The Hong Kong Sevens is what many 7s players the world over think off. Not just the thought of playing in the stadium in So Kon Po but spending the weekend supporting there sevens heroes from the infamous south stand and tasting the many experiences of the city. Hong Kong has been a date in the Sevens diary long before the idea of the IRB World Series was first mooted by the people in charge. This has not been the case for its brother in Australia; Adelaide. Adelaide is in its infancy as an IRB Sevens tournament and lots of people still argue its place on the world series with Melbourne being a supporters favourite after the commonwealth games of 2006. Whilst Adelaide as a competition has not reached th
e levels of Hong Kong (none do) the venue for the event has witnessed more sport than most of the stadia on the circuit if not in the sport.
The Adelaide Oval dates back to the 1970s and has played host to 16 different sports in his time. It is one of the most famous and beautiful stadiums in world cricket and has witnessed many great games between Australia and England in Ashes. Whilst the ground is world renowned for its Cricket, it is well known within Oz for hosting many Australian Rules football games including many of the finals over the years. Sport is the main attractions for the crazed Australian fans but the Oval has seen lots of of the most famous acts in the world filling the seats with performers such as Michael Jackson, Elton John, Paul McCartney and ACDC to name but a few who have ‘rocked’ the oval.
As the IRB Sevens World Series tournaments begins to grow and gain a foothold in the local community more and more people will get the chance to see the very subtle, beautiful stadium which has played host to so many headliners in the past. With The Aussies becoming a force on the circuit this year, the home fans are in the unusual position of being able to cheer on a possible Cup winner in the Wallabies 7s team. Pat Mcuthcheon’s side have shown real class in making the last four in the USA last month and will hope to go at least one further in front of their home fans. The Australian team gets many cheering against them around the world in the eyes of fun, but this weekend will see the fans very much behind the team, which could be the push the players need to make the Final.
After the subtlety of the Oval, the noise, colour and sound will change vastly when the IRB Sevens World Series arrives in Hong Kong on the Friday night. A tournament that has built its reputation on the back of supporters experience will be a different experience for all the sides, none more so that the Australians who tend to take some grief from a crowd who has lots of English fans.
The HK 7sHong Kong Sevens is very much the benchmark on becoming a destination for supporters and players alike; it’s this ideology that has led the USA 7s moving to Las Vegas in an attempt to replicate the iconic atmosphere in Hong Kong Stadium.
A couple of very different tournaments, held in very different regards by spectators, players, coaches and media alike but with so many years difference in their maturity, it comes as no shock. For Adelaide, they are just beginning there 7s adventure which many in the city and organising committee hope will end up bringing the beauty and history of the Oval and mix it with the fun of Hong Kong to create Adelaide 7s as a destination in its own right.
Tags: Adelaide Sevens, Hong Kong Sevens, rugby, sevens
March 19, 2010 at 3:52 pm |
[...] see what happens in Adelaide and how the results will impact the overall standings going in to the Hong Kong weekend. Whatever happens, I’m sure rugby 7s fans will not be [...]