Column | It’s the hope that kills us, so here’s why we say the home team has no chance at Hong Kong Sevens
After so many agonising near-misses, we can’t be hurt again, so let’s go into the tournament with an air of utter pessimism
“It’s the hope that kills you,” goes the cliche about the pain of supporting sports teams. Unless you’re on a perennial winner’s bandwagon, each new season brings fresh belief that “this could be our year” – despite ample evidence to the contrary.
Hong Kong rugby fans know it well. Since the World Series qualifying tournament was introduced in 2012, we’ve dared to dream that the city’s sevens side could win a place as one of the ‘core’ teams who travel the world playing every tournament on the main event.
The hope builds as the Hong Kong Sevens approaches, grows still further after impressive performances on the Friday and Saturday, and then is mercilessly crushed on the Sunday. It hurts, but the pain is forgotten about by the following spring as the cycle begins again.
