HONG KONG – Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) rolled back the years and rekindled the fanfare Saturday to mark the 50th anniversary of the very first edition of the Hong Kong Sevens at its birthplace, Hong Kong Football Club.  

Celebrating its role as the spiritual home of sevens rugby, HKCR invited 1976 Hong Kong team captain Bob Lloyd to once again lead out a local side on to the Hong Kong Football Club pitch – this time a side representing the strength, breadth and diversity of today’s Hong Kong China Rugby.

Lloyd, an ex-England international, was out on the pitch on Saturday, as he was 50 years ago when leading Hong Kong into the fray. 

This time he took a ceremonial kickoff under the watchful eye of Ms Sunny Lee Chui Yan, one of a record four HKCR match officials officiating in this year’s World Rugby Sevens competitions, and then he shared some memories.

“We had no idea that the tournament would become what it is today – not a bit of it,” said the 83-year-old Lloyd.

“The same applies to the game. The men and the women today – they are phenomenal. The Hong Kong union were on to a good thing. Look at where the game is today with the Olympics and the World Series. Hong Kong started it.”

Reflecting on how the game has grown hand in hand with the event down the years, Mr Lloyd led a very special team today comprising the co-captains of the HKCR men’s and women’s sevens teams James Christie and Chloe Chan, women’s XVs captain Lee Ka Shun, and Josh Hrstich, skipper of the Men’s XV, which has qualified for a historic first ever Rugby World Cup in 2027. 

Also in the team today were Hong Kong Sevens ambassadors Christy Cheng Ka-Chi and Salom Yiu Kam-Shing, Hong Kong’s most capped sevens player and representatives of the 2026 Hong Kong men’s Premiership champions Hong Kong Football Club and Hong Kong women’s Premiership champions, USRC Tigers and members of the HKCR Touch Rugby World Cup Team. 

It wouldn’t be the Sevens without a piper and in keeping with today’s theme HKCR was proud to welcome Mr Edward Lam, former pipe major of the Hong Kong Police Band, and a veteran of many Hong Kong Sevens appearances including as the famed Lone Piper serenading the fans from the Stadium rooftop.

Before kick-off, the city’s men’s and women’s sevens teams joined up with junior players for a march past, representing the 11 visiting squads from across the globe who gathered for the inaugural March 28, 1976 event.

Watching on from the sidelines was Peter Reed – as he was at the Hong Kong Football Club for that first edition – and as he has been for every single edition of the Hong Kong Sevens since.

“I’d only arrived in January of 1976 so [the Sevens] was a great way to start,” he said. “It was well attended and it went really well. I remember there was a huge punch up between the Aussies and the Fijians and it just took off from there.”

Current Hong Kong, China sevens co-captain James Christie joined the march past with his teammates and said he’d enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on the past, while preparing for the future, and for the tournament’s 50th edition.

“We all grew up coming to the Hong Kong Sevens and hearing about its history,” he said. “To be a part of that history is something we all dreamed of, so we can’t wait to run out there and play for the city once again.”

For the record, New Zealand outfit Cantabrians beat the Aussies of the Wallaroos 24-8 to lift the Cup in the first Hong Kong Sevens, while the locals lifted the Plate – 19-16.

The 2026 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, symbolising intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.

Prices for three-day General Admission Hong Kong Sevens 2026 tickets are HK $2,250 for adults.  Three-day General Admission child tickets are available for HK $1,100 (aged 12 and under).  Limited single-day tickets are available via Klook. Fans can learn more about all available ticketing options for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens here, and find out more general information on the event at hksevens.com.