《CVRHK》［Local news］Hong Kong Sevens Celebrates 50 Years as 1976 Captain Bob Lloyd Launches Countdown to 2026 Tournament
- 全民新聞 CVRHK
- 21小时前
- 讀畢需時 3 分鐘
［28 March 2026］
Hong Kong Sevens Celebrates 50 Years
Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) marked a major milestone on Saturday as the city celebrated the 50th anniversary of the inaugural Hong Kong Sevens, returning to its original home at the Hong Kong Football Club for a commemorative ceremony led by 1976 captain Bob Lloyd.
Lloyd, who captained Hong Kong in the first edition of the tournament and previously represented England, once again walked onto the Football Club pitch — this time to lead a symbolic team reflecting the depth and diversity of today’s Hong Kong rugby landscape. The 83‑year‑old took a ceremonial kickoff overseen by Sunny Lee Chui‑yan, one of four HKCR officials appointed to this year’s World Rugby Sevens Series, before sharing memories of the tournament’s early days. “We had no idea the event would grow into what it is today,” Lloyd said. “The standard of the men’s and women’s game now is extraordinary. With the Olympics and the World Series, you can see how far rugby sevens has come — and Hong Kong played a major role in that.”
Lloyd was joined on the field by current Hong Kong, China sevens co‑captains James Christie and Chloe Chan, women’s XVs captain Lee Ka‑shun, and men’s XVs captain Josh Hrstich, whose side will make a historic first appearance at the Rugby World Cup in 2027. Also taking part were Hong Kong Sevens ambassadors Christy Cheng Ka‑chi and Salom Yiu Kam‑shing, representatives of the 2026 men’s Premiership champions Hong Kong Football Club, women’s Premiership champions USRC Tigers, and members of the HKCR Touch Rugby World Cup squad. See the official Facebook page for the full photo gallery
In keeping with long‑standing tradition, former Hong Kong Police Band pipe major Edward Lam — a familiar figure to Sevens fans as the “Lone Piper” — performed during the ceremony. Before kickoff, Hong Kong’s men’s and women’s sevens teams joined junior players for a march‑past honouring the 11 international teams that competed in the inaugural 1976 tournament.
Among those watching was Peter Reed, who attended the first Hong Kong Sevens and has been present at every edition since. “It was a great introduction to Hong Kong,” he recalled. “The crowd loved it, and I still remember a major scuffle between the Australians and the Fijians — that really set the tone for what the Sevens would become.” Current co‑captain Christie said the anniversary offered a moment to reflect on the tournament’s legacy while looking ahead to its landmark 50th edition. “We all grew up coming to the Hong Kong Sevens,” he said. “To now be part of its history is something we’ve always dreamed of.”
New Zealand’s Cantabrians won the first Hong Kong Sevens in 1976, defeating Australia’s Wallaroos 24–8, while the host team claimed the Plate with a 19–16 victory.The 2026 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, to be held from 17–19 April at Kai Tak Stadium, continues to carry “M” Mark status, recognising its role as one of Hong Kong’s premier international sporting events and a key contributor to the city’s reputation as Asia’s sports capital.
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