Hong Kong Sevens: with 17 days to go, here are five things you need to know
- A Group of Death for the ages, reusable beer cups and Gwen Stefani, this tournament sounds bananas
- Countdown continues to Hong Kong’s biggest party of the year
The draw is set, the beer cups are reusable and one of the world’s biggest pop stars will be sending Central Harbourfront bananas. The Hong Kong Sevens (April 5-7) dates all the way back to 1976 and is set to hit 2019 and Hong Kong Stadium in style. Here are five things you need to know:
The Most Enticing Group of Death, Ever?
When it comes to rough groups, you couldn’t ask for more than pool C in the men’s World Rugby Sevens Series. Not only do you have New Zealand, who sit second in overall standings behind the US, and Australia (sixth), there’s also third place Fiji, who seem to win every time they set foot on Hong Kong soil (four-time defending champions to be specific). Oh, and to top it off, how about Kenya, who lost to Fiji in the finals last year.
Whoever makes it out of this group may be worse for wear, or unbeatable after devouring a few fellow heavyweights.
One Tournament, One Cup?
The Hong Kong Sevens has been trying to get greener every year, and this year the goal is to cut down on cups used for beer, because apparently people have one or two over the course of the three days. This year the tournament will be offering reusable cups, which means if you’re up for it, you could possibly drink all of your beer for the entire time out of one container. The Sevens already goes without plastic straws and has 18 recycling and collection zones, so cutting down on more waste sounds like that’s worth a drink or two.
Gwen Stefani Turns Harbourfront Bananas
She is arguably one of the world’s biggest female pop stars out there, and on Friday, April 5 she will headline the Hong Kong Sevens Festival. Gates open at 5pm, tickets are HK$780, and this is the first time that Stefani, who has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, will play Hong Kong in over a decade. The sevens will also host its annual festival at Lee Gardens, which will feature a state of the art ninja course, street performers and rugby games on the big screen. There will also be the usual tribute acts performing in Central including Queen, Oasis and Pink. No word on whether Blake Shelton may make an appearance yet.
Hong Kong men and women Primed for Good Years?
Last year the men bowed out in the quarter-finals to Chile, and the women failed to make it out of the round robin. This year the men have drawn what seems like a relatively easy group on paper when it comes to the World Series Qualifier, up against Tonga, Zimbabwe and the Philippines, while the women, also in the World Series Qualifier group stage, got Kenya, Papua New Guinea and Uganda.
The women will play their first game of the tournament on Thursday, April 4 at 10.44am against Papua New Guinea while the men’s first match will go Friday, April 5 at 1.24pm against the Philippines.
The men’s final gets going on Sunday, April 7 at 7pm, so be prepared to pace yourselves.
What Are the Hottest Costumes This Year?
One can think a few people may be dressing up as bananas or Gwen Stefani herself, in tribute to her song Hollaback Girl which came out in 2004. There is also a chance of a few Game of Thrones costumes, given the eight and final season of the HBO series kicks off April 14. Could we see some Aquamen there given American actor Jason Momoa was spotted at the Vancouver Sevens sporting an All Blacks jersey?
What were some of the most notable costumes when it came to last year? There was Oktoberfest, The Hangover homages, condiments, traffic cones, Duffman from The Simpsons, Macho Man Randy Savage, and of course, pigs, chickens and cows to round out the farm.
