開波喇！「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽2023 」分組結果揭曉！女子精英賽事初登場香港國際七人欖球賽回復疫前熱鬧慶典

Play On! Pools revealed for Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2023

Elite women’s competition welcomed for first time ever as the Hong Kong Sevens returns to pre-pandemic party

[2023年3月6日，香港]: 「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽2023」今日在港向本地球迷公佈參賽隊伍和分組結果。繼去年11月在社交距離限制下舉辦「滙豐世界男子七人欖球系列賽」後，香港已重拾昔日風采，並已準備於3月31日至4月2日在香港大球場以「零限制」七欖歡迎28支爭標分子。

2023年是賽事45年以來首次同步舉行男女子比賽，也是首次在同一系列賽球季內兩度舉辦賽事。

更重要是中國香港男女子隊將在3月首次同場角逐系列賽，令本地球迷倍感期待。

舉辦「世界女子七人欖球系列賽」受到主辦單位和香港球迷的廣泛歡迎，他們自1997年以來一直支持「香港女子七人欖球賽」，歷屆合共42個國家曾參與爭標。

主禮嘉賓香港特別行政區文化體育及旅遊局局長楊潤雄先生、國泰航空集團行政總裁林紹波先生、滙豐香港區行政總裁林慧虹女士和香港欖球總會主席蒲敬思（Chris Brooke）先生今日於香港富麗敦海洋公園酒店向本地球迷揭曉2023年賽事分組形勢。

同時，大會亦公佈了另一驚喜，本地流行音樂女歌手鄭欣宜將擔任3月31日星期五開幕禮的表演嘉賓，鄭欣宜將聯同紅遍網絡的Plastic Bertrand和韓國音樂才女DJ Soda，一起為全球最大型的欖球派對帶動氣氛。

「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」分組結果

澳洲在去年香港站的賽事中勇奪冠軍，取得自1988年以來的首場香港站勝利。而新西蘭和阿根廷雖然開季慢熱，但仍然在前列位置爭持不下。阿根廷剛成為上一站溫哥華的盟主，將挾強勢來港爭標。

阿根廷、法國、澳洲和愛爾蘭分別是A至D組的頭號種籽。阿根廷的A組對手包括斐濟、薩摩亞和加拿大。法國將與英國、烏拉圭和東道主中國香港在B組較勁。 C 組則有澳洲、美國、西班牙和日本。至於 D 組有新西蘭、肯亞、南非和頭號種籽之一的愛爾蘭。

中國香港七人欖球項目總教練莊保羅（Paul John）表示：「這將是另一次艱苦的比賽，但我們有幸參與其中。上年11月的比賽十分精彩，大球場的氣氛亦無與倫比，今次將更出類拔萃。在球場表現方面，我們希望能夠不斷進步，上年我們無懼大賽的壓力並展示出應有實力，今年我們更要表現得比去年優勝。」

在「滙豐世界女子七人欖球系列賽」，之前三連霸的新西蘭再次於溫哥華站封后。新西蘭、澳洲和美國成為女子組的三名頭號種籽。

新西蘭、加拿大、英國和中國香港被編入A組，澳洲在B組面對斐濟、愛爾蘭和巴西的挑戰。C 組有英國、法國、日本和西班牙。

莊保羅對於香港欖球總會踏入另一新里程表示：「加入女子隊在角逐之列有利七人欖球項目發展。我見到教練團隊、球員們和物理治療團隊都埋頭苦幹。雖然小組中高手如雲，但這將令整個七人欖球項目更上一層樓。」

他續說：「所有女子隊成員都熱切期盼，她們希望與強隊較量。只要我們保持冷靜和享受其中，我肯定球隊能展露實力和交出好表現，並且從經驗中成長。」

「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」將於2023年3月31日至4月2日假香港大球場舉行。有關賽事資訊可瀏覽hksevens.com。

圖片說明：

圖1 – （左至右）香港欖球總會主席蒲敬思先生、國泰航空集團行政總裁林紹波先生、滙豐香港區行政總裁林慧虹女士、香港特別行政區文化體育及旅遊局局長楊潤雄先生今日於香港富麗敦海洋公園酒店揭曉2023年「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」分組結果。

圖2 – （左至右）中國香港男子七人欖球隊代表姚錦成、香港欖球總會主席蒲敬思先生、中國香港女子七人欖球隊雙隊長高香慧、國泰航空集團行政總裁林紹波先生、中國香港女子七人欖球隊雙隊長李念殷、滙豐香港區行政總裁林慧虹女士、中國香港男子七人欖球隊隊長禾獲特和香港特別行政區文化體育及旅遊局局長楊潤雄先生今日於香港富麗敦海洋公園酒店出席2023年「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」媒體活動。

圖3 – （左至右）七人欖球項目總教練莊保羅、姚錦成、高香慧、禾獲特、李念殷、麥堅尼韋斯、何維銨、韋兆新、藍嘉敏和中國香港男子七人欖球隊教練高勳今日於香港富麗敦海洋公園酒店出席2023年「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」媒體活動。

[Hong Kong, 6 March 2023]: The participating teams and pools for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2023were revealed today for local fans in Hong Kong. After playing host to the HSBC World Rugby Men’s Sevens Series in a socially distanced Sevens last November, Hong Kong is back to its big and raucous best and will welcome 28 teams to the Hong Kong Stadium in a restriction-free Sevens from 31 March to 2 April 2023.

2023 marks the first time in the tournament’s 45-year history that it will host the full men’s and women’s competitions simultaneously, and the first time the event has been played twice on the same Series calendar.

Even more importantly, March will be the first time that the men’s and women’s sevens teams of Hong Kong, China have played in a World Series tournament simultaneously - doubling the anticipation for local fans.

The hosting of the World Rugby Women’s Series has been widely welcomed by the organizers and Hong Kong fans, who have supported the long-running Hong Kong Women’s Rugby Sevens since 1997. Teams from 42 nations have competed in the Hong Kong’s Women’s Sevens over the years.

The tournament pools for 2023 were revealed to local audiences with the help of officiating guests Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of Hong Kong; Ms Luanne Lim, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Hong Kong; Mr Ronald Lam, Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Pacific Group; and Mr Chris Brooke, Chair of the Hong Kong Rugby Union at the Fullerton Hotel in Hong Kong.

A surprise announcement was also made regarding the appearance of Hong Kong pop star Joyce Cheng who will perform as part of the opening ceremony on Friday 31 March. Cheng will add to the famed Hong Kong Sevens atmosphere and is joined by internet sensations Plastic Bertrand and Korean pop star DJ Soda at the world’s biggest rugby party this March.

Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Pools

Australia famously won on their last outing in Hong Kong, claiming a first victory here since 1988. Despite the auspicious start to the season, New Zealand and Argentina are neck and neck in the race for the top spot as the men’s tournament returns.

Argentina won the Vancouver, Canada Sevens overnight in the last tournament action before the Series winds its way across the Pacific to Hong Kong.

Argentina, France, Australia and Ireland are the top seeds in the four men’s pools (A-D). Argentina are joined by Fiji, Samoa and Canada in Pool A, while France face off with Great Britain, Uruguay and hosts Hong Kong China in the opening stages. Pool C sees Australia paired with USA, Spain and Japan in their bracket while Pool D includes New Zealand, Kenya, and South Africa alongside top seeds Ireland.

“It is going to be another tough competition, but it is fantastic for us to be a part of it. It was a great event last November, the atmosphere in the stadium was brilliant, and this is the next step. Performance-wise we just want to show that we can keep improving. It is a big occasion; last time we rose to the occasion, and showed what we are capable of, we just need to keep improving on that performance,” said Hong Kong, China sevens coach Paul John.

In the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, New Zealand rule the roost having won the last four tournaments on the trot including in Vancouver. New Zealand, Australia and USA are the top seeds in the three women’s pools.

New Zealand are joined by Canada, Great Britain and Hong Kong China in Pool A, while Australia face off with Fiji, Ireland and Brazil in the opening stages in Pool B. Pool C sees USA paired with France, Japan and Spain.

Paul John spoke about the milestone moment for the Hong Kong Rugby Union saying, “Having our women’s team involved is huge for the programme. I see how hard everyone works, the coaches, the players, the physios - everyone. So much goes into this. This is a boost for the whole programme for the girls to be a part of it in what is a very, very tough group.

“The girls are excited about it; they want to play against the best. If we can relax and enjoy it then I am sure we can show what we can do, put on a good performance, and learn as much as we can from the experience,” John added.

The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens will be played from 31 March to 2 April 2023 at the Hong Kong Stadium. For more information, please visit the official website at hksevens.com.

Photo captions:

Photo 1 – (From left to right) Mr Chris Brooke, Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby, Mr Ronald Lam, Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Pacific Group, Ms Luanne Lim, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Hong Kong and Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-Hung, Secretary for the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government revealed the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens pools for 2023 at the Fullerton Hotel today.

Photo 2 – (From left to right) Salom Yiu, player of men’s sevens of Hong Kong China, Mr Chris Brooke, Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Union, Natasha Olson-Thorne, co-captain of women’s sevens of Hong Kong China, Mr Ronald Lam, Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Pacific Group, Melody Li Nim-yan, captain of the women’s sevens of Hong Kong China, Ms Luanne Lim, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Hong Kong, Max Woodward, captain of men’s sevens of Hong Kong China, and Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-Hung, Secretary for the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2023 media preview at the Fullerton Hotel today.

Photo 3 – (From left to right) Head Sevens coach Paul John, Salom Yiu, Natasha Olson-Thorne, Max Woodward, Melody Li Nim-yan, Pierce Mackinlay-West, Jess Ho, Russ Webb, Nam Ka-man and men’s sevens coach Jevon Groves at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 20223 media preview at the Fullerton Hotel today.