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Header image courtesy of Hong Kong Rugby Sevens
As reported by the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong’s favourite sporting event, The Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, has officially been postponed—the latest victim in a string of event cancellations caused by the recent coronavirus outbreak.
The popular annual rugby event has been running uninterrupted since 1976, even forging ahead during the SARS outbreak back in 2003. This year’s tournament was scheduled to take place at Hong Kong Stadium from 3 to 5 April. It is rumoured that the Sevens will be rescheduled, likely for October.
The Hong Kong Sevens sell out every year, with rugby fans by the tens of thousands packing the stadium, many even travelling to Hong Kong specifically for the event. It looks like revellers who inhabit the traditionally rowdy party zone of the South Stand will be sorely let down. We can only hope you haven’t shelled out much for costumes yet!
Waisale Serevi of the Fijian team, which won last year’s tournament, reportedly expressed his despair at the news in a text conversation with a string of crying emojis. Robbie McRobbie, chief executive of the Hong Kong Rugby Union—which co-hosts the tournament with World Rugby—has stated that an official announcement regarding the situation will be made this evening. Check back for further updates on the latest news.
Catharina has recently returned to her hometown of Hong Kong after spending her formative years in Singapore and the UK. She enjoys scouring the city for under-the-radar things to do, see, and eat, and is committed to finding the perfect foundation that will withstand Hong Kong’s heat. She is also an aspiring polyglot, a firm advocate for feminist and LGBTQIA+ issues, and a huge lover of animals. You can find her belting out show-tunes in karaoke, or in bookstores adding new tomes to her ever-growing collection.
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