Players and fans alike were in awe of the spectacular new Kai Tak Stadium on a thrilling day one of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens as the stars of sevens showcased their skills under the closed roof of the state-of-the-art new venue, designed specifically with rugby sevens in mind.
The action on the pitch was intense from start to finish at the fifth and penultimate regular season round of HSBC SVNS 2025. Teams are competing not just for Hong Kong glory but also vital ranking points in the race to finish in the top eight positions at the end of the sixth round in Singapore next weekend to qualify for the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles in May.
With a record crowd of more than 120 000 fans expected across the three-day event, the teams leading the SVNS standings turned on the style on day one.
The top three teams in the women’s competition all ended the day with perfect win records. In Pool A Olympic champions New Zealand made light work of China, winning 45-0, before beating the USA 33-21. Captain Sarah Hirini scored two tries as she took her personal tally to 99.
New Zealand’s Jazmin Felix-Hotham said: “This atmosphere is exactly why we play the sport. To play in a new stadium but to have the same feel as the sevens of old, in Hong Kong they value sevens so much. We appreciate that.”
Reigning SVNS Champions Australia made light of a relatively inexperienced squad to thrash Spain 54-12 before overcoming Olympic silver medallists Canada 26-15 in Pool C. Meanwhile France beat Great Britain 22-12 and Fiji 24-14 to top Pool B.
Men’s standings leaders Argentina secured convincing wins over Ireland 35-7 and the USA 52-5 to top Pool A and continue their fine form after victory in Vancouver last time out. Fiji join them on maximum points after beating the USA 26-21 and seeing off Ireland 21-19.
New Zealand’s All Blacks Sevens lead Pool B following a 21-12 win over Australia and a 29-0 defeat of Uruguay while the Blitzboks had a mixed day, beating Uruguay 40-7 before losing to Australia 26-7. Great Britain rose to the occasion with back-to-back wins to top Pool C, edging out Olympic Champions France 12-7 before beating Kenya by the same scoreline.
Blitzbok fixture
Saturday
7.43am v New Zealand
Springbok Sevens squad for Hong Kong
#2 Ryan Oosthuizen – 53 tournaments, 230 points (46 tries)
#3 Impi Visser (co-captain) – 43 tournaments, 220 points (44 tries)
#4 Zain Davids – 50 tournaments, 225 points (45 tries)
#5 Ricardo Duarttee – 16 tournaments, 255 points (20 tries, 76 conversions, 1 penalty)
#8 Selvyn Davids (co-captain) – 39 tournaments, 712 points (93 tries, 122 conversions, 1 penalty)
#10 Dewald Human – 29 tournaments, 298 points (26 tries, 84 conversions)
#11 Siviwe Soyizwapi – 57 tournaments, 770 points (154 tries)
#12 Shilton van Wyk – 24 tournaments, 225 points (45 tries)
#14 Quewin Nortje – 10 tournaments, 135 points (27 tries)
#15 Donavan Don – 7 tournaments, 52 points (10 tries, 1 conversion)
#20 Gino Cupido – uncapped
#21 Zander Reynders – 3 tournaments, 0 points
#24 Tristan Leyds – 8 tournaments, 110 points (14 tries, 20 conversions)
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