After a rather dismal start to their IRB Sevens World Series title defence this season, The South African Sevens side started off their USA Sevens campaign with a much better performance overall.  The American gambling capital of Las Vegas is currently hosting first-ever Sevens Rugby tournament. (Pictured in Vegas: Frankie Horne)

Day 1 of the USA Sevens started in the wee hours Sunday February 14 (03:00) where the BlitzBokke were pitted against (second on the IRB log) Fiji, hosts the USA and their northern neighbors Cananda.

The South Africans finished in second place of Pool B by beating Canada (33-0) and the USA (33-12).  They went on to lose a closely-fought match against against Fiji (5-12). 

With an hour and a half to go to the start of the knock-out rounds of the USA Sevens, South Africa is set to play New Zealand in the Cup Quarter-finals.

The USA Sevens knock-out rounds starts with the Quarter-finals at around 03:00 on Monday morning (Hong Kong time).

Follow all the action on our sister-website, BlitzBokke.com

(Pictures courtesy IRB/Wessel Oosthuizen/Martin Seras Lima)

The IRB Sevens World Series resumes in New Zealand this weekend with the NZI Sevens in Wellington.

 For Sevens fans here in Hong Kong the 3rd tournament of the Series starts at a more respectable time (07:45 HK) on both days.  DSTV’s Supersport Channel 1 will show all the games LIVE and you will probably be able to watch it at your nearest watering hole if they open that early.  Delaney’s Irish Bar in Tsim Sha Tsui does and you can catch all the action there while having their popular Irish Breakfast (with black pudding Eish!)

Day 1: 5 February/Day 2: 6 February 2010

The Supersport 1 schedule for Day 1 of the NZI Sevens for South African viewers:

(add 6 hours for HK time)

01:45-03:25 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Games 1 – 4

03:25-04:55 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Games 5 – 8 (SA vs. Nui Game 8)

04:55-06:25 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Games 9 – 12

06:25-07:50 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Games 13 – 16 (SA vs. Wales Game 16)

07:50-09:45 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Games 17 – 20

09:45-11:30 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Games 21 – 24 (SA vs. NZ Game 24)

The Supersport 1 schedule for Day 2 of the NZI Sevens for South African viewers:

01:45-03:30 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Bowl QF

03:30-05:10 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Cup QF

05:10-05:50 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Shield SF

05:50-06:35 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Bowl SF

06:35-07:35 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Plate SF

07:35-08:30 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Cup SF

08:30-09:00 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Shield Final

09:00-09:30 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Bowl Final

09:30-10:00 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Plate Final

10:00-11:00 IRB 7s World Series: New Zealand Sevens – Cup Final

To access this schedule, simply go to BlitzBokke.com and click on BROADCAST TIMES at the top of the page.

The International Rugby Board’s 2009/2010 Sevens World Series kicks off in the desert city of Dubai tomorrow.  Paul Treu and his defending champions have been in the city since last week in order to give them sufficient time to acclimatise and prepare for the first tournament of another long season.  However, the week has already seen veteran Marius Schoeman withdrawing from the side due to injury and Treu has had to bring in new-comer Deon Helberg as cover.

Marius Schoeman is out of the Dubai Sevens (Pic: Dubai Sevens 2008)

Television Schedule

Hong Kong is 4 hours ahead of Dubai and if you’re lucky to have access to South Africa’s Supersport 6 on DSTV, here is the schedule for the weekend (Times stated as South Africa local, add 6 hours for Hong Kong):

Friday December 4, 2009

07:10-08:45   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Games 1 – 4

08:45-10:20   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Games 5 – 8  (SA vs. Wales Game 7)

10:50-12:20   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Games 9 – 12

12:20-13:55   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Games 13 – 16 (SA vs. Arabian Gulf Game 15)

14:25-16:25   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Games 17 – 20

16:25-18:15   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Games 21 – 24 (SA vs. AUS Game 24)

Saturday December 5, 2009

07:10-08:45   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Bowl QF

08:45-10:15   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Cup QF

10:15-11:00   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Shield SF

11:00-11:40   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Bowl SF

11:40-12:35   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Plate SF

(16:20-17:10 CSN  IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Cup SF)

16:20-17:10   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Cup SF

(17:10-17:40 CSN  IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Shield Final)

17:10-17:40   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Shield Final

(17:40-18:10 CSN  IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Bowl Final)

17:40-18:10   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Bowl Final

(18:10-18:40 CSN  IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Plate Final)

18:10-18:40   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Plate Final

(18:40-19:30 CSN  IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Cup Final)

18:40-19:30   SS6   IRB 7s World Series: Dubai Sevens – Cup Final

Read everything about the Springboks’ Dubai and World Series campaign on our sister-website: BlitzBokke.com 

In case you haven’t noticed, the 2009/2010 season of the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) Sevens World Series kicks off in Dubai in just over a week’s time.  Coach Paul Treu’s Springbok Sevens Team is firmly ensconced in their Dubai hotel in anticipation of their Dubai Title defence. 

If it genuinely passed you by (It better be! Check my angry face!)  don’t be concerned, Howzit-HongKong.com’s sister website BlitzBokke.com is firmly on TOP of things!  Just pop in over at the website for everything you need to know about what’s happening in Dubai and all the other tournaments in the Series.  There are stories about the Bokke’s new playing strip, their new Captain, stories from fans across the world and many more.   

The BlitzBokke is in the favourable position of having to defend their titles in the first two tournaments of the Series: Dubai (5-6 December) and George, South Africa a week later so…

Stay tuned for all the action!

Bokke Bo!

Top Gun se Gat!  Die ouens is WOES en hulle VATTIKAKKIE!

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