「2025年國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」創新紀錄為香港體育揭開新啟德時代

RECORD-BREAKING CATHAY/HSBC HONG KONG SEVENS 2025             

HERALDS NEW KAI TAK ERA FOR HONG KONG SPORT

[香港，2025年4月9日]：「2025年國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」於三月最後一個周末，首次移師香港新主場 —— 啟德主場館並取得圓滿成功。

過去30多年來，香港國際七人欖球賽都在位於銅鑼灣掃桿埔的香港政府大球場舉行，在這項香港最受歡迎的賽事未正式遷往維港對岸那座閃亮且超現代化的新場館之前，大家都對搬遷心存疑慮。

然而，今屆「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」最終創下歷史新高，一連三日合共上演了72場緊張刺激的比賽，以及一連串充滿娛樂性的節目，還有阿根廷男子隊首次在香港站捧起冠軍銀盃，場內售出超過14萬品脫的啤酒，所有疑慮都已一掃而空，而啟德主場館亦成為體育及娛樂活動的新地標。

香港國際七人欖球賽周末的眾多亮點中，最精彩的無疑是阿根廷男子隊那幾場魅力四射的賽事，他們繼2004年再次晉身香港站決賽，最終突破重圍，擊敗法國隊，得償所願，首次在香港站捧起銀盃；而新西蘭女子隊則繼續展示其強勁的英䧳風範，連續三年在香港站奪冠，延續她們在香港國際女子七人欖球賽的霸主地位。

中國香港欖球總會行政總裁華哲思（James Farndon）表示：「我們非常高興『國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽』成功移師至香港的新主場啟德。雖然在搬遷過程中難免會遇到一些慣常的磨合問題，但我們在啟德首次登場便取得圓滿成功，整個賽事的熱鬧氣氛與香港最新、最現代化的啟德主場館配合得天衣無縫。」

「隨著賽事圓滿結束，來自世界各地的七欖運動員和觀眾都已離港，中國香港欖球總會衷心感謝長期贊助商國泰及滙豐，以及啟德和特區政府各部門對我們的鼎力支持。我們亦要特別感謝來自四方八面的球迷的支持，他們永遠是香港國際七人欖球賽的命脈。」

華哲思續稱：「而最令人興奮的是，我們現在才剛開始發掘國際七人欖球賽落戶啟德的潛力，我們期待2026年舉辦一場更盛大、更精彩的賽事。」

在啟德首次舉行的國際七人欖球賽也再次吸引世界欖球總會的眾多知名人士到訪，包括世界欖球總會主席羅賓遜（Brett Robinson）和行政總裁基奧平（Alan Gilpin），以及一些欖球界的傳奇人物，包括有「小魔術師」之稱的世界最著名七欖名將、來自斐濟的撒力菲（Waisale Serevi）。當他們離港時，心中都期待著未來在啟德上演更激動人心的賽事。

世界欖總主席羅賓遜表示：「我們對啟德主場館的一切感到非常興奮，它位於城市中心，有利發展欖球運動。展望未來，除了七人欖球賽之外，這裡還可以舉辦哪些欖球活動呢？以往，我們曾在香港舉辦『比迪素盃』(Bledisloe Cup），香港今次在啟德主場館舉辦香港國際七人欖球賽的質素及水平，對世界欖總各成員國來說都是一個極大的挑戰。」

中國香港七人欖球隊也不負眾望，男、女子隊都贏得「Melrose銀劍賽」的冠軍，有力地證明了他們有資格與系列賽隊伍同場較量。

最令人印象深刻的是，在啟德主場館舉行的首場國際賽事，球迷的反應非常熱烈，很快適應了重新設計的「南看台」，再次將七人欖球賽當成了自己的主場。

香港國際七人欖球賽開賽前的門票銷售量便創下了新紀錄，2025年售出超過43,000張三日套票，冠絕賽事40多年歷史。賽事的入場人數超過11萬人，比2024年增加了近15%，整個七欖周末也接待了超過3萬名國際遊客。

賽事社區夥伴香港賽馬會也邀請了另外4,552名來自各社區和慈善團體的青少年，首次在啟德體驗國際七人欖球賽；而超過3,000名註冊的青少年和小型欖球運動員亦參加了青少年組別比賽，以及著名的場內巡遊。

球場內，英國知名搖滾樂隊Kaiser Chiefs、DJ Pete Tong和獨一無二的Gala為觀眾帶來精彩演出；球場外，還有數十支樂隊、DJ和舞蹈團隊在新設的「七欖球迷村」為觀眾帶來娛樂，三日以來球迷村共吸引了54,697名訪客。

整個七欖派對共消耗了超過35萬份食物及飲料，再次鞏固了香港站作為全球最大型欖球盛會主辦地的美譽。

來自25個國家和地區、超過145個媒體機構的465名認證媒體代表，也對這個盛事及其新主場一致地表示讚賞。

但最能象徵「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」在2025年再創高峰的，莫過於國泰航空A350飛機以低至1,100呎的飛行高度飛越維港。在周日賽事期間，球迷透過啟德主場館南看台的玻璃觀景窗，能夠清楚看見這架飛機在空中飛翔。

這次歷史性的飛行表演是為了紀念舊啟德機場成立100周年的最佳方式，而舊機場的位置正是現時啟德體育園的所在地；同時也標誌著啟德體育園及其主要承辦方「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」未來的巨大潛力。

隨著特區政府持份者和合作夥伴的全面配合下，「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」和香港體壇正邁向新的高峰。

「國泰/ 滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」很高興成為一項「M」品牌認可活動，協助提升香港作為亞洲體育盛事之都的形象。獲大型體育活動事務委員會頒發的「M」品牌，標誌著緊張、精彩、刺激的大型體育活動。

資料及相片來源 : Elite Step Asia Limited / Hong Kong Sevens

[Hong Kong, 9 April 2025]:  The last weekend in March marked the first-ever Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at its new home at the Kai Tak Stadium in Kowloon Bay.  

After over 30 years at the Hong Kong Government Stadium in So Kon Po, questions were inevitably raised about how Hong Kong’s most endearing event would transition to its gleaming and ultra-modern new home across Hong Kong’s impressive Victoria Harbour.

Three fun-filled days; 72 matches; one first time men’s champion in Argentina; and more than 140,000 pints later, and all doubts were dispelled as the city was left celebrating a record-breaking Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens and an amazing new home for sports and entertainment.

Among the many highlights of the weekend was some passionate rugby from Argentina men – breaking through after two previous trips to the final to beat France and lift the Hong Kong cup for the first time – and New Zealand’s women, who continued to exemplify power and poise as they romped to a third straight Hong Kong title, extending their dominance of the women’s event in Hong Kong.

“We are thrilled to have concluded a successful move for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens to our new home at Kai Tak Stadium,” said James Farndon, CEO of organisers Hong Kong China Rugby.

“Despite the customary teething issues around any move, our first playing at Kai Tak was a great success and the event’s vibrancy and excitement have proven to be the perfect accompaniment to Hong Kong’s newest and ultra-modern stage at Kai Tak.

“With the dust settling, and our athletes and visitors having now returned to all parts of the world, Hong Kong China Rugby would like to express its sincere appreciation to our long-time sponsors Cathay and HSBC and our partners at Kai Tak and within Government, for their unstinting support. Most especially we would like to thank the fans from near and far for their support; they will always remain the lifeblood of the Hong Kong Sevens. 

“Excitingly, we have only started to explore the potential of the Sevens at Kai Tak, and we look forward to an even bigger and better show in 2026,” added Farndon. 

The first-ever Sevens at Kai Tak also drew the luminaries of World Rugby to town once again starting with World Rugby Chairman Brett Robinson and Chief Executive Officer Alan Gilpin and on to some of the legends of the game including, of course, the little magician and perhaps the world’s most famous sevens player, Waisale Serevi from Fiji. They all left town thinking of the exciting possibilities ahead.

“We're thrilled with the stadium,” said Robinson. “It's an amazing centrepiece for the city and I think it's just amazing for rugby. Looking into the future, what other events could come here outside of the sevens? In the past, we have had Bledisloe Cups played up this way, and I think for all the member unions, there's a real challenge about the quality of what they could do here if they wanted to.”

Hong Kong China Rugby were equal to the task as well with both men’s and women’s teams winning their competitions in an emphatic statement that they deserve to share the field with the Series sides.

Most impressively, the fans responded to the first event at Kai Tak, making the Sevens once again their home by settling straight into the re-imagined South Stand.

Record ticket sales were reached ahead of kick-off with over 43,000 three-day ticket packages sold in 2025, the most in the tournament’s 40-year plus history. Tournament attendance figures topped 110,000 for a nearly 15% increase from 2024, with over 30,000 international visitors welcomed across the weekend.

Event community partner the Hong Kong Jockey Club hosted a further 4,552 youths from community and charity groups to experience the first Sevens at Kai Tak, while more than 3,000 registered youth and mini rugby players took part in junior events and the famous March Past during the weekend. 

The spectators were treated to non-stop entertainment with in-stadium performances from UK rockers Kaiser Chiefs, DJ Pete Tong and the inimitable Gala; outside, dozens more bands, DJs and dance troupes entertained visitors in the inaugural Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Fan Village which drew 54,697 visitors over the weekend.

Over 350,000 food and beverage items were consumed across the festival, as Hong Kong again cemented its reputation as hosts of the world’s biggest rugby party. 

There was also near unanimous acclaim for the event and its new home from the 465 media accredited from 25 countries and territories and representing over 145 media platforms worldwide. 

But nothing symbolised the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens’ attainment of new heights in 2025 more than a very special fly-past from a Cathay A350 plane through Victoria Harbour at 1,100 feet. The plane’s famous livery was strikingly visible through Kai Tak Stadium’s primary architectural feature of a glass viewing window at the Southern Terrace end on Sunday.

The historic fly-past was the perfect way to commemorate Kai Tak’s previous life as the location of the Hong Kong Airport – and its centenary year in 2025, while marking the amazing potential of Kai Tak Sports Park and its prime tenant, the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, in the future.

With government stakeholders and partners fully aligned the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens and Hong Kong’s sporting scene are on the launchpad to reach new heights.

The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. The “M” Mark awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolises intense, spectacular and signature events in the territory’s sports calendar.

Information and photo source : Elite Step Asia Limited / Hong Kong Sevens