「Play On! 勢不可擋！」「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽 2023」 準備開波！ Play On! Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2023 set for kick
[2023 年 3月 29 日，香港]: 享譽全球的「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」將於本週末呈現足本版體驗，一連三日的年度體壇盛事即將在香港大球場迎接全世界球迷到場歡聚！
繼去年11月一場特別版的「七欖」在疫情中復辦後，今年全城欖球迷終於可以在零社交距離限制下盡情享受賽事。今屆賽事乃「滙豐世界七人欖球系列賽」2022/23賽季的其中一站，共有16支男子球隊和12支女子球隊同場爭標。周五的開幕戰預計有逾35,000名觀眾入場，香港大球場肯定再次大放異彩。
今屆香港國際七人欖球賽是香港史上首次同步在香港大球場舉行男女子比賽，此突破將為這項全球最大型的體育盛事增添更多精彩時刻。
去年11月，「滙豐世界七人欖球系列賽」衛冕冠軍澳洲隊終於打破了34年以來的香港站冠軍荒，澳洲主帥文尼迪（John Manenti）表示，那場以20:17戰勝斐濟的決賽終身難忘。
文尼迪說：「香港站是最大型的一站，能夠在香港站擊敗斐濟更是難得。去年11月的賽事是一個難忘的經歷。我們很期待再次來港參賽，希望可以再下一城。我對球員們說，一個賽季出現兩次香港站的機會可一不可再，所以我們更應該全力以赴，為球隊創造歷史，連取兩個香港站冠軍。」
澳洲與美國、西班牙和日本同處C 組。而A 組則由阿根廷為頭號種籽，他們在漢密爾頓站和上一站溫哥華成為盟主後，實力震撼了整個系列賽。阿根廷將與斐濟、薩摩亞和加拿大同組，他們期望挾著強勢贏取首個香港站冠軍。
佔領系列賽榜首的新西蘭同樣表現出色，在整個賽季已贏了三站冠軍，他們將與愛爾蘭、肯亞和南非同處 D 組。
深受本地球迷熱愛的東道主中國香港將在B 組與法國、英國和烏拉圭對戰。港隊隊長禾獲特（Max Woodward）對球隊在11月比賽時的勇敢表現仍歷歷在目，加上今仗的球隊陣容令他信心大增。
禾獲特表示：「這是我職業生涯中最具競爭力的球隊陣容。11月是一場振奮人心的比賽，場內的歡呼聲和香港球迷的擁戴都為新加入的球員注滿力量。我們必須以更冷靜和清晰的頭腦迎接挑戰，但11月的賽事增強了我們的信心，我相信今次球隊也不會令人失望。」
女子賽的競爭同樣激烈，新西蘭和澳門並駕齊驅，誓要搶下香港站冠軍。
東道主被編入A 組，受到系列賽榜首新西蘭、英國和加拿大的挑戰，而英國和加拿大都渴望獲得奧運會的參賽資格。B 組有澳洲、斐濟、愛爾蘭和巴西，而C 組則有美國、法國、日本和西班牙。
今個週末，傳統由香港小型欖球和青少年欖球隊組成的香港國際七人欖球賽大巡遊將再次上演。
兩位男子港隊成員史戴爾斯（Hugo Stiles）和蔡紀駿（James Christie）在15年前首次踏足大球場參加U9 組別的比賽，現在再雙雙成為港隊正選球員首登香港國際七人欖球賽，「七欖」週末對小朋友的影響顯而易見。
今年，香港女球員首次踏上大球場舞台，這對場內的小朋友亦會產生正面影響，首次登場的謝詠翹表示：「我們正在向年輕女孩展示欖球運動的可能性。這項運動正在發展之餘，機會也不停增加。現在，我們可以與最頂尖的球隊在最有氣氛的香港大球場較量。希望他們可以看到欖球運動也是充滿未來。」
隨著告別口罩和歡顏再現，舉世知名的「七欖」氣氛亦迅速歸位。香港商界的賓客款待服務和活動亦已回復，香港大球場的廂房等接待空間已接近售罄。而海外門票需求已逐步回復至疫情前水平。目前海外門票銷量佔公開發售的20%，說明香港已再現亞洲國際都會的光芒。
少量門票仍在發售。成人三日門票港幣1,950元和12歲及以下的兒童三日門票港幣950元。如欲購票，可透過欖總官方售票平台購買：www.tickets.hkrugby.com。
「國泰/滙豐香港七人欖球賽」榮獲大型體育事務委員會頒發成為「M」品牌認可活動，標誌著這是集合緊張、精彩和刺激的大型體育活動。這項盛事將協助提升香港作為亞洲體育盛事之都的形象。
有關「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」資訊可瀏覽 hksevens.com。
[29 March 2023, Hong Kong]: The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens returns to full throttle this weekend as Hong Kong’s premier sporting event welcomes the world back to town with three days of action and entertainment at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Engines were started last November when a special edition of the Sevens was held as Hong Kong - the spiritual home of the game - re-opened its doors post-pandemic.
This time around all social distancing restrictions are long gone, and the Stadium is set to fully rock once again with over 35,000 spectators expected on opening night as 16 men’s and 12 women’s teams gather for this leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
For the very first time in the Hong Kong Sevens’ storied history, both men’s and women’s competitions will play out simultaneously on the big stage, adding even more excitement to the largest tournament on the global circuit.
Last November saw reigning HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series champions Australia break a 34-year drought when lifting the Cup and coach John Manenti said the memories of that 20-17 win over Fiji in November would linger for a long time indeed.
“It's the biggest stage and it doesn't get bigger than beating Fiji in Hong Kong,” said Manenti.
“It was just an amazing experience. We're pretty excited to get back there and have another crack at it. I said to the boys that it’s more than likely they'll never have two Hong Kong's in one season again so if nothing else, we'll write ourselves a piece of history that probably can't be repeated by going back and winning again.”
The Aussies are drawn in Pool C alongside the USA, Spain and Japan. Pool A is meanwhile led by Argentina, who have shaken up the Series so far after victories in Hamilton and in Vancouver last time out. They’ll be looking to charge towards a first-ever Hong Kong title having been drawn for the early exchanges against Fiji, Samoa and Canada.
Series leaders New Zealand have really clicked into gear - winning two out of the past three tournaments - and they’ve been drawn in Pool D alongside Ireland, Kenya and South Africa.
Local fans will be focusing their attention on Pool B, where Hong Kong, China have been drawn against France, Great Britain and Uruguay. Hong Kong skipper Max Woodward has taken heart from some gutsy performances the local lads turned in back in November - and to an emerging squad bristling with talent.
“It's the most competitive squad there’s ever been in my career,” said Woodward.
“November was an emotional tournament, just looking out into the crowd and seeing all those Hong Kong fans, and there was a buzz around the new players in our squad. We have to be a little bit more clinical to get results but November gave us a bit of confidence that there are results out there for us.”
The competition in the women’s tournament is equally fierce as New Zealand and Australia are neck and neck at the top as the action arrives in Hong Kong.
The home side have drawn a challenging welcome in Pool A with series leaders New Zealand and Great Britain and Canada both intent on Olympic qualification. Pool B sees Australia, Fiji, Ireland and Brazil, while Pool C features USA, France, Japan and Spain.
This weekend also marks the return of some very special participants with the fabled Hong Kong Sevens march past once again showcasing thousands of the city’s mini and youth rugby community.
With two members of the current men’s sevens squad (Hugo Stiles and James Christie) having first played inside the stadium 15 years ago at U9s level - and now on the eve of making their Hong Kong Sevens debuts in 2023 - the impact of the weekend is plain to see.
With Hong Kong’s women’s stars sharing the stage for the first time, the hero effect will be on full display believes debutant Agnes Tse Wing-kiu:
“We are showing young girls that there really is a chance here with rugby. The game is growing and the opportunities are also growing. Now we get to play at the Hong Kong stadium with the best teams and atmosphere there is. We can show them how far playing rugby can take you.”
With masks off and smiles on, the world-famous Sevens atmosphere is back. Hong Kong’s estimable corporate community is returning in force with hospitality spaces in stadium at near sell-out levels, while international demand is climbing back to pre-pandemic levels as well. Over 20% of tickets purchased in the public sale are coming from overseas audiences signalling Hong Kong’s return is in full swing.
Limited numbers of tickets are still available. Prices for a three-day pass are $1,950 for adults and $950 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased via: www.tickets.hkrugby.com.
The Cathay / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2023 is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports events capital. The “M” Mark awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolising an intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.
For more information on the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens please visit: www.hksevens.com.
Information and Photo source : Elite Step Asia Limited / Hong Kong Sevens
