(Featured pic: Hugh Bladen in the Boerewors Corner)

Colleen Thane, one of the most patriotic South Africans you will find in Hong Kong,  corrected me the other day when I referred to the spot on the main level of the Hong Kong Stadium where the Saffas congregate during the HK Sevens as the “South African Corner.” 

In fact, she said, these days it is referred to as the Boerewors Bend.  She continued to say that:

“It used to be called “The Castle Corner, until some sod stole our 20 foot banner some years back!”

Well Colleen, in the interest of all those Saffas who are already planning their 2011 trip to the Hong Kong Sevens, this is where you want to be:

In our oppinion, Colleen Thane should be the un-official Mayoress of the Boerewor Bend!  She’s the Saffa blowing the Vuvuzela in the picture slideshow below.

Here are some pics we took of Saffas in Boerewors Bend over the last few years:

Here at Howzit-HongKong.com and especially over at BlitzBokke.com, we concentrate a lot on the fans and their experiences and shenanigans at the world’s premier Sevens event, the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens. 

I wouldn’t exactly say that we neglect the on-field action, but the simple reason for is that we don’t have the access (yet) to pitch-side to catch all the action from that side.  We also don’t have the skills (yet) nor the equipment (yet, again) to do real justice to that profession.  Believe me, there were some real talent snapping away at the Hong Kong Stadium this last weekend.  I saw their tools and yes… they’re HUGE.

However, what we do have (other than said skills) are friends with connections.  What can I say: we’re from Cape Town ek sê!  Our friends-with-connections are from Elite Step Asia and they gave us these magnificent on-field pictures to share with all of you.

I am always amazed at the detailed statistical analysis of every game that is circulated to us in the media enclosure.  Based on that, it is probably not unbelievable that the International Rugby Board has records of every single try ever scored since the inception of the Sevens World Series.

At the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens this past weekend, Russian Vladimir Ostroushko had the honour of scoring the 24 000th try.  Try saying that a few times!  Here is that try as well as some other landmarks that were passed in Hong Kong:  

(Video from the IRB)

Although South Africa left the Territory without any silverware, the 2010 Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens again didn’t fail to amaze and left me leaving the Hong Kong Stadium with goosebumps. 

Great Sevens rugby, fantastic organisation, brilliant fans, spectacular bands, entertainment and fireworks at the end all worked together to help maintain the SAR’s reputation as the premier stop on the IRB Sevens World Series circuit. 

The presence of the heads of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Internation Rugby Board (IRB) would undoubtedly have helped the cause of Sevens Rugby in the Olympic fold.

Lastly, the local Boys’ glorious victory earlier tonight made this year’s Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens so much sweeter for friend and foe alike.

Thank you Hong Kong.   I would say “see you next year” but alas…

You are now my home-away-from-home.

Marrying of new and old: hip hop and the Dragon Dance (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Sloppy handling by the BlitzBokke, coupled with a penalty count of 4 to 1 allowed Australia to clinch the Plate Final at the 2010 Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens here tonight.

The South African Springbok Sevens side had to settle for second place yet again after losing to Fiji in the Cup Final last year.

The final score Australia 12 – 7 South Africa.

It’s a lovely sunny day up here at the Hong Kong Stadium and the fans are steadily streaming in.  Travelling in on the train this morning, I couldn’t help but think that the Sevens weekend here in Hong Kong is perhaps the only time when people can take the MTR (trains) dressed up in colorful, shiny afro hairdo’s, Roman Centurions or North American Idians without having the other communters stop and stare.

A lovely day for an upset or two on the pitch.

(Thanks to the lovely Aunty from back home who allowed me to take her picture.  I hope your daughter managed to catch the pic and that you and your hubby enjoyed your time here in Hong Kong!  Mike Jansen)

(Pictures taken @ 09:45 Sunday March 28,2010)

I don’t know if it’s just my observations, but there seems to be a lot more Saffas, or like a Brit called us the other day: Yarpies, in the Hong Kong Stadium this year. 

The usual “South African Corner” next to where the players enter the pitch is filled with Green & Gold as well as rainbow colors, while there are clear “green patches” to be seen on the infamous South Stand.

On one of my regular intrusions into the South Stand, I bumped into “Madiba” who promptly introduced my to his friends sporting what I would call “The Best Banner on the South Stand.” (Picture on the right)

All said and done:  “Welcome to Hong Kong, mense!”

Bokke Bo!

The Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens starts just after 4pm today and Howzit-HongKong.com & our sister-site BlitzBokke.com is raring to bring you all the action as it happens from the Hong Kong Stadium.

The Springboks close Day 1 of the Sevens with their game against African neighbors Zimbabwe.

BlitzBokke.com will be covering the Sevens with blow-by-blow accounts of all the Springboks’ games, with updates of the scores of all other games as it happens.

All you have to do is go to BlitzBokke.com for updates and pictures from in and around the Stadium.

Go Bokke!

If you read the heading to this story, you will be forgiven if you assumed we were writing about African Sevens powerhouses South Africa and Kenya.  However, this time around we would like to sing the praises of another country further north.

The Silverbacks is a rugby team from Rwanda who played in yesterday’s Hong Kong Rugby Fest.  The team, playing outside East Africa for the first time, reached the Plate final at the inProjects Kowloon RugbyFest, impressing spectators with their pace and silky ball skills.

Rwanda’s Benjamin Makombe makes a break during the pool game against Discovery Bay Pirates, which Rwanda lost 7-0. (Pic: David Paul Morris/Two Up Front)

Rugby greats Bob Skinstad and John Bentley sang the praises of Rwanda’s pioneering team after their impressive debut in Hong Kong yesterday (Wednesday 24 March).

Skinstad, a member of South Africa’s 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning squad and co-founder of the Cape Town Tens, said he was a huge fan.

“It’s a fantastic story how the Rwandans came to be playing here, I love it,” he said. “I was astounded by their pace and skill levels, they have obviously taken to rugby in a big way.  “We’ve all seen what the Kenyans have achieved at sevens and there is a similar potential with these guys.  “If the games here had been longer they would have won every one because they certainly had the pace and fitness. The technical side of the game is obviously something they can learn.

“We’d love to see them at the Cape Town Tens, they’ve got an open invitation and we’d waive the entrance fee if they could get themselves down there.”

Former England and Lions winger Bentley was similarly appreciative.

“The Rwandans have been fantastic. Their core skills were excellent, they were very comfortable with the ball in hand and they were quick,” he said.  “They still need to work on the technical side, at the rucks and mauls, but that is to be expected. The way they have performed over the course of the day has been very impressive.”

The Silverbacks – named after Rwanda’s signature mountain gorillas – certainly made their mark at RugbyFest, a 10-a-side tournament at King’s Park featuring 14 teams from around the world.

They won four of their six games in Pool One, only losing narrowly in the other two, to finish second in the standings.

That put them through to the Plate final where, despite dominating possession, they went down 7-0 to the ARC All-Stars, a mixture of players from Hong Kong, New Zealand and South Africa.

Djuma Adams chases his own kick ahead in the Plate final against the ARC All-Stars, which Rwanda lost 7-0. (Pic: David Paul Morris/Two Up Front)

Silverbacks player-coach Gerald Nsenga was happy despite the defeat. “It’s been a great day for us,” he said.

“Of course, anytime you lose a final you are disappointed but overall I’m very happy for the boys. We’ve come to Hong Kong for the first time and got all the way to the Plate final and not many teams can say that.

“We had a lot of possession in the final but unfortunately we couldn’t score and we threw it away in the last couple of minutes.

“But it’s been an invaluable experience for us. When we first got here we saw that a lot of the other teams were bigger than us and the boys were a little bit nervous. But we’re fit and we’re determined and we’ve discovered that we can compete and win against these guys.

“We’ve also met a lot of great people here in Hong Kong, we’ve received some top-level coaching and so many people have helped us. It’s been a wonderful rugby experience and a fantastic travel experience and will be hugely beneficial to Rwandan rugby moving forward.

“Now we’re looking forward to watching the Hong Kong Sevens – we’re going to have some fun!”

The Silverbacks pose for a team photo after finishing runners-up in the Plate final. (Pic: David Paul Morris/Two Up Front)

Hong Kong-born rugby enthusiast and Rwanda volunteer worker Dave Hughes, who has organised the Silverbacks’ tour, thanked tournament officials.

“We’re very grateful to Kowloon RFC, the hosts of RugbyFest, and their chairman Anson Bailey for inviting us and making us so welcome,” he said. “They were also extremely helpful in sourcing sponsorship for us.”

Companies backing the Rwandan team’s trip include Silver Heritage, KPMG, Blank Rome and G4S.

The squad have been given a free minibus for their entire visit courtesy of Woodland Pre-Schools and at RugbyFest they played in a pristine new strip designed and produced at minimal cost by Tsunami Sport.

The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union helped with logistics and has waived the cost of the team’s Sevens tickets.

In addition, HKRFU director of development Ruth Mitchell has organised a huge collection of second-hand kit and boots for the players to take back to Rwanda.

Another injury blow has hit the Springbok Sevens on the eve of the popular Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens tournament which starts on Friday, 26 March 2010.

Steven Hunt is returning home today to see a specialist after he sustained a knee injury on the first day of the Adelaide Sevens tournament against Japan over the weekend. MJ Mentz has already joined the team as a replacement.

The injury to Hunt is the latest in a series of frustrating blows the team has suffered since the beginning of the season. The departure of several of last season’s stalwarts, as well as long term injuries to Renfred Dazel, Paul Delport, Neil Powell and Mzwandile Stick have robbed the IRB Sevens Series champions of a core group of experienced players, forcing coach Paul Treu to call on a number of promising youngsters to fill the sizable gaps.

The team is yet to qualify for the Cup semi-finals this season, but Treu believes that the experience his young guns are gaining now will ultimately benefit the side in the near future.

“This season has been very frustrating because of injuries to so many players. We lost both our captains as well as our specialist scrumhalves and must cope with the introduction of many young players at the same time.

“I think the guys have, under the circumstances, performed admirably though. However, no matter which team we put on the field, it is important for the players to execute the game plan effective, and up to now we have not really done so.

“So far this season we have played with three 21-year olds and two players who have just turned 19, and unfortunately, it takes time for these players to get a grip and understanding of our game plan.

“We have the ability but we need to up our game when it comes to the execution and especially the decision-making, which will unfortunately only come as the guys play more games together as a unit,” said Treu.

The team will play hosts Hong Kong in a warm-up match today. South Africa will contest Pool F with fellow African teams Zimbabwe and Kenya, as well as Korea.

South Africa is currently seventh on the Series log with 44 points, the same amount as Kenya who is placed higher by virtue of their two Cup semi-final appearances.