Plenty of visitors come to Hong Kong to take part in the huge spectacle surrounding the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens but few know that during the preceding week, there are other events worth attending. Along with special appearances by retired internationals like George Gregan, Serge Betsen and Steve Thompson, there are two more rugby competitions. One, as we now know, is the IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup, which was previously known as the Hong Kong Women’s Sevens. The other event is the GFI Hong Kong Tens.
The event is hosted on the grounds of Hong Kong Football Club and the atmosphere is similar to how the Hong Kong Sevens used to be when they hosted it from 1976 to 1981, before it became hugely popular. Spectators sit in the stands with teams between matches and enjoy a relaxed, community feeling, albeit with very high level of rugby. The Hong Kong Tens is popular especially with the Asian and Pacific Island nations (Scotland players were some of the more distantly located participants) and features up and comers (Conrad Smith participated for his first time overseas in 2003) as well as former internationals (Jonah Lomu in 2007, George Gregan in 2011).
I attended to cheer on the A Trade Overseas Old Boys, who comprised players from my local club and visitors from New Zealand. The big draw this year was the BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians who included Mils Muliaina, Todd Clever, Justin Marshall, Orene Ai’i, Anthony Tuitavake, Alfred Dakuitoga…a veritable who’s who list of international rugby players. Your correspondent will admit to becoming star struck at one point when Tana Umaga sat down in front of her.
The Hong Kong Tens takes place on the Wednesday and Thursday of the week preceding the Hong Kong Sevens. It is free to attend during round robin play on Wednesday and $100 HKD (less than $13 USD) to attend on Thursday. That amounts to about sixty cents for every hour of rugby watching. Then on Friday you can return to Hong Kong Football Club to watch pool play for the IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup (also a free event) before moving to the Hong Kong Stadium for Friday evening’s women’s plate final and the beginning of the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. In my opinion, no better rugby week in the world exists for rugby fans and spectators.