words rachel mok

It is that time of the year again when rugby fans fly in from all over the world to cheer for their teams and empty Hong Kong of its beer. This year, bc digs into the beauty of the game – literally. We talk to
seven important ladies in the Sevens about what they do and how they do it.

Gabriel Li / Player/ Referee
When I got involved in the Sevens:
As a player, I have played in the women’s Sevens four times since 1999. As a referee, I helped out as a substitute for the men’s Sevens last year.

How I got involved in the Sevens:
I have played rugby since high school. Then around 2003, I saw an advertisement for female rugby referees. I joined the course, refereed for some youth matches and enjoyed it a lot as it increased my fitness too. Starting from this season I only referee and don’t play. I will be refereeing the women’s Sevens, and hopefully I will be a touch judge in the men’s games.

Tough part about my job:
The pressure. Players will challenge me because I am Chinese, I am young and I am a female. They will question if I really know the game and rules. Also the difference in speed and fitness between males and females will be a challenge for me. So I am now training like crazy!

Craziest Sevens moment:
People pouring beer in the South Stand and I got completely wet!

Best memory of the Sevens:
Easily getting to take pictures with other teams’ players.
What I look forward to in this year’s tournament:
Being the only female running on the field. More exciting games. HK getting into the plate final!

How I sum up the Sevens:
Handsome, beautiful, fast, beer, naked.

Eleana Leung / Senior Account Executive at Octagon
When I got involved in the Sevens:
I started doing promotion work for the Sevens in 2004. The HK Sevens and the HK Marathon were the first two projects I got to promote.

What do I do for the Sevens:
We let more people know about the event. Before the match, we do promotional work, set up press conferences, pitch and arrange interviews for the press, etc. There is a lot of Sevens’ merchandise available for purchase as well, so we find players and models to display them on, and do photo shoots and features on them too.

And on the pitch, if any reporters want to interview the players, we try our best to search them out and drag them from the changing room or whatever corner they are in.

After the Sevens we try to provide what the overseas media need, like photos, etc. Also we see what coverage we have had and wrap up with the good and bad from the media for the year.

Tough part about my job:
We are kind of like security guards actually! When people and kids are rushing towards the pitch to ask for autographs, we need to ask the security guards to watch them and we help keep order.

Best thing about my job:
Free entry to the Sevens! My friends always ask if I have tickets, but I really can’t help them. And I get to see the players closely every day… People always want to take a picture with them or get an autograph, but when we see them up close and personal we don’t really want to do that any more. But they are really tall and strong!

My craziest Sevens moment:
It was in 2004 and there was a lot of heavy beer drinking – as ever. Then a guy just suddenly started throwing up on my back – yuck! But I couldn’t yell at him as I was working. So I just rushed to the changing room and put some new clothes on.

How much I know about rugby:
I was an athlete and represented the Hong Kong team when I was still in school actually, which was a long time ago (giggle). I actually know how to play rugby too!

How I sum up the Sevens:
It is a bit of a cliché but I will say it is splendid and exciting – both on the pitch and in the stand!

Stella Chan / Sevens & Events Co-Ordinator at Hong Kong Rugby Football Union
What do I do for the Sevens:
I deal with the hands-on operation, like issuing the tickets, corporate hospitality, the entertainment, bands and lion dance, etc… everything you see during Sevens. Also I handle the team arrangements, like their visas, air tickets, domestic transport, accommodation, etc. We have everything done before the game kicks off, that’s why people can have fun on the day. So during the tournaments, we stand by at the stadium and tackle any emergencies, complaints or requests from clients.

When I started my life in the Sevens:
In 2003 – it was actually the beginning of SARS and we had a lot of meetings and set up many precautions before the tournament started. But it turned out everything was good – during that time Hong Kong was already a lot quieter than usual, but once you stepped into the stadium it was another world. People were excited and having a good time, and were not affected by what was happening outside.

Tough part about my job:
Needing to co-operate with others’ schedules. I can control my own working schedule but, as a lot of people are involved in the Sevens, it is difficult to fit in with everyone’s schedule.

Craziest Sevens moment:
I remember one time there was a drainage problem in the stadium, so our staff needed to drag five or six air-cleaning machines to the stadium. We couldn’t stop laughing. Also the crowd is always fun – they know how to enjoy themselves!

What I think about being a woman in this male-dominated sport:
A lot of people think rugby is rough and martial, but from an organizational point of view I feel really comfortable. Many people I work with all over the world are actually female. You know what? The team manager of Tunisia is actually a female too.

What I look forward to in this year’s tournament:
I look forward to what problem will arise this year – so I can tackle it! (laughs)

Lucy Clarke / Medical Coordinator of
the Rugby Sevens
What do I do at the Sevens:
I am the Rugby Sevens medical co-ordinator, which means that I am responsible for preparing and co-ordinating the pitch-side medical team, back-up medical team, stadium medical facilities and hospital services for the players and officials.

How long have I been doing it:
Eleven years. I was asked to assist with the medical records and injury documentation during the 1997 World Cup Sevens and have been involved ever since.

Tough part about my job:
Co-ordinating so many busy professionals on the medical team and ensuring that we work together as a well-trained, quality team.

What is the craziest thing you have encountered during the Sevens?
A sick gorilla ! The gorilla which is used as entertainment to warm up the crowd got rather ill and had to be treated by us in the medical room. In view of this, we decided to carry a (replacement) gorilla on the stretcher for the March Past ceremony.

How was I introduced to rugby:
I played hockey for the Middlesex Hospital in London. We used to travel to games with the rugby team so we acted as their support team and they as ours. I love to watch rugby, particularly Sevens as it is such a fast and dynamic game.

Five words to describe the Sevens:
The five F’s –fit players, fair play, festival, fun and fatigue (mine !).

Joanna Kan / Director of Sales and Marketing, Holiday Inn Golden Mile
What do I do at the Sevens:
I handle one of the concessions and the beer booth. I control things like ordering food from the kitchen, keeping order in people queuing, serving spectators, assigning staff locations etc.

Our director of the food and beverage team, Ringo Poon, actually starts planning the Sevens six to eight months ahead, as there are a lot of companies involved, like the food and beer suppliers. Convenience is one of our main concerns, so we provide a lot of finger-food. Also as spectators come from all over the world for the rugby, we try to offer a variety of foods to suit their needs.

Hong long have I been involved in the tournament:
Ten years! I have been working here for 10 years, and I started taking part in the Sevens right from the first year. I knew nothing about rugby before I started working here –through the years I learnt about the game. But I think the Sevens is more about having fun than a competition.

Tough part about my job:
The most difficult part is to handle the flow of spectators during the breaks. Everyone lines up for snacks and drinks during the breaks, which may be only about three to four minutes, so we must make sure that once the break starts, the food is ready. We try to run things smoothly to keep the queue as short as possible.

Craziest Sevens moment:
It was my second year at the Sevens and, on the last night of the tournament, a lot of people had been drinking heavily. I saw two men needing to drag a lady, who was completely drunk, out of the stadium. She could barely move her feet! I still remember this scene clearly. Also there was a time when I saw a group of sexy ladies with beautiful make-up, fancy hairdos and mini-skirts from a distance. But when I looked more carefully, I found out that they were actually all men! To me that was quite special!

How I sum up the Sevens:
Drinks, food, carnival, international, exciting and fun!

Doris Chow / Team liaison officer
What do I do at the Sevens:
I’m the team liaison officer this year. We need to arrange the logistics for each team once they arrive, book the training ground, arrange transportation, water, towels… Once the team arrives, our job starts and goes until they get on the plane again.

How I got involved and for how long I have been involved:
This is my first year to be the team liaison officer. From 1998-2006, I was union staff and was assigned to different areas, working in the executive suite, information booth, selling tickets, etc.

The most difficult thing when preparing for the Sevens:
You need to keep your body fit! It’s not fun when you are sick during the most important time of the year.

Craziest thing I have done for the Sevens:
Got up in the very early morning to queue at the stadium before the gate opened. The sky was still dark when I left home. And I’m not an early bird!

Best memories of the Sevens:
Hong Kong beating West Indies in 2001. Also walking in the March Past when I was the HK women’s team captain.

Looking forward to this year’s tournament?
Oh very much. I have already applied for leave from work. You know I was working in the union and March is the craziest time for me.

Five words to sum up the Sevens:
You must not miss it.

Raewyn Hill / Artist-in-Residence,
School of Dance at HKAPA
New Zealander Raewyn Hill has recently created a project that links dance and rugby, and an exhibition focusing on links between the athleticism and beauty of dance and rugby will be staged until March 30 from 9am-10pm daily at the HKAPA.

How I link rugby and dance:
Three to four years ago, I was flipping through the newspapers and saw some rugby photos. I thought they could really relate to the way we move in contemporary dance and there were certain positions I wanted to choreograph. So I used one of those photos in an exercise later on in my class. I gave it to the dancers and they replicated the image. They were sceptical at first but later on they saw the relationship between dance and rugby.

How I did it:
We contacted the HK Rugby Union, they gave us access to their archives and we chose five photos. Photographer Garrige Ho took the original photos, so we asked him to work with us in replicating the photos. I think he was quite impressed with how quickly the dancers found the form of the movement!

Why rugby:
Rugby has the sort of physicality I associate with contemporary dance. It is highly physical, it is fast, it has got guts and you use your whole body, instead of just your feet, like soccer.

Craziest rugby moment:
My husband queuing up for some rugby tickets at 3am in the morning......

Can New Zealand win this year?
Of course they can win… (laughs) I go for the Kiwis though I actually have a Hong Kong team jersey…