「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」 2023年香江風雲再現、勢不可擋！ Hong Kong set to Play On at Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2023
[2023年2月6日，香港]: 享譽全球的「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」將於2023年3月31日至4月2日在香港大球場舉行，再次為香港敲響鑼鼓。今屆賽事將起用「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」新名字，而中國香港男子及女子代表隊將首次同時在「滙豐世界七人欖球系列賽」中爭標。
今屆賽事以「Play On! 勢不可擋！」為主題，繼去年11月「七欖」在疫情中復辦後乘勝追擊，今年全城欖球迷均無須在社交距離限制下盡情享受賽事。
「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」將迎接28支國家球隊，包括史上首次加入的一眾女子精英七人欖球隊，屆時世界各地的球員和球迷將聚首一堂，一起揮灑熱血和汗水。
「Play On! 勢不可擋！」亦彰顯欖球和香港共有的堅毅精神。經歷了疫情的嚴峻考驗後，香港已準備好重拾多姿多彩和繁忙的國際形象，「七欖」作為全球首屈一指的體育盛事亦不例外。
「七欖」繼續貫徹欖球運動的廣泛包容性，專注於香港和國外欖球界組成的多元化社區，當中覆蓋了頂級女子球員，以及身體或精神殘障等欖球員。
香港欖球總會（欖總）主席蒲敬思（Chris Brooke）歡迎「七欖」如常在春天傳統檔期舉行時説：「去年11月的『七欖』經歷了疫情的考驗，以香港和本地社區為焦點。能夠在香港成功舉辦並開創大型活動安全復辦的先例，我們都感到十分自豪。我們也很感激風雨同舟的支持者們，尤其是聯合冠名贊助商國泰和滙豐。」
蒲敬思續說：「香港有足夠的因由被稱為世界七人欖球界的一顆明珠，今天，我們懷著同樣興奮的心情為本地及全球欖球界帶來『勢不可擋！』的賽事。我們期待著全世界在2023年前來作樂。」
東道主中國香港女子七人欖球隊將於「七欖週末」破天荒亮相大球場，與另外11支世界頂級女子國家隊一較高下。女子組爭標人馬有系列賽衛冕冠軍澳洲、巴西、加拿大、斐濟、法國、英國、愛爾蘭、日本、新西蘭、西班牙、美國和中國香港。
自1997年起，香港欖球總會一直主辦開拓性的「香港國際女子七人欖球賽」，曾招待多支現時系列賽隊伍。欖總很高興今屆能同時主辦男女子賽事。這亦給予香港女子七人欖球員一個難能可貴的機會。
中國香港女子七人欖球隊雙隊長之一的李念殷説：「這機會對我們的重要性非言語所能形容。我們很興奮能與當今頂尖球手切磋，並且期待透過與世界級勁旅交手來考驗自身能耐。」
香港女子欖球傳奇兼女子七人隊前隊長及十五人隊前代表陳朗詩也感雀躍，她亦是香港女子十五人欖球代表隊首位華裔教練。
陳朗詩説：「讓女子欖球曝光的機會是必要的。小男孩在大球場欣賞過欖球偶像們的英姿後，選擇投身欖球已有很多先例可循，我們希望香港女子隊於『七欖週末』亮相大球場後也能產生類似的效應。數以萬計的女孩在如此難忘的舞台上目睹最優秀的女子欖球競技實在令人興奮，而在『七欖週末』中加入女子賽事實在是給予香港對女子七人欖球運動貢獻的巨大獎勵。」
繼11月鼓動人心的賽事後，全球15支頂尖男子隊將與東道主中國香港隊一決高下。爭冠隊伍有自1980年代以來首奪香港站銀盃的衛冕盟主澳洲、阿根廷、加拿大、斐濟、法國、英國、愛爾蘭、日本、肯雅、新西蘭、薩摩亞、西班牙、南非、美國及烏拉圭。
一連三日的欖球嘉年華充滿著音樂和美酒佳餚，「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」將於2023年再次讓全城熱血沸騰。大球場內所有特許商販將如常提供觀眾席和廂房的全套餐飲等服務。
「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽2023」的門票將於本週開始公開發售。欲購票人士可到hksevens.com訂閱電子通訊，以便於2023年2月9日享有公開發售前的24小時優先預購權。
欖總行政總裁麥偉彬（Robbie McRobbie）說：「我們很高興能在3月底迎來一個足本且更盛大的『國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽』。去年11月，賽事成功吸納大批本地觀眾，我們熱切期待在今年春天歡迎世界各地的欖球好友重遊舊地，一同在香港『Play On！勢不可擋！』。 」
「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」詳情可瀏覽：www.hksevens.com
[6 February 2023, Hong Kong]: The world-famous Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is set to rock the city for a second time from 31 March to 2 April, 2023 at the Hong Kong Stadium. Adding to the excitement is a change in tournament name to the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, while the men’s and women’s teams of Hong Kong China will appear side by side for the first time in an HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series event.
Themed Play On!, the tournament will carry the momentum from last November’s Sevens (the first since the pandemic) on, but without the social distancing, as rugby fans across the city are set to come out and play.
Players and fans from around the world will join them as Hong Kong welcomes 28 international teams, including the elite sides in women’s sevens for the first time in history.
Play On! also celebrates the spirit of resilience that rugby and Hong Kong share. After the rigors of the pandemic the SAR is ready to return to its colourful, fast-paced international self - as is the Sevens, one of world sport’s true bucket list events.
The Sevens is also centring and celebrating rugby inclusivity, with a focus on the diverse communities that make up the game in Hong Kong and abroad, from word-class female athletes to rugby for those with physical or mental impairments.
Hong Kong Rugby Union Chairman Chris Brooke welcomed the return of the Sevens to its traditional spring window saying, “Our last Sevens in November was focused squarely on our city and community as we emerged from the trials of the pandemic. We are proud to have helped set a precedent for the safe return of mass events to Hong Kong and we remain eternally grateful to our supporters and those who stood by us through very challenging times, particularly our co-title sponsors Cathay and HSBC.
“Today, we are excited to look ahead and remind the city and the rugby world why Hong Kong is the jewel-in-the-crown of world sevens. We look forward to welcoming the world back to Hong Kong as we Play On! in 2023,” added Mr Brooke.
Eleven women’s teams will participate alongside Hong Kong, China, making their first playing appearance at the Sevens. The women’s teams are reigning series champions Australia; Brazil; Canada; Fiji; France; Great Britain; Ireland; Japan; New Zealand; Spain; the United States of America; and Hong Kong, China.
The Hong Kong Rugby Union has hosted the trailblazing Hong Kong Women’s Rugby Sevens since 1997, (welcoming many of the teams on today’s World Series), and is excited to be playing host to a full complement of teams alongside the stars of the men’s game. That also brings an important opportunity for Hong Kong’s women’s rugby sevens players to feature inside the tournament.
“There are no words to express how important this is for us,” said Melody Li Nim-yan, co-captain of the Hong Kong, China Women’s Sevens squad, adding that, “We are excited to play against the best players in the world and we look forward to testing our mettle against the top teams in world sevens,” added Li.
The excitement was shared by Chan Leong-sze, a women’s rugby legend in Hong Kong and former captain of the women’s sevens and fifteens teams, and the first ethnic Chinese coach of a Hong Kong XVs team in HKRU history.
“Visibility is essential. There is a long history of young boys joining rugby after watching their heroes play in the stadium and we expect a similar effect from having our women’s team represented on sevens weekend. The prospect of thousands of girls watching the best women’s rugby on the planet on such a memorable stage is exciting, and the inclusion of a full women’s tournament is great reward for Hong Kong’s contribution to women’s sevens,” Chan added.
After thrilling the crowd once again in November, the 15 top men’s teams in the world will also return to battle it out with hosts Hong Kong, China. Those teams are defending champions Australia, celebrating their first Hong Kong cup since the 1980s; Argentina; Canada; Fiji; France; Great Britain; Ireland; Japan; Kenya; New Zealand; Samoa; Spain; South Africa; United States of America and Uruguay.
With three days of rugby, revelry, music and food and drink, the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is set to rock the city in 2023. Full food and beverage service will be offered with all stadium concessions open and in-seat and in-box consumption allowed.
Public ticketing for the 2023 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens will open this week. Punters are encouraged to sign up for the digital newsletter at hksevens.com to enjoy a 24-hour advance purchasing window before general sales begin on 9 February 2023.
“We are excited to be returning a full bells and whistles Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at the end of March,” said Robbie McRobbie, HKRU Chief Executive.
“We made significant inroads in developing new audiences locally in our November event and look forward to welcoming our rugby friends from around the world back this spring as we ‘Play On’ in Hong Kong,” added McRobbie.
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 Rugby Union
