Rugby fans began filling Kai Tak Stadium on Friday for the opening day of the annual Hong Kong Sevens, as the tournament marks its golden anniversary.

Despite rainy weather, the crowd steadily grew inside the 50,000-seat venue, with a particularly strong turnout of international visitors.

Speaking to RTHK, several fans said they had travelled long distances for this year’s three-day event.

Tim Lee, a visitor from Sydney, said it was his first time in Hong Kong.

He described the atmosphere as fantastic, adding he had heard from many rugby enthusiasts that the city knows how to host a great tournament.

“It’s famous around the world. Look around, there’s some South Africans here. I see the Fijians everywhere. There’s people from throughout Europe that come here,” he said.

“They all come to Hong Kong because they know it’s the best place to watch the Sevens. It’s undisputed.”

Another first-time visitor, Nathan Pesch, praised the city’s stadium and said the friendly locals had added to the lively atmosphere.

“I’ve travelled all around the world watching rugby games and I think seeing the Hong Kong people, they love their rugby, great fans, great atmosphere. I really enjoy being here,” he said.

“Definitely got to come back here again. It’s good to be here for the 50th anniversary. Nice to be a part of it.”

Pesch’s friend, Michael Grubisa, said he hoped to see the Australian teams win the title this weekend, especially during this milestone edition.

The 50th anniversary of the world’s most historic rugby sevens tournament also marks a new chapter for the Sevens World Series.

As part of World Rugby’s new format introduced this season in the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, teams have been competing across five continents, three tiers and 10 tournaments for a chance to earn a spot at the Sevens World Championship.

The first round is in Hong Kong, followed by round two in Spain and round three in France.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong China Rugby announced that all three-day passes have already sold out, with only a limited number of single-day tickets remaining.



Edited by Tony Sabine