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Everything you need to know about the Hong Kong Sevens
By Finn Morton
The party is just getting started here in Hong Kong.
Thousands of rugby fans packed the stands at the famous venue – and they didn’t disappoint. There was a bit of rain on Friday but it wasn’t going to keep the fans away
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The rugby was brilliant and so were the supporters, as the three-day event got off to a roaring start on Friday.
History was made on the opening day as the women’s World Series made its debut at Hong Kong Stadium – for the first time ever, the women’s series made a stop at the legendary venue.
Here’s everything you need to know about an historic event at the traditional home of rugby sevens.
Day one results – women
France 38 – Japan 7
United States 35 – Spain 7
Fiji 17 – Ireland 7
Australia 43 – Brazil 5
Canada 0 – Great Britain 5
New Zealand 50 – Hong Kong China 0
France 45 – Spain 0
United States 26 – Japan 17
Fiji 36 – Brazil 5
Australia 19 – Ireland 12
Canada 22 – Hong Kong China 5
New Zealand 43 – Great Britain 0
Day one results – men
New Zealand 29 – Kenya 5
Ireland 7 – South Africa 14
Fiji 12 – Samoa 7
Argentina 17 – Canada 7
United States 0 – Spain 7
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Australia 26 – Japan 5
Great Britain 14 – Uruguay 12
France 21 – Hong Kong China 14
Hong Kong Sevens makes history with 46-year first
- Hong Kong Sevens makes history on day one
- France and Japan went head-to-head in the first women’s World Series match in Hong Kong
- New Zealand, Australia and France recorded big wins on the opening day
The opening day of this weekend’s Hong Kong Sevens will go down in history as a truly momentous day for rugby union.
For the first time ever, the women’s World Series made a stop in Hong Kong.
The event also marked a 46-year first for rugby sevens in Hong Kong, as the women’s series joined the men’s circuit at the traditional home of the sport.
Playing on the treasured turf at Hong Kong Stadium, New Zealand, Australia and France all made statements will big wins on day one.
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Sevens star shines bright for Black Ferns
- Rugby World Cup winner Stacey Waaka scored a hat-trick for the Black Ferns Sevens during their opening pool match against Hong Kong China
- Waaka scored the first-ever hat-trick on the women’s World Series in Hong Kong
- New Zealand finished with a staggering points differential – scoring 93 points and conceding zero
The Black Ferns Sevens put on an attacking clinic at Hong Kong Stadium on day one, having scored 93 points across their first two pool matches.
Sevens ace Stacey Waaka stole the show with a hat-trick of tries during their emphatic 50-nil win over hosts Hong Kong China – and made history in the process.
Waaka scored the first-ever hat-trick at a women’s World Series leg in Hong Kong. On an already momentous day for the event, the New Zealander etched her name into the record books.
“We know that we had a New Zealand team, a women’s team, competing in 2000. It was quite a long time ago,” Waaka told RugbyPass.
“It’s cool because we share those moments and we honour the past and the legacy that those ladies played for us.
“Our men have been playing here for quite a few years and they say this was definitely one of tehri favourite tournaments.
“Absolutely significant and we’re just grateful that we got the opportunity to play here.
“I’m just grateful to be in an amazing team and that’s probably one special thing about it, anyone could score from anywhere.
“You’ve just got to have each other’s back no matter what.”
Australia qualify for Paris 2024
- Australia and USA book their tickets to Paris 2024 after qualifying for the women’s quarter-finals in Hong Kong
- After beating Brazil by a convincing margin early on day one, Australia survived a scare against a valiant Ireland side
- Teenager Teagan Levi, who starred alongside her sister Maddison in the gold jersey, spoke with RugbyPass after the team qualified for the Olympics
Reigning World Series champions Australia secured their spot at a third-consecutive Olympic Games after qualifying for the women’s quarter-finals at an historic Cathy/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
Australia beat Ireland 19-12 late on day one to secure their spot at the Games, while the United States have also booked their ticket to the world’s biggest sporting event.
New Zealand and France have also qualified out of the women’s series.
When the full-time whistle sounded, the Australians didn’t celebrate too much out on the field – they saved that for the tunnel.
In a team huddle down the north-west tunnel at Hong Kong stadium, there were a few laughs – and teenager Teagan Levi told RugbyPass what the team spoke about.
“We are lucky enough to qualify for Paris so we were pretty excited, that was one of our goals this year,” Levi said.
“It’s a squad at the moment so you’ve still got to get picked but the hard work doesn’t’ stop now.
“It’s only a dream come true and to go to the Olympics would also be a dream come true, alongside some of my best friends and my sisters.”
All Blacks Sevens ready to go “to war” against arch-rivals
- All Blacks Sevens co-captain Dylan Collier ready to go “to war” against South Africa on day two
- New Zealand beat Kenya, while South Africa defeated Ireland in a thriller
- The two fierce rivals will go head-to-head in a Pool D blockbuster
New Zealand and South Africa share one of the greatest rivalries in rugby, and a new chapter will be forged on day two.
The All Blacks Sevens started their Hong Kong campaign with a big 29-5 win over Kenya, while South Africa snuck past Ireland by seven-points.
Harbouring ambitions of a Cup final triumph, the two teams will go head-to-head in a Pool D blockbuster.
“It’s two great rugby nations so there’s always that huge respect off the field and on the field,” All Blacks Sevens co-captain Dylan Collier told RugbyPass.
“But once you cross that white line it’s like going to war.
“The World Series is so tight at the moment and it’s creating quite hard pools at the moment.
“I don’t think there’s any motivation that we need, it’s always gonna be a tough game against the South Africa boys.”
Aussie 7s ace wants to play New Zealand in Hong Kong final
- Australian sevens star Madison Ashby is hoping to play arch-rivals New Zealand in the Hong Kong final
- Australia and New Zealand finished day one with two wins from as many games
- The Black Ferns Sevens have won the last four Cup finals on the circuit
The Black Ferns Sevens have dominated this year’s women’s World Series. Having won the last four events on the bounce, New Zealand still atop of the standings.
But Australia are eager to bounce back.
Australian sevens star Madison Ashby told RugbyPass that she’s hoping to play New Zealand in “the final game” of an historic Hong Kong Sevens event.
“For any team here the goal is to win at the end of the day but for us I’ll take one game at time,” Ashby said.
“Hopefully New Zealand’s the final game for us but to win here in Hong Kong will be, like I said before, (it would be) an amazing feeling.”
