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Women’s Rugby World Cup – bcene: Japan v Spain @ York, 7 September, 2025

Japanese and Spanish fans arrived in York hoping to see their team win their first World Cup Game.

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Photos: copyright Simon Durrant/bcmagazine

Happy Birthday bc

Happy Birthday to us!

Thirty-one, yes 31, years ago today, bc magazine debuted on the streets of Hong Kong.

Much has changed over the last 30+ years, especially since Covid… Lan Kwai Fong and Wanchai are now (sadly) unrecognisable from the vibrant social melting pots of years past.

What does the future hold? It seems unlikely the “work hard, party harder” culture will return. And that feels sad, maybe something new will replace it but ‘connecting’ via social media is vastly different than meeting in person… And yes the world has moved online, but personal connections are still where it matters.

A lot of people – staff, friends, advertisers and readers have been involved over the years, thank you for your continued support and strength.

Carpe Diem!

Women’s World Cup Kicks Off With Red Roses Win

Over 42,000 crowded into the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on 22 August to watch England’s Red Roses in the opening game of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

The tournament hosts savouring the noisy home atmosphere rewarded the crowd – a record for a Women’s World Cup game – with some exciting attacking rugby in a 69-7 win against a United States team determined not to let the occasion overwhelm them.

That Sunderland, a northern city that lives for its football team, not only embraced the tournament but enjoyed the match shows how far women’s rugby has come even in the three years since New Zealand 2022.

Watch the highlights here

Photos: copyright Simon Durrant/bc magazine

Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Ticketing

World Rugby have announced the ticketing process for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Fans will have two initial opportunities to secure their place at the tournament’s 11th edition, with the first tickets going on sale next year following the release of the much-anticipated match schedule in January 2026.

Tickets will be released in phases, starting in February 2026 for fans who register before the end of January 2026. Additional tickets will be available in May 2026. All matches and all price categories will be available during this presale.

In May 2026, a three-week general application phase will open to all supporters worldwide, offering the chance to request tickets for any match with a ballot system implemented for oversubscribed price categories to ensure fairness, confirmed World Rugby.

Superfan Pass
For the most passionate fan, Rugby World Cup 2027 is introducing the Superfan Pass, providing guaranteed access to purchase tickets. Superfan Passes will go on-sale on 5 August at 14:00 AEST.

The Superfan Pass option gives fans guaranteed access to tickets for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, including the opening match and the final. By purchasing a Superfan Pass you’ll be invited to buy tickets in February 2026 before anyone else.

How many tickets can I buy with Superfan Pass?
Each Superfan Pass holder can purchase up to four tickets per match, and up to 52 tickets across the tournament.

Wheelchair Superfan Pass holders can access a wheelchair ticket with a free companion, along with three more tickets, up to 52 tickets (not including the companion ticket) for any RWC 2027 matches.

How much does a Superfan Pass cost?
Superfan Passes cost AUD$750 and are limited to one per person. They can’t be transferred or resold. Superfan Passes on sale at 14:00 (AEST)

Match tickets are not included in the price of a Superfan Pass and must be purchased separately during the exclusive Superfan Pass sale in February 2026.

Ticketing Timeline

29 July, 2025 – Fans can register to access the presale (until the end of January 2026)
30 July, 2025 – RWC Experiences on sale for eight matches
5 August, 2025 – Superfan Passes on sale at 14:00 (AEST)

2026

January 2026 RWC 2027 Ticket-inclusive travel packages available.
February 2026 presale for fans who registered before the end of January 2026.
May 2026 Application Phase ticket.
July 2026 Premium Experience packages for selected matches on sale.

Additional reporting and images: World Rugby

Cheese Wonder Pop-up Store @ Hysan Place

Popular Japanese dessert brand Cheese Wonder opened a pop-up store in Hysan Place today. The store is offering its signature frozen “No-bake Cheese Cake” and “Double Cheese Cream Sandwich Cookie” from now until 14 July.

The “No-bake Cheese Cake” features an almond biscuit base topped with a double layer of no-bake cheese mouse and cheese soufflé, which is then frozen. Interestingly, it’s almost like three desserts in one – eaten frozen, it’s a bit like cheese ice-cream; semi-thawed, the ice-cream consistency is still there but the moose has more structure; completely thawed, the flavours and textures are more obvious.

“Double Cheese Cream Sandwich Cookie” (box of 6, $182) is a double layer of creamy Hokkaido mascarpone and cheddar cheese wrapped in an almond biscuit base. These are not as nice as No-bake Cheese Cake, there’s too much almond biscuit base and it overpowers the cheese fillings.

The No-bake Cheese Cake (box of 6, $246) is imported fresh from Japan, and there are limited quantities each day. YaiChi founder Elmas Low suggests arriving before 2-3 pm to be certain… Alternatively, you can order online here and have them delivered directly to your home.

Cheese Wonder Pop-up Store @ Hysan Place
1/F Atrium, Hysan Place,
500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay
Opening Hours: 11am-8pm

Hong Kong 1-0 India

A 93-minute Stefan Pereira penalty saw the red tide, which had engulfed the new Kai Tak Stadium, erupt in joyous celebration as Hong Kong beat India 1-0 in an AFC Asian Cup qualification game.

A record crowd of over 42,000 packed the stadium, creating an atmosphere quite unlike any previous Hong Kong football international. To celebrate the first football game in the new stadium, the HK Football Association arranged the city’s first-ever massive Tifo – the massive banner, covering three sections, screams “Hong Kong Team Kick Ass”.

Fan representative Chester, who helped coordinate the surprise, revealed on a radio program today that the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) masterminded the project.

“I cried multiple times last night,” Chester admitted. “First, when we raised the Tifo, then again during the players’ entrance video – something we’ve only seen in Premier League or J.League matches before.”

“You could really feel how much preparation went into making Kai Tak feel like home,” Chester added, describing the experience as “goosebump-inducing.”

Hong Kong v India – AFC Asian Cup
Date: 8pm, 10 June, 2025
Venue: Kai Tak Stadium
Tickets: $200, $80

images: HKFA

Never Forget – Tian’anmen Square, 4 June 1989

Today we remember those who died in and around Tian’anmen Square in June 1989.

We light a candle in their memory! Not to make a political statement but because honouring and remembering those who have died is an important and integral part of Hong Kong, Chinese and yes English culture.

That some would threaten violence towards those who wish to remember the dead says far more about them than us… What next? Will the Ching Ming Festival be banned as well?

Images: copyright Simon Durrant, bc magazine

Cirque Returns to Hong Kong

Cirque du Soleil returns to Hong Kong this week with Kooza, a circus-themed extravaganza that has been extensively reworked since its first appearance here in 2018.

As Duncan Fisher, Chief Show Operations Officer of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, said at the launch, the Central Harbourfront venue is a stunning location: watch the sunset before the show commences, enjoy a night-time Star Ferry ride across the harbour afterwards while marvelling at the beauty of our home under lights.

There is something wonderful about seeing a show under the ‘big top’ – so different from our many bland concrete box venues with terrible acoustics – you feel part of the show. Especially since Kooza 2.0 is a much more engaging experience than the original.

While the underlying story remains the same. There are new acts – I don’t want to give too many spoilers here – and much of the cast has changed, bringing new and different skills to the show. The band is tight and sounds great under the big top.

After having been a Cirque ‘desert’ – 4 shows in thirty years – the future looks far more exciting with Mr Fisher saying that he hopes to bring a different show to the Hong Kong harbourfront every two years and establish Hong Kong as a signature Cirque city on a par with New York and London. Can’t you just ‘see’ senior government and HKTB officials making heart signs with their hands on hearing that!

If there’s one criticism of Kooza, it’s that there’s not an ounce of localisation to the show… How difficult would it be to tweak the clown parts to include a little play on the local stereotypes of each city visited? There is a ‘dog’ in the show which was funny – but I looked at it and thought with Hong Kong’s current panda obsession, how funny it would have been if it had been a panda…

Kooza’s season in Hong Kong has been extended to 13 July.

Images: copyright Simon Durrant

Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza
Date: 21 May – 13 July 2025
Venue: Central Harbourfront
Tickets: $1,988, $1,698, $1,298, $998, $758, $600, $450
More info:
Wednesdays: 7:30pm
Thursdays: 7:30pm
Fridays: 7:30pm
Saturdays: 1pm, 4:30pm, 8pm
Sundays: 1pm & 4:30pm