Everything you need to know about for upcoming Hong Kong Sevens 2025 in March

What do you think is the biggest event in Hong Kong? Well…, I personally think it is the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens. The atmosphere, the diversity of people in the stadium, and the intensity of every game, the Hong Kong Sevens always provide visitors from all over the world with excitement. This long-run event may be familiar to many of you, but this year’s Sevens will be a remarkable one, taking its fresh start at the brand-new Kai Tak stadium, leaving behind the Hong Kong Stadium which has hosted the tournament since 1976. In this article, I will introduce you to everything you need to know to enjoy the 3-day festival; from general information, a summary of Kai Tak Stadium, overview of rules and the fixtures, so that you don’t have to cluelessly watch 14 muscular men running around.

General Information:

For those of you who are not familiar with the Hong Kong Sevens, it is an annual rugby tournament that brings together international teams around the world to compete in the fast-paced format of rugby sevens (7-a-side rugby). 2025’s HK7s is confirmed to take place from 28-30 March (Friday-Sunday), and DC students will unfortunately have to miss the first half of Friday, but you can rush to the stadium after school to enjoy the rest of the first day of the event which usually lasts until 21:30. Although you will miss the opening ceremony which usually features Cantopop singers and dancers, don’t worry! Saturday and Sunday will be much more exciting. Not only will you enjoy the intensity of every game, but the iconic part of HK7s is the festival-like atmosphere that it offers. In between games, music and dance entertainment will bring the fans together, and if you are to stay until the very end of the event on Sunday night, you will be able to witness the first-ever ending ceremony in the Kai Tak Stadium, which in the old stadium included fireworks performances. The tickets are sold at $1,950 for a 3-day adult ticket, $500 for Friday, $1,200 for Saturday and Sunday for single-day. A $950 3-day ticket is offered for children (<12 year old) (Hong Kong Sevens, n.d.). 

Learn about Kai Tak Stadium:

Now, let's explore the brand-new Kai Tak Stadium! The 50,000-seat stadium is located in the 28-hectare Kai Tak Sports Park, which can be accessed  by a 5-10 minute walk from Kai Tak MTR  Station. The stadium features a fully-retractable roof and in-stadium cooling system which will offer you a comfortable experience. In the stadium, a regular general admission ticket will allow you to access 30 Food & Beverage outlets, as well as merchandise pop-ups, and much more. The regular ticket visitors will sit either in the main level or upper level General Admission Seats; it is first-come first-serve basis, and if you wish to see the intense game closely, I suggest that you enter the stadium no later than 11am for Saturday and Sunday to save your seat in the main level. If you are a HK7s fan, you might miss the Hong Kong Stadium’s South Stand - where 18+ adults wear hilarious costumes and scream all day. Nothing to worry about - the South Stand tradition will continue in the Kai Tak Stadium! According to the Hong Kong Sevens organizer, the South Stand “ has had a serious upgrade” (Hong Kong Sevens - Where the World Comes to Play, n.d.). The new stadium undoubtedly offers us with enhanced excitement. 

Must-read for people who want to enjoy “Rugby”: 

If you are interested in actually understanding the “rugby” part of HK7s, and not get lost watching 14 muscular people running endlessly, then read this part of the article. Each game at the rugby sevens is 14 minutes split into 7 minute halves,  played by 7 players in each team. One game usually lasts for 20 minutes, including  half time and additional time, so it is very quick. For readers who are really new to rugby, all you need to remember is that these teams are trying to score the “try”, by crossing over the line along the goal post, and then holding down the ball on the ground. This will give the team with 5 points, and an extra 2 points will be awarded if they successfully make the conversion kick, aiming between the posts. At the end, the team with more points after 14 minutes wins. There are complicated rules, but the most important ones are that players must not drop the ball, and never throw the ball in front. They must pass the ball to whoever is behind them, and run with the ball to get through the opposing team’s defense, who will defend by tackling the ball-carrier. You should cheer with people beside you, if a  player makes a really good tackle, or if they run through the defenders.