Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens: Rugby legends confirmed

The Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens will see a number of rugby legends, and sporting icons, attend in 2019 through the various tournament sponsors and charities.

The Hong Kong Sevens will also see the top four men’s rugby try scorers of all time unite in April for the first time.

In a statement released by the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU), they said the ambassador team would include Daisuke Ohata (Japan), David Campese (Australia), Shane Williams (Wales) and Bryan Habana (South Africa).

The four rugby legends will be “recognised on the pitch at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, marking the first occasion that all four of (men’s) rugby’s most prolific try scorers will be gathered in a single place.”

Who are the top men’s try scorers in rugby?

Daisuke Ohata

The world’s top men’s try scorer, Ohata scored 69 tries from 58 tests for Japan and played in the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups and at the 1997 and 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Bryan Habana

Habana started his international rugby career playing sevens for South Africa on the 2004 World Series series before joining the Springboks XVs in 2005.  He received three South African Player of the Year Awards and was named World Rugby player of the year in 2007 (a World Cup winning year) and boasts 67 tries from 124 tests.

David Campese

David ‘Campo’ Campese played at the Hong Kong Sevens 12 times, helping Australia’s win 4 Cups in sevens years during the 1980s.  Campese scored 64 ties from 101 tests for the Wallabies and had been recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia and an inductee into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

David Campese Hong Kong 7s 1988

Shane Williams

Shane Williams is a Welsh legend and scored 60 tries in 91 tests for Wales and the British & Irish Lions.  Willams remains Wales’ most capped winger and appeared in three World Cups. Williams also won two Grand Slams at the Six Nations and featured in three British & Irish Lions tours.  In 2008, he was named World Rugby Player of the Year and is an inductee in the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

Top women’s World Series Sevens try scorer

Portia Woodman

New Zealand’s Portia Woodman, is the top try scorer in World Series sevens history with 195 tries. Woodman won the Rugby World Cup and has been named both World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year (2015) and World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year (2017).

Rugby ambassadors to feature at the Hong Kong Sevens 2019

Drew Mitchell

Mitchell won 71 caps for the Wallabies and played at three Rugby World Cups. He is also the winner of a French Top 14 title and two European Cups.

Josh Kronfeld

All Black, Kronfeld, played as a flanker for New Zealand and earned 54 test caps. Kronfeld also featured at two Rugby World Cups, in 1995 and 1999. His club career included playing with Otago, the Highlanders and Leicester Tigers (European Cup).

Andy Goode

Andy Goode played more than 400 games and scored over 3,000 points for clubs in England, France and South Africa. The English Fly-half played is the second highest scorer all-time in Premiership Rugby and the winner of five Premiership titles.

Jim Hamilton

Scottish Jim Hamilton became Scotland’s 1000th test player as a 23-year-old in 2006 before going on to win 63 caps in total. Hamilton played at the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups as well as appearing for the Barbarians against the Lions in Hong Kong in 2013.

Laureus Sport For Good rugby legends – Hong Kong 7s 2018 (Jim Hamilton far right)

The rugby stars will appear in numerous community coaching clinics and charitable engagements during the world-famous Rugby Week in at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2019.

Laureus Sport For Good

As the official charity of the Hong Kong Sevens, Laureus is also bringing a number of rugby legends to Hong Kong.

• Sean Fitzpatrick: All Blacks hooker and Laureus Academy Chairman
• Michael Johnson: Laureus Academy Member.  Multiple Olympic gold medalist.
• Li Xiaopeng: Laureus Academy Member. Multiple Olympic gold medalist.
• Noli Waterman: All time try scorer for England Women

HSBC rugby legends:

Appearing on behalf of HSBC are rugby greats:

• Bryan Habana: Springbok Rugby World Cup winner.
• Brian O’Driscoll: Irish and British & Irish Lions.
• George Gregan: Australian Rugby World Cup winner.
• Ben Ryan: Fiji 7s Olympic gold medal coach.

Other legends in Hong Kong will include: All Black legend Sir John Kirwan, Sir Ian McGeechan, Michael Lynagh, Gavin Hastings, Matt Giteau, Simon Shaw, Rob Vickerman, Jason Leonard, Lawrence Dallaglio, Frank Bunce and Ben Golling among others.

You can RugbyAsia 247 guides on the best social events and rugby events at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2019.