Hong Kong celebrates 50 years of Rugby Sevens this weekend — and the tournament sure has come a long way. An event that began in 1976 at the old and often waterlogged Hong Kong Football Club, has become a global attraction attended by tens of thousands, at the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Stadium.
Melrose may have been the first, Dubai might now be the biggest, but Hong Kong remains the blue-riband event of Sevens.
It’s the one the players want to win, and the trip all self-respecting rugby fans have top of their bucket lists — not to mention the gig that every broadcaster fancies!
This will be my 10th Hong Kong Sevens, and I caught up with some ex-players, coaches, administrators, and a broadcaster or two to hear some of their favourite Hong Kong Sevens memories from both on and off the field...
DJ Forbes, New Zealand Sevens captain, on the famous ‘Black Rain’ haka
“The 2008 win against South Africa was our first in Hong Kong for a long time, and capped off a great season on the Series, but it was my last win there in the 2014 final against England that sticks firmly in the memory.
“It became known as the famous ‘Black Rain’ final. The rain didn’t affect the game much, but after we’d climbed the steps for the trophy lift, it was shirts off and time for the haka. That’s when the heavens opened.
“Someone pointed up and said a monsoon was coming — and it hit us just as we started. It was an unreal feeling, performing the haka in a downpour like that, but we went around the stadium like we always did after a win and performed for all sides, for the fans that had stayed, in the pelting monsoon.
“Then I got stuck! The boys made it back to the hotel before me because I was in the drug testers’ room giving a urine sample. While I was in there, there was so much flooding on the concourse that the stadium was put into lockdown. Apart from some committed Welshmen still partying in one of the corporate boxes, I was the only one left!
“An unusual end to an amazing night.”
Tom Mitchell, former England and GB captain, on his Hong Kong debut
“We warmed up in front of the South Stand. The lights were on, the crowd absolutely rocking. And I could feel the energy, which literally did something to my body because I fell over twice just running up and down behind the goal posts. I remember Head Coach Ben Ryan checking on me. He was like, ‘mate, are you alright?’
“Two years later I’m leading the team out as captain, up out of the tunnel on the Friday night. I’m not overstating this: it felt like there was this huge surge of electricity coming up through the field, through your studs, into your boots and up through your body.
“The crowd, the feeling of the stadium, the awareness of what’s gone before you under the lights at the old So Kon Po. It was pretty cool.”
Steve Jamieson, World Rugby Director of Broadcast, on covering the Hong Kong 7s since the 1990s
“In the early days it was played at the old Hong Kong Football Club, and when it rained it was a mud bath.
“When the tournament moved to the Hong Kong Stadium in Happy Valley, the South Stand would deliver so many amazing costumes and so much humour – but only some of it we could actually broadcast!
“The TV compound was under the stands by the vehicle access and the rubbish bins. It was hot, smelly, noisy, and I loved the whole crazy set-up. We were on air for 12 hours a day, sitting on these hard plastic chairs. I was the exception – Sam Pinder (former HKRFU, and now General Manager of SVNS) would wheel his big, leather office chair all the way down the street for me every year. I always got that big, comfy chair!
“I also fondly remember Beth Coulter, who was with the HKRFU for many years and a huge part of the success of the Sevens in Hong Kong. She then joined World Rugby and was the reason the sport continued to grow.
“I loved working with Beth so much — and her name is now on the trophy given to the best newcomer at the Hong Kong Sevens each year.”
Wyn Gruffyd, World Rugby commentator, on THE moment from 17 years of commentary in Hong Kong
“The So Ko Po stadium really was Fiji’s playground, with so many extra-time finishes. The old stadium had a noise that was like nowhere else in global rugby.
“In the 2005 Sevens World Cup semi-final, with Fiji trailing New Zealand, Waisale Serevi came off the bench. With time up on the clock, he started a counter-attack inside his own 22 and then clinched the winning score at the other end with a showboating gesture to the crowd. He held the ball high, one-handed on his fingertips like a butler delivering a glass of vintage champagne without spilling a drop!
“The image went round the world. The Kiwis may not have appreciated it, but the So Kon Po Stadium lapped it up. It was classic Serevi.
“I commentated for many years with the late, great Willie Lose. He was a self-named ‘style icon’ who relished Hong Kong shopping trips for new clothes ahead of hosting the post-tournament festivities. We once had to slip the two-metre, 120 kilogramme Tongan into the stadium unnoticed after we pointed out to him that the security pass that he was wearing said ‘Las Vegas 2016’. He’d packed the wrong one!
“That was Willie: he fit perfectly with the Hong Kong Sevens energy. Commentary would’ve been a lot less fun without his hilarious, good-natured slip-ups. He made much of one Australian player being a barrister back home, when in fact he was a barista. When the Australian squad heard the commentary later on, they were in stitches!”
Robbie McRobbie, former Hong Kong Rugby CEO and Tournament lead, on the Hong Kong headliners
“We’ve had a great roster of entertainment like David ‘The Hoff’ Hasselhoff, and the Proclaimers. And who can forget Sebastien Chabal singing Five Hundred Miles to the South Stand dressed as a caveman! But we well-and-truly upped the ante in 2007 when we somehow brought one of the all-time great bands to Hong Kong.
“The old head of Cathay Pacific was an American guy and a massive Beach Boys fan. I was asked by a friend to dinner with him one night, and next thing I know I’m being offered the Beach Boys to perform at the Sevens! We couldn’t afford them – just think of the cost of first-class flights, let alone their fee.
“But it turned out a brand spanking new 747 was being flown into Hong Kong for Cathay that very week. It was a completely empty aircraft, so the boss pulled a few strings and arranged for The Beach Boys to hitch a ride. The rest is history.”
Ben Gollings, all-time leading Hong Kong points-scorer on his four titles with England
“Having grown up watching the Hong Kong 7s and one day dreaming of being there, I ended up winning four with England.
“One of the all-time great finals was in 2006 when we beat Fiji on the final phase of the game in front of the South Stand. The play leading up to the final score was just ridiculous – Fiji had the ball and should have kicked it out, but, being Fiji, they just ran it!
“We turned the ball over to get possession and then turned it back over to Fiji, only to somehow get it back in our hands again.
“David Strettle made a break through the centre of the field and I happened to be on the receiving end of the pass to score off the break-down. I kicked the winning conversion and the place just absolutely erupted.
“I was then greeted by Sir John Major (the former UK Prime Minister) and his wife in the changing room along-side my parents. It was all very surreal!”
Mike Friday, former England, Kenya and USA Head Coach, on his 2006 win with England
“After we won the ’06 final, I slipped Simon Amor the RFU credit card and told him to take the team out and celebrate in style. They took that fully on board, and properly pushed the boat out that night – but when it came to paying the bill, Simon had completely forgotten the RFU pin number and had to get his own wallet out. It almost bankrupted him!
“I reminded him in the morning that, ‘the RFU credit card pin is your birth date, Simon. Do you remember what day your birthday is?!’
“Earlier that week the whole squad had gone to Shenzhen on a shopping trip, and we all came back with brand new Calloway golf clubs and designer bags.
“I remember legendary New Zealand coach Sir Gordon Tietjens looking at me as we arrived back at the team hotel. He shook his head and smirked (in a good way, I like to think!). That was all part of the Hong Kong experience.”
Ruby Tui, Black Ferns Olympic Gold medallist, on the NZ women making their Hong Kong debut
“It was at the 2000 Hong Kong Sevens that the first ever official New Zealand women’s Sevens team played in Hong Kong — and they won the final against Australia.
“But my favourite memory was 23 years later, when New Zealand won it again, at the first ever fully World Rugby-sanctioned women’s tournament in Hong Kong. I was lucky enough to be commentating on the final as my Sevens sisters again beat Australia, with the likes of Sarah Hirini, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Tyler King in the squad.
“Following along to the haka from the commentary box was a moment I’ll not forget.
“And this year is the 50th anniversary for the Hong Kong Sevens – so if you’re not there, where the hell are ya!”