Hong Kong Sevens cancelled as World Rugby calls off 2020 World Series
- World Rugby announces remaining rounds of 2020 Sevens Series are cancelled because of the global pandemic
- Hong Kong event has been staged every year since 1976, even playing through Sars in 2003
Uncertainty over the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has meant that the other remaining rounds of the series – in Langford, London, Paris and Singapore – have also been cancelled.
New Zealand were awarded the title after an abridged series.
“These difficult decisions have been taken following detailed consultation with our union partners and in line with advice from the various government and public health agencies around the world,” World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.
“Rugby sevens is a key driver of global growth for our sport, particularly in emerging nations, and it firmly remains a top priority for our organisation. As we begin to see light at the end of the tunnel, 2021 has potential to be a very exciting year for rugby sevens with the Tokyo Olympic Games on the horizon,” he added.
The Hong Kong Sevens has been played every year since its debut in 1976, even going ahead in 2003 during the Sars outbreak.
“We are of course disappointed not to be hosting the world-famous Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens for the first time in 45 years, but we understand the extraordinary circumstances surrounding today’s cancellation of the remainder of the Series,” he said.
“Like our national sevens athletes, we now turn our attention to preparations for the 2021 season, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to help us celebrate the 45th Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, the world’s biggest rugby party.”
Next year’s Sevens is set for April 2-4, with organisers honouring all 2020 tickets at the 2021 event, they said.
“Without the Hong Kong Sevens, that would have been a real impact for us as a rugby union,” McRobbie said at the time.
The Sevens Series’ flagship tournament is worth at least HK$380 million to the Hong Kong economy and attracts thousands of overseas visitors.
Last year’s Sevens, won by Fiji for a record 19th time, was another three-day sell-out at the 40,000-seater So Kon Po stadium.
This year’s Sevens joins a long list of sporting events that have been either cancelled or postponed because of either the protests or coronavirus.
