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Hong Kong Sevens 2015 – Teams Announced

As the Sevens turns 40, the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) have announced details of the format and participating teams at the 2015 Hong Kong Sevens. 2015 which takes place from March 27-29 at the Hong Kong Stadium.

The defending champions New Zealand will be joined by the other 14 core teams on the Sevens World Series: Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Japan, Kenya, Portugal, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, United States of America and Wales.

The sixteenth team invited by World Rugby to round out the SWS core competition is Belgium who will be making their first appearance in Hong Kong. They become the 57th nation to have participated at the Sevens since the tournament’s inception in 1976.

As last year, a 12-team qualifying competition will accompany the core team action at the Hong Kong Stadium. The 12 teams, comprising two teams from each of World Rugby’s six regions, will be battling for the sole spot available for promotion to the Sevens World Series in the 2015/2016 season. The winner of the qualifier will replace the bottom placed team on the HSBC Sevens World Series after the completion of the final event on this year’s Series at Twickenham in May.

The twelve confirmed teams for the qualifier tournament are Russia and Spain from Europe, Papua New Guinea and Tonga from Oceania, Zimbabwe and Tunisia from Africa, Mexico and Guyana from the Americas and Uruguay and Brazil from South America.

Hong Kong as champions of the Asian Rugby Football Union’s regional sevens series in 2014, will be joined by South Korea as Asia’s representatives in the qualifier competition. 2013 Asian sevens champions Japan were victorious in last year’s international qualifier and are participating in the core Sevens World Series this season.

The official tournament draw for all 28 participating teams will be held in Hong Kong on February 16, 2015.

This year, Friday will see two rounds of the qualification pool matches played alongside the opening pool matches of the SWS core competition (one match per core team). Gates will be opened one hour earlier at 11am with the first kick-off at 1pm and matches finishing at 9pm.

Saturday sees the world’s best rugby sevens action taking place from 7am (first kick off at 9am) until 7:30pm while Sunday’s match action will kick off at 9:30am (gates open 7am).

Additional reporting HKRFU

Hong Kong Women’s 7s Turns 18

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/HK-Womens-7s-28-March-2014/38118806_K9BhxJ#!i=3147865231&k=9rbzgwg

The women’s game goes from strength to strength globally as well as locally. A reflection of this is that the world’s oldest women’s rugby 7s tournament returns to its original two day format. bc spoke to tournament mother Ruth Mitchell as her baby turns 18.

What does a two day tournament offer, especially to the players, that a single day event doesn’t?
Originally the tournament was a two day event. It was changed to a single day because of constraints on pitch availability and other logistics. Over the last few years we have been asked several times to expand it back again to two days as most tournaments are a two day event. The advantages are:

Teams get to play extra games and time to rest in between
Our own Sports Institute girls gain more game time against stronger teams
Teams are travelling from all over the world it makes it more worth while expanding the tournament to a two day event.
Provides a more meaningful competition because overall rankings are more accurate.

Rugby week is already pretty packed, how will a two day tournament fit in, will the final still be at the Stadium.
Thursday 26th will be played at Kings Park alongside the Youth Tournament.
Friday 27th will be played at HK Football Club with the final being played at the HK Stadium.

How will the format change?
The format will not change too much other than giving more games to the teams. It will still be based on a pool competition followed by knock out. Pool matches will be at Kings Park with the finals at HKFC and the Cup Final at the stadium. The schedule is still under review.

Which teams have confirmed for 2015?
Just waiting for the 12th team to confirm their attendance, we will then release the full team list.

Have you thought of including some select teams in a parallel tournament to the main event event where local players and women’s rugby veterans and stars could play – something similar to the HK Tens?
We did this last year at the Kowloon Fest where four teams took part. However, as you mentioned, it is a packed week and trying to fit in all the current tournaments can be a challenge.

Funding seems to be a factor in getting some teams to the tournament, with the women’s game expanding globally at a fantastic rate is getting sponsorship becoming easier?
There is no indication that sponsorship is getting any easier. There continues to be increasing demands on sponsorship from every quarter.

Beyond 2015 how do you hope the tournament will develop?
Each year the Tournament is under review to see how we can improve and to fit in with other tournaments that are being played. The HKWR7’s is a great tournament for teams to be playing ever stronger teams, as all teams are looking to play on the World Rugby Women’s Sevens World Series as well as qualifying for the Olympics.

Hong Kong Women’s Rugby 7s
When: 26-27 March, 2015
Where: 26- Kings Park; 27- Hong Kong Football Club; Final – HK Stadium
How much: Free
More info: facebook.com/hkwr.sevens

Match Report: HKCC 22-24 Valley Red

A 2 point conversion was the sole difference between the teams as ‘Societe Generale Valley Black Ladies and HK Cricket Club Babes shared 8 tries in a great game at Aberdeen on Saturday. It was a spirited, full-throttle affair from the start, with HKCC pinning Valley in their own half early on and then whipping the ball out wide for an early try from WaWa. Valley punched back soon after with a great breakaway run.

Within five minutes HKCC had restored their advantage, some aggressive running and a well-timed penalty from scrum half Lynda creating the space for Sarah to fall over the line for her debut try (the two players rewarded for this effort with joint player-of-the-game billing). But Valley were on the prowl straight from the kick off, bursting through the line for a try under the posts, duly converted.

Valley was never able to establish a proper attacking platform though, with every lineout stolen away by HKCC jumper Winnie and the HKCC dominance also apparent in the scrum, with Rhonda making a number of powerful runs from number 8. However, HKCC’s backline struggled a little defensively throughout the game, and bunching around the breakdown created a gap in the line which Valley soon exploited, leading to their third try from scrum-half and Valley player of the game, Shanshan. And early in the second half, the lead was extended slightly with another breakaway try.

But the HKCC backs looked dangerous and creative with ball in hand, well-executed runs and excellent handling skills reaping dividends in the second half and securing a try for Tinley at 13 and the excellent Wuki at fullback (stepping in at very short notice whilst on Christmas vacation and now headed back to the snowy East Coast US). This latter try was converted by fly-half Harriet, setting the game up for a tense conclusion, as Valley sought desperately and successfully to win back possession, putting the ball out of play and settling the game at 24 points to Valley, 22 to the Babes.

Despite the loss, Babes’ Coach Darren Cartlidge was proud of the performance, noting, “This is a phase of rebuilding for the team, and the four well-worked tries indicate good progress. We have new players coming on board, including Ellie Storey who made her debut today, and much to look forward to as we head towards the business-end of the season”.

This Week @ The AIA Great European Carnival

Hong Kong’s biggest outdoor carnival just got even bigger, with five more rides added to The AIA Great European Carnival this week, with more to come.

The AIA Great European Carnival takes on a new look this January as the Christmas wonderland theme makes way for its’ New Year incarnation – full of new attractions and some serious rides for the thrill-seekers amongst us. Included in the list of new additions are the No Limits (a maximum velocity spin and roll) and the Inversion XXL (another high-flying 360 degree ride). These join the Atmos Fear, Booster Max, and the Freak Out, which have already tested many of Hong Kong’s most bare-knuckled dare-devils.

We are thrilled to announce the opening of the Dodgem Cars, an all-time family favourite that came into operation this week. There are also several additional smaller rides for both children and the young at heart. There are six children’s rides for the 3 to 8 year old set, including the Gallopers (horse trail ride), Pony Express, and Kid Zone (Mini Miami – an introduction to a high flying ride for children). Plus there is a great variety of food and beverage outlets, all with their own European theme.

The 14 rides currently in action include
Mach 5 (Booster Maxx)
Atmos Fear
Oblivion (Freak Out)
Gallopers
Cups N’ Sauces (Tea Cups)
Crazy Cars (Race-O-Rama)
Circuit 2000 (Formula)
Pony Express (Pony Adventure)
KidZone (Mini Miami)
Dodgems (Top Gear)
No Limit
Mini Paratrooper
Inversion XXL
Stage Coach

In January, the Carnival will also see more entertainment on the Live Stage with bands, choirs, and a wide variety youth performances. In addition local and international schools will visit the Carnival on educational excursions, and Hong Kong-based charities will also get a chance for their beneficiaries and volunteers to enjoy a big day out.

Expect more changes ahead as the Carnival moves into February and we approach Chinese New Year and the venue evolves once again. The finale of this wonderful winter event will be on 22 February.

There is a ride for everyone at The AIA Great European Carnival, so grab your friends and family and come on down!

Content sponsored by The AIA Great European Carnival

Lunar New Year Cup: South China v New York Cosmos @ HK Stadium – 3:30pm, 19 February, 2015

In a press release today, the New York Cosmos confirmed they’ll be playing South China in the annual Lunar New Year Cup. This year’s match takes place on the 19 February, 2015 at HK Stadium, kick-off 3:30pm. Ticket details to finalised.

Lunar New Year Cup: South China v New York Cosmos
When: 3:30pm, 19 February, 2015
Where: HK Stadium
How much: tbc
More info: tbc

Women’s Rugby Results – 17 January, 2015

Premiership

Kowloon 7-80 Gai Wu
@ KGV, Kick-off 16:30

Taipo Dragons v SCAA CWB Phoenix
@ So Kon Po, Kick-off 18:00

USRC Tigers 26-37 Valley Black
@ KGV, Kick-off 18:00

Women’s National League 1

HKCC 22-24 Valley Red
@ Aberdeen Sports Ground, Kick-off 18:00

City Sparkles 5-29 HKFC Ice
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off 18:00

Police Sirens 10-63 HK Scottish Kukris
@ Tai Hang Tung Recreation Ground, Kick-off 18:00

CWB Phoenix 7-5 Revolution SRC
@ Tin Shui Wai Community Sports Ground, Kick-off 18:00

Women’s National 10s

Tin Shui Wai 25-5 Kowloon
@ Tin Shui Wai Community Sports Ground, Kick-off 13:30

Gai Wu v USRC Tigers
@ Tin Shui Wai Community Sports Ground, Kick-off: 14:15

HKFC Fire 0-64 DB Pirates Ladies
@ King’s Park, Kick-off 18:00

This Week @ The AIA Great European Carnival

The largest Battle of the Bands competition Hong Kong has ever seen kicks off this week at The AIA Great European Carnival, with over 100 bands from the SAR entered. You can expect to see a wide variety of musical genres from folk, to indie, alternative, rock, punk and heavy metal. The bands will also play in a variety of languages, including Cantonese, Mandarin, English, French and more.

Bands will compete in the first rounds every Thursday and Friday evening at the Carnival’s Live Stage and are each given the opportunity to play two songs within an eight minute period. There are two categories including the Students (performing from 4-6pm) and Open (6pm-9pm). The Semi Finals will take place on 5th and 6th of February and the Final will take place on Friday the 13th of February.

Supported by The AIA Great European Carnival, the event is organised by The Underground and is also sponsored by Parson’s Music. Parson’s Music was established in 1986 and is one of the leading and most prestigious multinational musical companies in both Mainland China and Hong Kong. Parsons have their own production line for a wide range of cool musical instruments (pianos, guitars, percussion, string & wind instruments), a strong retail network and well-found music centres for educating music talents.

Prizes include an opportunity to perform in front of the music industry’s top agents, producers, and labels at Music Matters the leading global music industry conference, which is organised by Hong Kong based company Branded Asia. Other prizes include recording time with Sammy So (from the band Kolor) and Jon Lee (This Music Studio) as well as Parson’s coupons and trophies for the champion bands.

The event is one of the many entertainment activities taking place at the Carnival in amongst some thrilling death-defying rides, challenging games, and great food and beverage. For more information on this event and what else is happening at the Carnival visit www.tgec.asia.

Sponsored editorial: The AIA Great European Carnival

@CYLeung2017

689 has a new twitter account… and it’s simply hilarious 🙂

https://twitter.com/CYLeung2017/