South China Morning Post

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This year’s Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens pumped almost US$100 million into the city’s economy, according to a report from leading global analytics firm Nielsen.

Hong Kong will pack in as many as 22 matches before the 2027 Rugby World Cup as they trade in their status as Asian heavyweights to try to hold their own as global minnows.

Hong Kong have been handed the toughest possible draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, after being placed in Pool A alongside Australia, the hosts, and New Zealand.

Hong Kong’s men will discover their 2027 Rugby World Cup opponents on Wednesday, giving them little less than two years to prepare for the biggest games in the city’s history.

New Zealand won the men’s and women’s finals at the season-opening HSBC SVNS Series tournament in Dubai, beating Australia in both finals on Sunday.

Domestic rugby will return to Hong Kong next week after an international break of varying fortunes for the city’s men and women, and for both it represents the next step in differing paths to their respective World Cups.

Coach Eddie Jones on Monday warned his Japan players they had to bulk up and train harder if they wanted to compete on rugby’s world stage after another bruising European tour.

Samoa became the 24th and last team to qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup after a hard-fought 13-13 draw with Belgium in Dubai on Tuesday.

Rugby chiefs on Monday officially launched the Nations Championship, a global competition featuring 12 of the strongest teams that will crown a winning nation and decide the sport’s dominant hemisphere.

Liam Herbert said Hong Kong had set themselves the objective of returning to Kai Tak Stadium in the main Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens draw next year, after they claimed National Games gold at the 50,000-capacity venue on Friday.

Belgium are one game away from a first-ever Rugby World Cup finals appearance, having set up a deciding match against Samoa on Tuesday in the final qualification tournament in Dubai for the 2027 finals in Australia.

Max Denmark savoured a “beautiful” historic night after Hong Kong beat Shandong 26-19 in a rip-roaring National Games rugby sevens final at Kai Tak Stadium.

Hong Kong’s rugby players have an opportunity to “put themselves on the map” this weekend with a “memorable” win over Portugal, head coach Logan Asplin said on Thursday.

Hong Kong’s men’s rugby sevens team will play for National Games gold on Friday – and warned after Thursday’s semi-finals that they want to claim it in style.

Hong Kong rugby sevens new boy Matthew Rickard said he barely slept before he marked the opening day of the National Games tournament with a dream first home international appearance.

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Although it would be an exaggeration to say that rugby sevens is fighting for its life, this is a sport in urgent need of care and attention.

Head coach Jevon Groves has called on his senior stars to “inspire the next generation”, after Hong Kong declared their hand for the National Games rugby sevens at Kai Tak Stadium this week.

For 40 minutes on Saturday, Hong Kong went toe to toe with the ACT Brumbies, matching their Australian rivals at every step. Then the wheels fell off.

Hong Kong host ACT Brumbies on Saturday still searching for the combinations that will carry the team into the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Hong Kong rugby player Luke van der Smit has been sacked after failing a drugs test during his team’s World Cup qualifying campaign this summer, and is facing a years-long ban from the sport.

Hong Kong could host a clash between Australian rugby league giants South Sydney Rabbitohs and English side St Helens in 2027, if officials from both clubs have their way.

Co-captain James Christie has said it would be a “huge honour” to lead Hong Kong in the National Games next month, before he hunkers down for an austere Christmas ahead of his team’s next challenge.

As one of the city’s sporting poster boys, Max Denmark has embraced the “grand scale” of next month’s National Games, and is relishing the prospect of watching his mainland sprinting idols duelling for gold.

Liam Herbert was once “booted out” of Hong Kong’s youth rugby programme. Courted by football clubs in England following a series of trials, he ran for the hills.

Hong Kong got the reality check their Rugby World Cup preparations probably needed from Japan A on Friday, not that it lessened the disappointment for Andrew Douglas.

Hong Kong have named a largely experimental side for their clash with Japan A on Friday, the first real challenge of the city’s Rugby World Cup era.

Andy Vilk has said his Hong Kong players would take time to absorb the hammer blow of missing HSBC SVNS 3 qualification before gathering themselves for an assault on National Games glory.

After Chong Ka-yan had scored one of the most important tries in the history of Hong Kong women’s sevens rugby, she was overcome with emotion.

My previous column explored how the fear of repercussions is driving widespread self-censorship within institutions and public discourse. Yet, at the same time, the world of sports is experiencing a troubling increase in toxic behaviour,…