Fans living it up in blockbuster buildup to 50th Hong Kong Sevens

In the case of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, those who have been know that the vast promises of a weekend of no-stop fun more than live up to the hype.

As the 50th iteration of the SVNS prepares to get underway in the Fragrant Harbour, the event has taken the city by storm, with hundreds of events and activities leading up to the weekend already taking place.

At the centre of the action in the week leading up to the SVNS is the suburb of Happy Valley on the southern side of the Fragrant Harbour, which sees multiple events in close proximity, making it a must-do for any rugby fan who has come out to the Sevens.

Starting off, the Hong Kong 10s has been running since April 14-16th at Hong Kong Rugby Football Club, the original home of the Sevens tournament when it kicked off back in 1976.

The stadium is located inside the race track ring of the Happy Valley racecourse, meaning it is only a short walk for fans over to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which has been transformed into a rugby-themed hub of activity for the city’s biggest sporting week.

With Aussie pop icon Jason Donovan performing, an ABBA tribute act and guest appearances from players, the venue also leaned into the Sevens history, with the Southern stands of the racecourse drawing an infamous comparison to the South Stand at Kai Tak Stadium, renowned for its costumed spectators, guest performances and party atmosphere.

With the 50th anniversary of the Sevens approaching, the building excitement has been living up to the occasion, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club reporting over 20,000 fans have come through the gates at Happy Valley racecourse, an increase of 30 per cent on 2025’s numbers.

The centrepiece of the week will get underway across the water at Kai Tak Stadium on Friday, with K-pop band Primrose kicking off the opening night of action.

With the SVNS 2 teams joining the action for the first of the three-leg world championship finals, 24 teams are set to play in the HSBC SVNS men’s and women’s World Series.

They will be joined by a further six teams slated to compete in the Melrose Claymores, which will see Hong Kong, Thailand, Denmark, Japan and China represented across the men’s and women’s competitions, creating a non-stop weekend of rugby.

The SVNS is also slated to be the biggest in its history, with the Hong Kong Rugby Union confirming over 130,000 tickets have been sold for the 2026 tournament, and less than 1,000 three-day passes remain available for purchase.

“Hong Kong China Rugby is proud that the Sevens is today acknowledged as one of Asia’s top sporting weekends as well as one of world sport’s true bucket list events,” Chris Brooke, the Chairman of Hong Kong China Rugby said at the official launch.

“Closer to home, the Sevens’ true importance lies in the role which it has had throughout the decades as the rally point for rugby friends and families the world over.

“The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens also has an impact far beyond the Stadium lights, both in terms of funding the vast majority of our rugby activities, and in generating economic benefits for our city with an estimated US $97 million in spending generated in 2025 alone, figures we hope to better in 2026.”

“[The governing body is] delighted to celebrate this ticketing milestone,” Bryan Rennie, the executive director of commercial and business operations for Hong Kong China Rugby, added.

“We are grateful for the support of our fans across Hong Kong, the region and around the world and look forward to welcoming them all to a very special 50th anniversary.”