The stage is set, the anticipation palpable, and the excitement reaching a fever pitch as the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens rugby, the sixth round of the HSBC SVNS 2024, gets underway from 5-7 April 2024.
- The world’s best men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams will converge in Hong Kong, China, for a three-day extravaganza.
- The event promises thrilling action, intense competition, and an electric atmosphere that only rugby sevens can deliver.
- With a full house of 120’000 fans expected to flood the stadium grounds, the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is poised to be a spectacle like no other.
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The pools for the Hong Kong leg were drawn by Fijian sevens legend Waisale Serevi, setting the stage for mouth-watering clashes between the sport’s powerhouses. From France taking on double Olympic champions Fiji to Argentina facing off against reigning SVNS champions New Zealand, every match promises thrills and spills.
The HSBC SVNS 2024 has ushered in a new era of excitement and competitiveness, with seven regular season events spanning the globe before culminating in the Grand Final in Madrid. The stakes are high, with teams vying not only for the SVNS 2024 League Winners title but also for coveted spots in the winner-takes-all Grand Final.
But amidst the revelry lies fierce competition. In the men’s division, Argentina sits atop the standings with a 20-point lead, primed to potentially clinch the SVNS 2024 League Winners title this weekend. However, Australia and New Zealand are locked in a thrilling battle for the women’s title, setting the stage for dramatic showdowns as the tournament unfolds.
Adding to the excitement is the highly anticipated sevens debut of one of Australia’s most capped men’s test players, Michael Hooper. Hooper’s presence injects a new level of skill and experience into an already formidable Australian squad, promising to make waves on the sevens circuit.
Already, four teams – Argentina in the men’s division, and Australia, New Zealand, and France in the women’s division – have secured their places in the Grand Final, with more teams likely to confirm their spots this weekend. As the tournament unfolds, the battle for survival intensifies, with relegation looming for the bottom-ranked teams. Every match and every point counts, adding an extra layer of drama to an already exhilarating event.
The players themselves are brimming with excitement and determination. Argentine player Matias Osadczuk expressed the team’s eagerness to make amends for their previous loss in Los Angeles, highlighting the special significance of competing in Hong Kong.
Similarly, New Zealand women’s captain Risi Pouri-Lane emphasized the importance of consistency and composure as her team aims for victory amidst the backdrop of the historic Hong Kong Stadium. For Australia men’s player Matt Gonzales, Hong Kong is the Mecca of the sevens circuit, and the sell-out crowd only adds to the excitement. With Michael Hooper’s inclusion in the squad, Gonzales believes the team has gained invaluable experience and expertise.
The action kicks off at 10:30am local time (GMT+8) on Friday, with the women’s and men’s finals scheduled for Sunday evening. Fans can catch all the thrilling action either via broadcaster partners or online on RugbyPass TV.
As always, fans are encouraged to embrace the festival spirit of rugby sevens by donning their best fancy dress costumes and joining in the celebration that has become synonymous with this exhilarating sport. As the world’s best teams converge on Hong Kong Stadium, rugby sevens enthusiasts are in for a treat as they witness history unfold in one of the most iconic venues in the sporting world.
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