With all due respect to the fact that Hong Kong successfully staged the 2008 Olympic Games Equestrian events as well as the East-Asian Games, but the 1 week countdown to Hong Kong’s BIGGEST sporting week starts in a couple of days!

Here is what the week looks like so far:

Wednesday March 24, 2010  Kowloon Rugby Fest 2010

Venue: Kings Park Sports Ground, Wylie Road, Kowloon

Wednesday & Thursday March 24-25, 2010 GHF HKFC Tens

Venue: HK Football Club, Happy Valley

Friday March 26, 2010 Cable & Wireless Worldwide HK Women’s Rugby Sevens

Venue: HK Football Club/HK Stadium (Cup Final)

Friday – Sunday, March 26-28, 2010 Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens

Venue: HK Stadium, So Kon Po

Other rugby-related events:

SAAHK Sevens Dinner

The Southern African Association in Hong Kong’s annual Sevens Dinner takes place at the HKFC on Wednesday  March 24.  This year’s guest speaker is the popular TV commentator Hugh Bladen, also known as the voice of SA rugby.  The Springbok Sevens Team will of course also be in attendance.

Hugh will probably also have several other speaking engagements around the city and we’ll bring you news about that as it becomes available.

Tens Dinner

The Ten’s Dinner will this year be open to the public.  It takes place at the HKFC on Thursday evening (March 25)  Fee: HK$300

More information about these and other events will be updates as they become available.

The draw for the event we’re all waiting for, the 2010 Cathay Pacific Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens took place in Central earlier this evening.

Howzit-HongKong.com donned our rugby-hats to bring you all the latest courtesy of our sister-site BlitzBokke.com

Officials from the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, sponsors, players and as well as the Acting Chief Secretary of the HK Govt. Mr Stephen Lam met in Central tonight to conduct the official draw for the 2010 Cathay Pacific / Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens.

Officiating tonight’s draw were:

Mr. Stephen Lam, SBS, JP, the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government;

T Brian Stevenson, SBS, JP, President of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU);

John Slosar, Chief Operating Officer of co-title sponsor Cathay Pacific Airways;

Alister Moss, Managing Director of co-title sponsor Credit Suisse;

HKRFU Chairman Trevor Gregory and…

Hong Kong Sevens Tournament Operations Director Rod Mason.

This year’s IRB Sevens World Series is among the most evenly contested ever with the four tournaments played to date having been won by three different teams: New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa.

As the only 24-team event on the circuit, the results of tonight’s draw – and the 30 series points that go to the Cup champions in Hong Kong – could be the crucial factor in determining the Series champions in 2010.

Prior to tonight’s draw, 12 teams were placed in Pools A-F based on their performance in the previous 2 tournaments (Wellington and Las Vegas) as well as their position on the IRB Sevens World Series log.

The remaining participating teams have been seeded or placed in the draw based on performances in IRB Sevens World Series and other IRB regional tournaments. All seedings have been ratified by the IRB.

The first group of 6 nations were then drawn as the 3rd team in each Pool. These were: France, Japan, Portugal, Russia, Tonga and Zimbabwe.

The last 6 nations were then drawn as the 4th team to conclude the 4-team Pools. they were: China, Chinese Taipei/Taiwan, Italy, Hong Kong, Korea and Thailand.

Mr. Stephen Lam of the HK Govt at the draw in Central

The final Pools for the 2010 Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse HK Sevens:

Pool A

1.Samoa  2.Argentina  3.Russia  4.Italy

Pool B

1.New Zealand  2.Scotland  3.France  4.Chinese Taipei

Pool C

1.Fiji  2.USA  3.Portugal  4.Thailand

Members of the HK Sevens Team at the draw in Central

Pool D

1.Australia  2.Canada  3.Tonga  4.China

Pool E

1.England  2.Wales  3.Japan  4.Hong Kong

Pool F

1.Kenya  2.South Africa  3.Zimbabwe  4.Korea

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)

Thousands of rugby fans witnessed some of the finest silverware on offer in the game when the South African Rugby Union’s Champions Tour made its first five stops in and around Cape Town during the past four days.

Pride of place on the impressive customised truck is reserved for current Springbok Sevens captain Mzwandile Stick, shown in full flight.

The Tour started on Friday morning at the University of the Western Cape(UWC), where schoolchildren from primary schools in the area were the first to set foot on SARU’s 15-metre trailer filled with every trophy won by South African teams during an incredible 2009, as well as the Rugby World Cup. UWC students and staffed also flocked to the truck, taking time out from their studies to see trophies such as the Webb Ellis Cup, the Vodacom Tri-Nations trophy and the very popular Absa Currie Cup, amongst others.

The weekend’s activities concluded with Stormers players, including Springbok wing Bryan Habana, joining the Champion Tour at Canal Walk. “You, the fans, stand central to all the successes we’ve achieved on the rugby fields of the world during the last few years. Without you, this Tour would not have been possible and it’s great to be able to give back in this way,”said Habana.

The Champion Tour also called in at one of the oldest Test venues in the world – Newlands. Kids and their parents camping on the hallowed turf as part of a sleepover organized by Club Newlands walked over to see the trophies.

Saturday was spent at the very impressive new Cape Town Stadium, one of the host stadiums for the FIFA Soccer World Cup. Thousands of supporters who attended the friendly match between Boland and the Vodacom Stormers crossed the truck – which proved a very popular attraction during an history day with the first rugby match in the new stadium in Green Point.

On Sunday the Champion Tour went to two very popular Cape Town shopping spots – first up was Kenilworth Centre after which it wound its way to Canal Walk, where Habana was among the Vodacom Stormers signing autographs.

The Champions Tour now enters the Boland and Griquas regions, with stops planned in Paarl, Stellenbosch, Robertson, Worcester and Wellington before it heads up the West Coast.

With the 2010 Hong Kong Sevens fast approaching, it is rather disheartening that the South African Sevens team is showing such poor form.  When asked in a recent interview with irb.com about their objective for this season, Springbok coach Paul Treu answered that they’re would like to WIN the Hong Kong Sevens (for the first time).

After a great start in Pool A of the NZI Sevens in Wellington, where the BlitzBokke beat both World Cup Champions Wales and minnows Nuie, they went on to lose the final pool-game to hosts New Zealand and had to contend with Fiji in the Cup quarter-finals (this morning).

Fiji proved too strong for the South Africans, who lost their fifth consecutive game against the Islanders (5-21).  South Africa then went on to beat Canada in the semi-final of the Plate competition (29-5) to advance to the Plate Final against Australia. 

The band of young Aussies were too spirited for South Africa who failed to capitalise on their opportunities, with the Australian ending as the victors by a narrow margin (22-26).

South Africa took 8 points from Wellington and are currently placed 7th on the 10-team IRB log.

The IRB Sevens World Series now moves on to the US gambling den of Las Vegas next weekend.

Catch all the action on Howzit-HongKong.com’s sister site: BlitzBokke.com

The Springboks will play all four of the ‘Home Unions’ in November as part of their end-of-year tour. SARU made the announcement today (Friday, January 29, 2010) following confirmation of the fixture programme by the International Rugby Board (IRB). 

The Springboks start the tour against Ireland in Dublin on November 6, having accepted an invitation to provide the opposition for hosts Ireland when they officially open the new Aviva Stadium (the redeveloped Lansdowne Road).

 The Springboks then play Wales, Scotland and England on the following Saturdays. The tour is planned to end with a fixture against the Barbarians at a venue to be confirmed.

Meanwhile the venue of the Springboks’ season-opening Test against France on June 12 remains undecided. SARU are hoping to meet the local organising committee of the FIFA 2010 World Cup to arrive at a final decision on the availability of the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town.

Springbok end-of-year tour fixtures: 

Saturday, November 6, Ireland v South Africa (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)

Saturday, November 13, Wales v South Africa (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)

Saturday, November 20, Scotland v South Africa (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)

Saturday, November 27, England v South Africa (Twickenham, London)

Saturday, December 4, Barbarians v South Africa (TBC)

Stay close to Howzit-HongKong.com to hear where we in Hong Kong will follow the Springboks on their end-of-year tour… right here in the SAR!

1995 Rugby World Cup winner and Springbok rugby player Marius Hurter (the most aptly-named tight-head rugby player in the world) spoke at the Gala Charity Premiere of the movie Invictus.

(Picture insert: Ms. Tembi Tambo, Consul-General: SA Consulate in Hong Kong/Macau)

This is Part 2 of his chat with Robbie McRobbie of the Hong Kong Rugby Union:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the most aptly-named tighthead prop in world rugby… Marius Hurter!” 

This is how (HKRFU Head of Rugby Services) Robbie McRobbie introduced the 1995 Rugby World Cup winner and Springbok Marius Hurter.  The occasion was the Gala Charity Premiere of the movie Invictus at the  Grand Cinema, Elements Mall in Kowloon West (Hong Kong).

The looong evening started with a meet-and-greet at the downstairs bar/restaurant WildFire, part of Hong Kong’s Igor’s Hospitality Group.  Hong Kong RFU’s Robbie McRobbie kick-started events by asking the big man a number of questions relating to his experiences around Rugby World Cup 1995.  Marius aka. Shrek (watch the video for an explanation) responded by recounting his memories and some insights into his fellow-players, which were lapped up by the guests, especially those about Os Du Randt and (obviously the skollie/riff-raff in the 1995 Springbok squad) James Small, allegedly a minor-celebrity amongst the Robben Island prisoner population at the time!

Later, in the cinema lobby, he faced the local Hong Kong media, enticed by some strategically invited (and well-labelled with Invictus stickers) schlebs, also called pseudo-models in Hong Kong parlance.  The big man was clearly enamoured by the attention as the MC-lady translated his answers into Cantonese.  Then again, maybe he just loved her shoes!

Thanks to Elite Step Asia Limited, Howzit-HongKong.com was fortunate to be seated in Cinema 6 (some 600 folks attended the event spread between different cinema’s) with the VIP’s including, of course, Marius Hurter, HKRFU officials, sponsors’ representatives as well as the Consul-General of the South African Consulate in Hong Kong, the charming Ms. Tembi Tambo.

The extended  movie, that lasted until midnight, was clearly a hit with the South Africans in attendance who enjoyed the Souf Effrican eksent (South African accent) during the movie.  My personal favourite was Chester Williams’ (played by McNeil Hendricks) “I don’t think, because it influences my game.” 

Another hit with the guests was the seats that vibrated with heavy bass, especially when the SAA Boeing roared over the Ellis Park Stadium during the movie!   

Howzit-HongKong.com was lucky to capture Marius’ chat on the evening, albeit with a dinky point-and-click.  The evening was set in a busy, dark-ish bar, but enjoy Part 1 (Part 2 to follow):

As a Saffa rugby supporter living abroad, I must admit at being chuffed that the rugby season is about to start back home.  The International Rugby Board’s Sevens World Series resumes with the New Zealand-leg in Wellington on the 5th of February, followed by the USA event in Las Vegas a week later.

Another highlight of the southern hemisphere pre-season is Western Province playing neighbours Boland at the brand-spanking Greenpoint Stadium on February 5.  Then, on February 12 the Super 14 kicks off when local franchises The Cheetahs take on The Bulls.  The Stormers play The Lions the following day, while The Sharks play New Zealand’s Chiefs.

The newest landmark on the Cape Town skyline, the Greenpoint Stadium.

But I digress.  The Asia season is of course in full swing and local clubs are taking requests for Hong Kong Sevens tickets (unfortunately members only).  In a previous post, I wrote about the movie Invictus that tells the story of how Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) joined forces with Francois Pienaar (played by Matt Damon) in winning not only the 1995 Rugby World Cup, but also the hearts and minds of South Africans from all walks of life.

The local custodians of the game, the Hong Kong Rugby Union has joined forces with Warner Brothers Pictures as well as Standard Chartered to organise a Gala Charity Premiere on Wednesday 13th January at the Elements Mall in Kowloon Tong.  Proceeds from the event will benefit the Operation Breakthrough charity programme which is a joint HKRFU – HKG Police charity that targets at risk youth and engages them in sports like rugby to keep them occupied and instill positive values.

Special guest at the sold-out event will be Springbok Marius Hurter, a member of the triumphant 1995 South African rugby team.

Springboks Os Du Randt (left) and Marius Hurter (right) showing off the RWC 1995 spoils.

Invictus opens in Hong Kong on Thursday, January 14.

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