HKRU Takes Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens to Central

As part of its efforts to share the fun and excitement of the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens with the wider community, the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) is this year bringing the rugby and revelry of the world’s greatest Sevens to the heart of Hong Kong with five days of fan experiences at Chater Garden, dubbed HKSevens Central.

The Central location will be active from Wednesday, 6 April, to Sunday, 10 April, with an early focus on community engagement followed by a ‘Sevens in the City’ viewing party over the tournament weekend. Admission to HKSevens Central is free.

“HKSevens Central is our latest initiative to share the Sevens with all of Hong Kong. Chater Garden will serve as a central hub for our community engagement events during HKSevens Rugby Week, before transitioning into the best spot to watch the Sevens outside of the stadium over the weekend,” said Vern Reid, HKRU Chief Executive Officer.

Chater Garden will be the focus of a series of participatory activities the HKRU is staging in the build-up to the World’s Best Sevens with rugby clinics for members of the 8,000-strong registered youth and mini rugby community.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Chater Garden will be transformed into a mini Hong Kong Stadium, with a purpose-built rugby pitch, rugby skills games and competitions and plenty of food, beverage and entertainment, building up to the kick-off of the Sevens on Friday, 8 April.

The clinics will be conducted by a team of HKSevens rugby legends including a member of Hong Kong’s Magnificent Seven, the all-time top Hong Kong Sevens team announced last year, in Australian great David Campese. He will be joined by other sevens legends including Colin Gregor, Karl Te Nana, Rob Vickerman and HSBC Ambassador Jason Robinson, who will be passing along their skills and enthusiasm to the next generation of Hong Kong rugger players. The HKSevens ambassadors will also be on hand for autograph sessions with members of the public visiting Chater Garden during the week.

Visitors can get behind the home teams by participating in the HSBC/HKRU “Cheer on the Hong Kong Rugby Team” initiative: anyone can record and send a video message of support to the Hong Kong Rugby team as they compete in the World Rugby Sevens Series Qualifier for a shot to join the 2016/17 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. The most creative and entertaining videos will be shown on the giant screen at the HSBC Sevens Village.

HSBC will honour the student winners of the “Cheer on the Hong Kong Rugby Team” competition at an awards ceremony at HKSevens Central on 7 April at 16:45.

Hong Kong Rugby Team players and international rugby stars, as well as Hong Kong team mascot “Wai Bei” will attend the ceremony.

Entertainment icon David Hasselhoff, host of this year’s HKSevens Kick-off Concert at the Sevens Village on 6 April, will stop by Chater Garden where themed photo corners featuring some of the actor’s most memorable roles will be erected.

HKSevens Central will also be visited by some of the true stars of the show, the participating teams, including the Hong Kong national teams, to sign autographs and interact with local and visiting supporters before the action moves to the Stadium.

At lunchtime on Thursday, the HKRU ramps up the entertainment and invites the local business community to share the Sevens spirit by Lunching with the Stars – a fantastic opportunity to get the Sevens weekend rolling with a bite to eat and something to drink, all in the company of HSBC Ambassadors George Gregan – Australia's most capped rugby union player, British Olympic-gold-medallist Decathlete Daley Thompson, and the “Most watched TV star in the world” David Hasselhoff, along with other players and celebrities in town for this year’s Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

Over the tournament weekend, Chater Garden will be transformed into ‘Sevens in the City’, a special viewing party for the Sevens, with all of the world-class rugby action and fancy dress frolics shown live on the big screen.

HKSevens Central is organised and promoted by the Hong Kong Rugby Union and sponsored by Marriott Rewards and TAG Heuer.  HKSevens Central Operating Hours:

6 April: 10:00 - 16:00
7 April: 10:00 - 17:00
8 April: 12:00 - 21:30
9 April: 09:00 - 19:30
10 April: 09:30 - 19:30

Lan Kwai Fong HKSevens Carnival

Fittingly, the HKSevens Rugby Week party will kick off in premier local entertainment district Lan Kwai Fong for a second straight year, with the LKF HKSevens Carnival on Tuesday, 5 April, from 8.00pm to 11.00pm.

The Carnival returns by popular demand after making a successful debut last year and will again feature all of the street party atmosphere that has made Lan Kwai Fong one of Hong Kong’s hottest nightlife districts.

There will be live music performances, photo opportunities and appearances by the HKSevens Ambassadors.

Visitors are invited to wear their costumes to take part in the Carnival’s fancy dress competition.

Admission is free.

Other pages about the 2016 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens: Pictures from 2016 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Hong Kong Sevens - Interview with Luc Bollen, GM of The Park Lane Hong Kong, Fiji Beat New Zealand to Win 2016 Hong Kong Sevens, South Africa Beat France to Win Hong Kong Women's Rugby Sevens, France and Japan Look Strong After Day 1 of Hong Kong Women's Rugby Sevens, Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens a Dress Rehearsal for Rio 2016, Hong Kong Sevens 2016 to Honour Beth Coalter and Jonah Lomu, HKRU Brings Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens to Central, Hong Kong Rugby Union Names Men's and Women's Sevens Squads, Natasha Olson-Thorne to Captain Hong Kong Women's Rugby Sevens Team, HKRU Launches Professional 15s Platform; Leigh Jones to Head Programme, Hong Kong Sevens 2016 Official Draw: South Africa Top Seeds in Pool B with Scotland, England and Russia, HKRU Confirms Teams Participating in Hong Kong Women's Rugby Sevens 2016, HKRU Confirms Teams for 2016 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, David Hasselhoff, The Proclaimers and Bjorn Again to Perform at Hong Kong Sevens, Public Ballot System for Hong Kong Sevens 2016 Tickets Opens. See pictures from the HK7s in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Rugby pictures: Pictures from 2019 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2018 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2017 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2016 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2015, Pictures of the Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic Games Qualifier in Hong Kong, Pictures of Singha Thailand Sevens 2015, Pictures from the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour in Hong Kong, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2014, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2013, Pictures of Chartis Cup 2012 and Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2012.

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