an additional HKD 500 credits to spend.
This year, attendees with Hong Kong 2024 tickets will also be able to chill on a furniture setup, which includes deck chairs and picnic tables. Make sure to come in early, as seating is available on a first-come-first-served basis. Re-entry to the venue is also possible with a valid e-entry pass. The event will run from 10 am to 10 pm for three days.
Attendees can also look forward to the star-studded line-up of music acts that will grace the field. Reggae legends The Wailers will be kicking off the festivities on Friday.
Their performance also marks the 40th anniversary of Bob Marley’s legendary album, ‘Legend’. It will coincide with the screening of the reggae icon’s biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, in Hong Kong cinemas. Priced at HKD 560, tickets for The Wailers’ performance are available separately from fan zone access online.
Meanwhile, Journey frontman Arnel Pineda will belt out iconic tunes like “Don’t Stop Believin” with his band Ammo and more for the finale. Local artists Celine Tam and Cantopop girl group Lolly Talk will also turn the heat up with their performances.