Cathay / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Captains Salute Hong Kong Stadium

The Cathay / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens  2024 captains from 24 teams took part in a special photoshoot at the world-famous South Stand to pay tribute to 30 years of the Hong Kong Sevens at the Hong Kong Stadium.

24 captains from the HSBC SVNS and 6 from the Melrose Claymores will be leading their teams at the stadium for one last time from 5-7 April, and the captains were game to get into the party atmosphere and dressed up “South Stand style” on the eve of a near-sell-out Sevens weekend in Hong Kong.

SVNS Series 2024 – Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024

In the SVNS Series, two of the men’s teams have seen a change of coaches since the last round was played. The South African Blitzboks (who have never won in Hong Kong) and crowd favourites and the most successful men’s Sevens team in Hong Kong, Fiji, have made the personnel changes.

Former Sevens player Philip Snyman has taken over as head coach from Sandile Ngcobo for South Africa, while Fiji replaced Englishman Dan Gollings with former Olympic 7s gold medal winner (and former Chinese women’s 7s coach) Osea Kolinisau.

Argentina leas the Men’s SVNS Series as the teams compete in the sixth of eight tournaments –  and hold a healthy lead in the standings after having won three tournaments in a row (Cape Town, Perth and Vancouver), and reached the final in the Dubai opener. They are another side that has never won in Hong Kong.

Argentina men’s player Matias Osadczuk said: “The team has a big expectation for this tournament because we lost last time in Los Angeles so it is very important to come back this weekend and we have been training hard for this.”

“Hong Kong is very special due to all the history and the great atmosphere so we hope to do our best. We are not thinking about being champions, we are taking it match by match, focusing on the process. Our hope for this weekend is to be better than Los Angeles and to improve as a team,” added Osadczuk.

Photo Credit: World Rugby / HKCR

The historic champions for the men in Hong Kong are New Zealand and Fiji – who have a combined 31 of 46 titles with NZ beating Fiji in 2023 to win for the first time since 2014, and their 12^th title all time.

There is no Antoine Dupont in Hong Kong, but the addition of Michael Hooper being selected for Australia to make his debut is the other big news.

Australia men’s player Matt Gonzales said of Hooper’s selection, “I don’t think you can put into words what he brings. His experience in rugby is something not many others have and having him come in is great, he’s very calm and very knowledgeable. But he’s also saying he’s a rookie and he’s having to learn how to play sevens. But for us it’s really exciting to have someone of his calibre in our team and just learn from him about how he goes about his processes.”

In the HSBC SVNS women’s competition – Australia and New Zealand are leading at the front with two Series wins a piece, while Ireland is the only other team to lift a Cup this season (In Perth). Australia hold a slight lead over New Zealand and will want to avenge the final defeat in Hong Kong in 2023 which was the first time the women played at the iconic event.

New Zealand women’s captain Risi Pouri-Lane said: “Obviously, there’s a lot of history behind Hong Kong and for us coming off the back of two victories we just want to make sure we keep to our game plan, keep composed and just play our game.

It will be an awesome atmosphere this weekend and for the women’s game in general it’s becoming more competitive across the board which is awesome for the women’s game. We’re really looking forward to the weekend, it’s going to be a party here!”

France, USA, and Canada round out the top five for the women in the standings.

The Sakura Sevens (Japan) are in a tough fight to try and finish within the top 8 of the standings, with only Hong Kong and Singapore left to play before the final event in Madrid. The women’s teams currently in the bottom four are South Africa, Japan, Spain and Brazil.

Image Credit: JRFU – Sakura Sevens (Japan) Squad – Hong Kong 2024

The men’s and women’s team with the most cumulative points after seven rounds will claim the title of SVNS 2024 League Winners, while the top eight placed teams will earn their place in the new ‘winner takes all’ Grand Final, where the men’s and women’s SVNS Champions will be crowned in Madrid on 31 May to 2 June.

The four lowest-ranked men’s and women’s teams after the seventh round in Singapore will join the top four teams from the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 in the promotion and relegation tournament.

Feature Photo Credit: 

Row I L TO R: Yume HIRANO (Japan); Mathrin SIMMERS (South Africa Women); Olivia Apps, (Canada Women); Charlotte Caslick (Australia Women); Tournament trophies; Risaleaana POURI-LANE, (New Zealand Women); Raijieli DAVEUA (Fiji Women); Luiza CAMPOS (Brazil); Anna Fernandez de Corres (Spain Women).

Row II L TO R: Amee Leigh MURPHY CROWE, (Ireland Women);  Emma UREN (Team Great Britain Women); Matt GONZALEZ, (Australia Men); Phil BERNA (Canada Men); Matias OSADCZUK (Argentina); Lauren DOYLE (USA Women); Carla Niesen, (France Women); Dylan COLLIER, (New Zealand Men).

Row 3 L To R: Selwyn DAVIDS (South Africa Men); Uaina Yui SIONE, (Samoa Men); Robbie FERGUSSON, (Team Great Britain Men); Eduardo LOPEZ, (Spain Men); Paulin RIVA, (France Men); Kevon WILLIAMS, (USA Men); Josua VAKURUNABILI (Fiji Men), Harry McNulty, (Ireland Men).

How To Watch Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 & Melrose Claymores

Fans can watch the HSBC SVNS action via broadcaster partners or online on RugbyPass TV. You can see the full match schedule here.

Sevens Rugby 2024

• Hong Kong China Confirms Sevens Teams For Melrose Claymores.
• Natasha Olson-Thorne On HKCR Women’s Sevens Goals And Reaching 50 Caps.
• Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Week – Ultimate Fan Guide.
• Melrose Claymores 2024 – Six Asian Teams Ready In Hong Kong.