Hong Kong Sevens 2021 postponed

The Hong Kong Rugby Union and World Rugby have mutually agreed to postpone the Hong Kong Sevens from April to 5-7 November 2021 due to a global pandemic.

UPDATE: On August 4 2021, the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2021 tournament was cancelled for 2021.

“In light of the continuing complications arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisers believe rescheduling to late 2021 offers the best opportunity for the tournament to be staged to the high standards of the HKRU”, said a press release issued by the organisers.

The statement added the decision follows the cancellation of the Lunar New Year fireworks and other celebrations next February in Hong Kong, and the similar postponement of international events scheduled to be held in Hong Kong in the First Quarter 2021.

World Rugby confirmed that the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in November 2021 “will be the final round of the 2020/21 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, with the teams assured of a rousing welcome and a fitting grand finale.”

Hong Kong will host the 2021/22 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournament as per usual in April 2022.

Hong Kong sevens south stand – The Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens has been moved to November 2021

Updated*

Hong Kong Sevens 2021 postponed

The South China Morning Post ran an article today saying that the announcement was imminent from World Rugby to postpone the Cathay Pacific/HSBC HK Sevens from April to November 2021. This was followed by the official confirmation later in the day.

Robbie McRobbie, Chief Executive of the HKRU said “We are disappointed at not being able to proceed with our detailed operational planning for April but will press ahead with planning for November when we hope that global
vaccination efforts may support the easing of travel quarantines and local gathering restrictions and enable us to host the type of Sevens to which fans the world over are accustomed.”

The SCMP said “They (HKRU and World Rugby) will be betting on a vaccine bringing some order to the world and countries opening up to travel. Studies have shown that more than half of the Sevens spectators come from overseas. The weather is also favourable at that time of the year. The Union is already reeling from this year’s Sevens postponement-turned-cancellation. It is desperate to stage the event which generates 95 per cent of its annual revenue.”

The article added that the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is “estimated to bring nearly $400 million to the Hong Kong economy each year. In 2019, the Sevens raked in HK$116 million and HK$55 million in corporate box income and tickets, respectively.”

A planned Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble was also been postponed in December 2020  until at least 2021, following an increase in coronavirus cases in Hong Kong.

Disruptions to rugby in Hong Kong 2020-2021

The Hong Kong Rugby Union 2020-21 Season has already been disrupted with the Premiership season halted in early December 2020. The HKRU (Hong Kong Rugby Union) was forced to suspend all touch and contact rugby activities for the 2020-2021 season due to the governments social distancing restrictions in relation to an outdoor team sport.

This week, the HKRU New Years Day Youth Rugby Tournament 2021 was also postponed.

The Hong Kong Football Club Rugby Section, which runs the GFI HKFC 10s,  announced the cancellation of the 2021 edition of the 10s rugby tournament. The Hong Kong Football Club Tens rugby tournament was scheduled to take place from March 31 – April 1, 2021.

Even in October 2020, we raised concerns over Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2021 going ahead after a number of HSBC World Sevens Series were cancelled for the upcoming season.

Photo Credit: HKRU domestic leagues have already been suspended

HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens 2021

The news was followed by an announcement that the Singapore 7s 2021 will also change its dates instead of going ahead as planned in April 2021 following the postponement of the Hong Kong Sevens.

The event in HSBC Singapore 7s was planned for April 10 and 11, 2021 but will now be held from 29-30 October 2021.

The Singapore Rugby Union has also been forced to delay starting their domestic season on a couple of occasions with the leagues scheduled to start in 2021.

At the time of publishing, no announcement had yet been made by World Rugby, HKRU or the Singapore Rugby Sevens about a change of date but we have updated the article once the news was confirmed*

Asian rugby tournaments

• Will there be Rugby Sevens at the 2021 or 2023 SEA Games?
• Fat Boy 10s 2021 Hong Kong.
• Japan Top League 2021.
• Your Guide to the Asia Rugby 2021 Competitions.