72 BCBusiness SEPtEmBER 2015
Sevens tour and takes place annually on
a weekend in late March. It's become a
major tourist draw for the city, with an
estimated 120,000 people coming to
Hong Kong for the weekend, generating
$40 million from international visitors
and bringing in big-time sponsors
like
HSBC and Cathay Pacific (more on
Cathay's involvement on the opposite
page). And now, Canada—specifically,
Vancouver—is going to get a beer-
soaked taste of the Sevens when BC
Place hosts a two-day tourney stop for
the first time ever in March 2016. Exact
dates were expected to be announced
over the summer, with tournament
passes going on sale in early Septem-
ber, but already corporate suites have
sold out.
"Vancouver is a world-renowned
event location and a city with a
tremendous track record of host-
ing incredible events," said World
Rugby chair Bernard Lapasset when
the four-year contract was awarded
to Vancouver in February. "Its inclu-
sion within a stellar Series hosting
line-up is great for players, great for
fans and great for the ongoing pros-
perity and development of rugby in
Canada and around the globe." Rugby
Canada officials hope that Vancouver's
"Canada Sevens" will help bolster the
sport's domestic popularity—on the
rise thanks to Canada ranking as one
of World Rugby's Top 15 teams—while
local tourism officials hope that a little
bit of the Hong Kong Sevens magic will
rub off on Vancouver and help draw
more international visitors. (Initially,
however, Canada Sevens organizers
appear to have more modest expecta-
tions, with only BC Place's 20,000-seat
lower bowl configuration being put
into use for the tournament.)
As the sun starts to set on Hong
Kong Stadium, and with Canada
officially out of the running (Fiji goes
on to beat New Zealand in the final
match on Sunday, winning their 15th
Hong Kong cup), I start to wind my way
through the swaying crowd, hoping
to find an exit from the South Stands.
I run into Pascal Nadaud, a handsome
player from the Mexican team who
is sharing drinks, and several selfies,
with a pair of 20-something women.
"So you're done?" I ask in Spanish.
Apparently, Mexico is ranked lower
than Canada—only cracking the Sevens'
qualifier tournament—and Pascal's last
game finished at 10 a.m. "Not done," he
replies with a smile on his face. "The
party is just beginning."
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PhotoS CoURtESY oF PowER SPoRt ImagES FoR hKRFU
WHAT TO WATCH
(Clockwise) Fiji vs. Canada;
Fiji wins its 15th Hong
Kong cup; fans from the
South Stands
