The world's premier Rugby Sevens Tournament was
born over pre-luncheon drinks at the venerable old
Hong Kong Club on a misty spring day in 1975. The
Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, an
amiable South African entrepreneur, A.D.C. "Tokkie" Smith,
was talking with tobacco company executive Ian Gow.
It was Gow's idea, as Promotions Manager for his
firm, to sponsor a Rugby Tournament with top teams
from throughout the world competing.
In less than 12 months, a team of talented, dedicated
volunteers had created a sporting event that was
to tackle the imagination of the rugby world.
As the Tournament grew throughout the 70's and 80's
in both supporter popularity and the number of participating
teams, the tournament moved from its original home
in the Hong Kong Football Club to the Hong
Kong Government Stadium. By the beginning of the 90's, with demand
for tickets having outstretched the capacity of the
Stadium for over five years, it was time for a larger
facility. The Stadium that had been the Tournament's
home for 12 years was re-built in 1994 and a 40,000-seat
Hong Kong Stadium is now its current venue.
1997, which was a huge success in a memorable year
for Hong Kong as it was handed back to China and
became a Special Administrative Region.
The iRB, recognising the value of the Sevens
Series,
launched its inaugural World Sevens Series in 2000
- the 25th year of Sevens Rugby in Hong Kong - to
enable more players to benefit from Sevens competitions.
A core of 10 to 12 of the world's top teams now participate
in tournaments in Dubai, South
Africa, South America,
Australia, New
Zealand, Europe and Asia.
The Hong Kong Sevens Tournament itself has a wonderful
history. It is now considered the iRB's "Jewel
in the Crown" in the Series and still continues
to grow in popularity with players and spectators.
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2005 was the second time Hong
Kong has hosted RWC Sevens and this year marks 32
years of sevens rugby in Hong Kong - a remarkable
achievement.
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