The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) has confirmed the 28 participating international teams that will take part in the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens between 22Mar13 to 24Mar13.
2013 marks the first time in the 38-year history of the Hong Kong Sevens that 28 teams have been hosted, up from the 24-team format which was first adopted in 1984.
The 2013 Hong Kong Sevens will again host two side-by-side competitions, a 16-team HSBC Sevens World Series (HSBC SWS) competition for the 15 core teams on the Series plus Hong Kong, winners of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series in 2012, and a 12-team pre-qualification tournament for promotion to HSBC SWS core team status in 2014.
The 16 teams participating in the core competition are Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Portugal, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, United States, Wales and Hong Kong.
Reinforcing Hong Kong’s unique position as the largest and most international HSBC SWS event, the remaining 12 competing teams in the pre-qualification tournament hail from all over the world with two teams from each of the IRB’s geographic regions.
Tonga and the Cook Islands will bolster the Hong Kong Seven’s traditional Pacific Island presence, while Georgia and Russia represent Europe’s hopes for HSBC SWS qualification. Zimbabwe and Tunisia will add to the African contingent next March while Mexico and Jamaica will both mark a return to the Hong Kong Sevens from the North American region.
The Tournament Draw for the participating teams will be held in Hong Kong on Thursday, February 21, after the completion of the USA Sevens in Las Vegas.
The Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2013 expects to welcome a total of 120,000 spectators over the three day-event, reaffirming the strong local and international demand that has made Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Sevens one of the world’s leading rugby destinations.
Hong Kong Sevens Rugby Tour 2013
There is no event on the planet quite like the “Hong Kong Rugby Sevens”, it has since grown to be one of Asia’s most prestigious sporting events. So, start making plans to visit Hong Kong to join the international rugby fraternity in 2013!
