Hong Kong Stadium set to host sell-out rugby sevens event

• Sixth round of HSBC SVNS 2024 takes place in Hong Kong China on 5-7 April
• Full house 120,000 crowd expected for the three-day Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens featuring the world’s best 12 men’s and women’s teams
• Australia lead the women’s standings from New Zealand, France, USA and Canada
• Argentina top men’s standings by 20 points and could become SVNS 2024 League Winners this weekend
• Australia’s most capped men’s test player Michael Hooper set to make his sevens debut
• Play gets under way at 10:30 local time (GMT+8) on Friday, fans can watch the action live around the globe here

The famous Hong Kong Stadium atmosphere is set to welcome the world’s best men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams to the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens as the sixth and penultimate round of HSBC SVNS 2024 takes place on 5-7 April.

A sell-out crowd of 120,000 fans is expected across the three-day spectacle and captains of the 12 men’s and women’s teams got in to the festival spirit on Wednesday by wearing fancy dress items for the traditional captains photo in front of the stadium’s iconic South stand.

There is sure to be drama and fireworks on the pitch as well as Argentina have the chance to become men’s SVNS 2024 League Winners if they maintain their 20 point lead at the top of the standings, while Australia and New Zealand are locked in a thrilling battle for the women’s title ahead of the last regular season round in Singapore on 3-5 May.

While French superstar Antoine Dupont is not in the French squad this time, fans will witness the highly anticipated sevens debut of Australia’s most capped men’s test player Michael Hooper.

The pools for Hong Kong were drawn by Fijian sevens legend Waisale Serevi at the conclusion of the previous round in Los Angeles and produced some mouthwatering clashes.

France face double Olympic champions Fiji in men’s Pool A, alongside Australia and Canada. Pool B sees current SVNS leaders Argentina together with LA finallists Great Britain, USA and reigning SVNS champions New Zealand. Ireland, Spain, Samoa and South Africa are in Pool C.

The women’s draw sees second and third placed New Zealand and France together in Pool A along with Brazil and Great Britain. Current SVNS leaders Australia are in Pool B with South Africa, Ireland and Fiji. USA and Canada will renew their rivalry in Pool C alongside Japan and Spain.

The new look HSBC SVNS 2024 features seven regular season events – in Dubai, Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Singapore - before the Grand Final in Madrid.

The men’s and women’s team with the most cumulative points after seven rounds will claim the title of SVNS 2024 League Winners, while the top eight placed teams will earn their place in the new ‘winner takes all’ Grand Final, where the men’s and women’s SVNS Champions will be crowned in Madrid on 31 May to 2 June.