萬眾矚目「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽 2024」分組結果揭曉
Pools drawn for Sevens showdown in Hong Kong
[香港，2024年3月8日]: 距離「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽 2024」尚餘不足一個月，大會今日（8號）公佈最新的分組結果，香港作為滙豐SVNS世界七人欖球系列賽八站中的第六站，並於4月5至7日在極具標誌性的香港大球場上演，勢成國際體壇矚目一戰。
中國香港欖球總會（欖總）行政總裁麥偉彬（Robbie McRobbie）高興地表示，他正期待一場又一場緊張刺激、扣人心弦的精彩賽事，他說：「大會在香港國際七人欖球賽僅餘四星期的時候，公佈分組形勢，是我們賽事籌備工作的一個重要里程，為賽事注入活力，亦讓球迷由現在開始為自己最期盼的比賽對決，以及最喜愛的娛樂表演，作好準備。」
由12支世界最強的球隊組成的男子隊，最受關注是於本月（3月）初在洛杉磯站勇奪盃賽冠軍的法國隊，是A 組的頭號種籽球隊，同組有斐濟，這支傳統勁旅暫列世界系列賽積分榜第三位，還有排名第五的澳洲及第十二位的加拿大。
B組首號種籽有上站亞軍英國隊，同組有今季所向無敵的阿根廷，這支南美洲球隊已連贏三站系列賽（包括12月南非開普敦、1月澳洲珀斯、2月加拿大溫哥華），被列為B組的二號種籽，同組還有系列賽排名第六的新西蘭及第八位的美國。
在C組中，現在積分榜排名第二的愛爾蘭是該組的頭號種籽，他們在一月的珀斯站及本月初的洛杉磯站獲得季軍，同組有系列賽排名第七的南非隊，他們在系列賽揭幕戰（杜拜站）取得冠軍，此外，還有排名第十的西班牙及第十一的薩摩亞。
女子組方面，澳洲及新西蘭隊在過去六站比賽中勢均力敵，各自取得兩站的勝利。澳洲率先奪得頭兩站（杜拜及開普敦）盃賽冠軍，新西蘭在第四站溫哥華及第五站洛杉磯奪冠，而第三站珀斯的冠軍則由愛爾蘭奪得。
毫無疑問，澳洲及新西蘭娘子軍進佔世界系列賽積分榜頭兩位，完成頭五站系列賽後，澳洲以總分90分暫領先榜首，新西蘭以四分之微的86分列第二位；第三至第五位的排名依次為74分的法國、64分的美國及62分的加拿大。
女子A 組由新西蘭領銜，同組有法國、巴西及英國，澳洲隊位列B 組首號種籽，同組包括南非、愛爾蘭及斐濟，暫列積分榜第四位的美國編在C 組，與加拿大、日本及西班牙同處一組。
世界欖球總會七人欖球總經理沈本德（Sam Pinder）表示：「歷屆『國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽』一直受到全球各界的注目，無論是對球員、球隊還是球迷來說，香港站都冠絕其他賽站；2024年也不例外，將會是難忘的一年。」
「隨著七人欖球在巴黎奧運會的倒數計時已展開，加上滙豐世界欖球系列賽在今季改良比賽模式，預計球場上的比賽會為球迷帶來前所未有的刺激、場邊的娛樂會讓觀眾目不暇給。」沈本德提醒各球迷，是時候準備盛裝打扮裝束，好好享受世界最頂尖的男、女子球隊近距離顯技。
今屆同樣受到球迷重視，還有為亞洲列強新增設的「Melrose銀劍賽」(Melrose Claymores)，比賽將於香港國際七人欖球賽期間進行，為期三日的比賽將以循環賽制定出決賽球隊，男子組有中國、日本及東道主中國香港，女子組有中國、泰國及中國香港，屆時必有一番龍爭虎鬥。
欖總行政總裁麥偉彬表示：「今年我們推出『Melrose銀劍賽(Melrose Claymores)』，這對我們來說意義非凡，香港一直很重視及支持亞洲七人欖球運動的發展，並年復年為觀眾帶來頂級亞洲球隊在香港大球場獻技，『Melrose銀劍賽』這項亞洲三角賽也不例外，將為大家帶來連場扣人心弦的比賽。」
三日的比賽將於周五（4月5日）揭開戰幔，香港大球場將於當日早上7時半開放給球迷入場，頭兩小時先進行小型欖球及青少年欖球的比賽，第一場正式比賽將於早上10時半舉行，打頭陣是女子C組賽，由加拿大對日本。香港國際七人欖球賽的開幕禮將於晚上6時42分舉行，時間剛好安排在兩場「Melrose銀劍賽」之間，球迷欣賞開幕禮之餘，亦可為中國香港的男、女子隊落力加油。首天最後一場比賽是世界系列賽男子A組，由法國對澳洲，晚上8時58分開賽，約於9時半完結。
周六（4月6日）的正式開賽時間是早上9時半，大球場將於早上7時開放入場，同樣有小型欖球娛賓；下午2時09分有「Melrose銀劍賽」女子組第二場比賽，由中國香港對泰國，賽後將會有小型欖球員繞場一周，同場，牙買加傳奇「雷鬼樂隊」The Wailers將作現場表演，將全場觀眾的情緒帶至最高點。緊接另一個萬眾期待的比賽，是3時11分上演的「Melrose銀劍賽」，由中國香港男子隊面對「宿敵」日本隊，在極具標誌性的香港大球場決一高下。
重頭戲之一的世界系列賽的男、女子組盃賽八強，將於周六下午3時34分展開，晚上6時47分開始名次賽，當天最後一場名次賽約於晚上8時半完成。
壓軸一天的周日（4月7日）比賽將於早上9時40分開始，大球場於早上8時開放，場內先上演青少年欖球賽。當天的正式比賽由兩場「Melrose銀劍賽」展開，先是女子組由中國對泰國，然後是男子組由中國對日本，緊隨是一連串的世界系列賽名次賽及盃賽準決賽；不少香港球迷關注的「Melrose銀劍賽」，女子組決賽於下午3時28分舉行，男子組緊接在3時56分進行。兩場「Melrose銀劍賽」決賽後，將由美國殿堂樂隊Journey主音Arnel Pineda上場，為觀眾帶來精彩表演。
下午5時10分將展開連場獎盃爭奪戰，先由男、女子季軍開始，緊隨是晚上6時13分上演女子組盃賽決賽，壓軸的男子組冠軍戰將於晚上6時53分展開。
「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽 2024」的三日套票至今已售出超過34,000張，是疫情以來首次接近售罄。
門票在官方網站有售：www.hksevens.com。三日門票的持票人可觀賞30支世界級勁旅上演共74場精彩的七人欖球賽，期間更可享受兩小時的星級現場音樂表演，以及一連三日無間斷的娛樂活動。欖球界的最大型派對門票只需港幣1,950元。12歲或以下的兒童可購買兒童票，票價為港幣950元。兒童門票先到先得。
世界系列賽分組：香港站
男子組
A組：法國、斐濟、澳洲、加拿大
B組：英國、阿根廷、美國、新西蘭
C組：愛爾蘭、西班牙、薩摩亞、南非
女子組
A組：新西蘭、法國、巴西、英國
B組：澳洲、南非、愛爾蘭、斐濟
C組：美國、加拿大、日本、西班牙
資料及相片來源 : Elite Step Asia Limited / Hong Kong China Rugby
[Hong Kong, 8 March 2024]: The pools have been drawn for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens (5-7 April 2024) at the Hong Kong Stadium, the sixth of eight tournaments on the HSBC SVNS, and the full schedule has now been confirmed.
Robbie McRobbie, CEO of Hong Kong China Rugby, spoke in anticipation of an incredible weekend of rugby action, with the event on track to be a first sellout since the pandemic. He remarked, "the schedule announcement is a key milestone in our event preparation, and with just four weeks to go, really ignites the tournament into life. It allows fans to now build excitement for their most-anticipated on-field matchups and favourite entertainment acts.”
In the 12-team men’s competition, France, winners of the most recent tournament in Los Angeles, have the honour of leading Pool A alongside third-ranked Fiji, fifth-placed holders Australia and Canada.
Team Great Britain tops Pool B with Series leaders Argentina, winners of all three tournaments (Cape Town, Perth and Vancouver) before Los Angeles, in the second seed. USA and New Zealand, in eighth and sixth spots on the HSBC SVNS table respectively, round out the Pool.
Pool C sees Ireland – currently second in the standings after finishing as runners-up in Perth and the USA, atop the pool with tenth-placed Spain, eleventh-ranked Samoa and seventh-ranked South Africa, who were winners of the Series opener in Dubai.
In the 12-team women’s competition, a taut battle between Australia and New Zealand is developing, with both sides claiming two cup wins to date. Australia won the two opening legs in Dubai and Cape Town, while New Zealand won the two most recent tournaments in Los Angeles and Vancouver. Ireland won the cup in Perth.
Only four points separate the two women’s leaders ahead of Hong Kong with Australia on 90 and New Zealand on 86. France is in third on 74. USA and Canada round out the top five as the action moves to Hong Kong.
New Zealand top Pool A ahead of France, Brazil and Team Great Britain. Australia head Pool B over South Africa, Ireland and Fiji, while fourth-placed USA head Pool C with Canada, Japan and Spain.
World Rugby Sevens General Manager, Sam Pinder said: “The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is always a highlight in the global rugby sevens calendar for players, teams and fans alike, and 2024 promises to be a year to remember.
“With the clock counting down until rugby sevens kicks off the Olympic Games in Paris, the action on the pitch will be hotter than ever with World Rugby’s revamped HSBC SVNS competition formula providing fans with even more excitement, jeopardy and entertainment than ever before.
“Today’s announcement of the match schedule means fans can now mark their calendars, prepare their costumes and get set for three days of exhilarating rugby sevens action as the best men’s and women’s teams in the world come to showcase their skills in front of the famous Hong Kong crowd.”
The Melrose Claymores competition introduced by Hong Kong China Rugby in 2024 will also feature across all three days of the tournament. China, Japan and hosts Hong Kong China will take part in the men’s competition, while China and Thailand join Hong Kong China in contesting the women’s competition. McRobbie added, “this year’s announcement holds extra significance as we introduce the Melrose Claymores competition. While this is a new tournament, it is also a nod to our long and proud history of showcasing the top teams in Asian sevens in Hong Kong.”
Gates open at 07:30 on Friday (5 April), with over two hours of mini and youth rugby to start the weekend before the tournament officially kicks off at 10:30 with Canada versus Japan women. The tournament’s opening ceremony will take place between the two Hong Kong China games in the Melrose Claymores at 18:42. The final match of the day will be France versus Australia men at 20:58 with play ending at 21:30.
Saturday (6 April) sees gates open from 07:00, with mini rugby games leading up to the start of play at 09:30. At 14:09, Hong Kong China women will face Thailand in round two of the Melrose Claymores competition, followed by the famous Hong Kong Sevens March Past and some island beats from legendary reggae band, The Wailers. At 15:11, Hong Kong China men will play Japan in their second Melrose Claymores match, followed by the start of HSBC SVSNS quarter-finals action. Action finishes with the placing match semi-finals at 20:30.
Sevens Sunday in Hong Kong (7 April) opens at 08:00 with mini and youth showcase matches through 09:40, followed by the final round of Melrose Claymores action with China playing Thailand in the women’s bracket and Japan in the men’s. The finals of the Melrose Claymores will be at 15:28 (women) and 15:56 (men), followed by a performance from Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda. The 3rd place finals will start at 17:10, with the women’s Cup Final kicking off at 18:13 and the men’s at 18:53.
Tickets are available via the official website at www.hksevens.com.
Over 34,000 3-day ticket packages have been sold for the Cathay / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 to date with the event nearing its first sellout since the pandemic.
Tickets are available via the official website at www.hksevens.com. An adult three-day is HKD1,950.00. Children’s tickets for fans aged 12 and under are available on a first come, first served basis at HKD950.00.
Information and Photo source : Elite Step Asia Limited / Hong Kong China Rugby
