Sports

Hong Kong Sevens: tournament breaks gender barrier as women play alongside men for the first time
- 2023-04-02
- Society
- By: Dhuha AL-ZAIDIEdited by: Ming Min AW YONG
- 2023-04-02
It’s the much-anticipated time for sports again in Hong Kong. Tickets have been purchased months in advance, as rugby fans await the iconic Hong Kong Sevens. In the So Kon Po stadium last weekend, live bands cheer on the crowd, who are spotted in eccentric costumes – giraffe onesies, pirates, Snow White and her seven dwarfs – chanting to Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer with beer pints in their hands. This year, for the first time in the World Rugby Sevens Series’ 23-year-history, the male and female teams will compete side-by-side over three days, from March 31 to April 2. As the Hong Kong women’s rugby players eagerly prepare for such transformation that will shape the trajectory of the team, this points to an optimistic change in rugby, as more and more women are entering the field and adapting the dynamic of the sport. According to World Rugby, there are currently 2.7 million global female rugby players out of a total of 9.6 million, with a 28% increase in registered female players since 2017. This is largely attributed to new measures and campaigns aimed at increasing participation and engagement in women’s games. The Try and Stop Us campaign launched by World Rugby in 2019, and the World Rugby Women’s Plan 2021-25, hope to increase women’s contribution to the sport both on and off the field through participation, performance and investment. Currently, more than 40% of rugby’s 400 million fanbase are female World Rugby reported. In Hong Kong, women first began playing professionally for the Hong Kong Football Club, a private members' sports organisation, 110 years after it was founded in 1886, playing against Japan in their first international tournament in 1998. Now, the club holds two 15-a-side female teams - Fire and Ice and seven men’s team. As the …

HK Rugby Sevens return with women’s game added for the first time
- 2023-03-31
- Society
- By: Yau To LUM、Tsz Yau CHANEdited by: Ka Ki FUNG
- 2023-03-31
Hong Kong Sevens game kicked off today at the Hong Kong Stadium. The three-day tournament starts today and will continue through the weekend. 16 men and 12 women teams will be joining the game. Hong Kong women's team played against New Zealand this afternoon, losing out by 50 points. They will be playing against Great Britain’s team tomorrow at 10 am. The local men’s team will be facing Great Britain and Uruguay tomorrow. Despite the rainy weather, local fans, students and tourists slowly lined up for security and ticket check at the front gate at 8 am. Some audience dressed up in costumes to root for their favourite team. Chan Hoi Yee, 16, a rugby fan who had watched the Hong Kong sevens for the sixth time, said, “This year’s game is definitely more energetic, entertaining and fun.” She thinks that rugby is “the sport that everyone would love” and different from other sports. Kent Smith, 38, who came from Melbourne in Australia, was excited to watch the game for the first time despite the bad weather. “I have never been to Hong Kong. This is my first time here, I am excited to watch the game,” Smith said. He also said that the rainy weather does not really affect the atmosphere in the stadium. Mak Chiu Tsui, 57, a local rugby fan, said this is his 9th time watching the Rugby Sevens. “This time, I am looking forward to watching the women’s games. Since this is the first time the women’s team is playing in Hong Kong,” Mak said. Tickets for the Rugby Sevens games are still on sale, available at the Hong Kong sevens website. The price of a 3-day pass is $1950 for adults and $950 for children.