Rugby sevens circuit set for revamp as Hong Kong await fate, USA player hits out
World Rugby plans to slash the number of teams in the sevens World Series to just eight, all but ending Hong Kong's slim hopes of ever joining the elite of the game.
Advertisement
In a radical overhaul of the sport, rugby bosses are also understood to have created a second division of six teams, playing three tournaments, starting in the 2025-26 season and reportedly staying in place until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The switch comes just two years after officials cut the number of teams from 16 to 12, while combining the men's and women's competitions, saying that previous move was to bring the sport in line with the Olympic format.
While there has yet to be an official announcement, USA player Stephen Tomasin revealed the restructure in an emotional Instagram video on Thursday.
The 30-year-old, who said it meant 'the Olympic format obviously doesn't matter', added that he was speaking out because 'World Rugby doesn't seem to want to put out any information about what's going on right now'.
Max Denmark on the charge for the home team in this year's Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Elson Li
'The worst part about it all, it wasn't like we learned about it this season, and they are going to implement it next season,' he said. 'The teams found out that things were going to change in January, and that this was going to be the way things were going in March.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Max Denmark aims to transfer his Hong Kong Sevens X-factor to city's 15s World Cup quest
A lot has happened since Max Denmark last pulled on a 15s jersey for Hong Kong in 2018. Advertisement An ever-present in the city's sevens side, Denmark has accumulated Asian Games gold medals, regional dominance and some painful near misses in the bid to get the men's team to the highest level. Throughout it all there have been tries – lots and lots of tries. There were three alone in a 31-7 rout of China during the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in March. The 25-year-old also has two from eight previous Test appearances, and added another – Hong Kong's only score – in the warm-up game against Japan last month. It is that nose for the line, as much as anything, that has earned him a spot in the team to play the United Arab Emirates on Saturday in the opening round of the Asia Rugby Championship. Max Denmark (right) puts in a tackle for Hong Kong against ACT Brumbies A in May. Photo: HKCR And while excited to be back, Denmark admitted the sheer volume of information involved meant it had taken some time to readjust to a 'new but really enjoyable challenge'.
RTHK
a day ago
- RTHK
Zheng, Raducanu set for first-ever clash in Queen's
Zheng, Raducanu set for first-ever clash in Queen's Zheng's win over McCartney Kessler sets up a maiden clash with Britain's Emma Raducanu. Photo: Reuters Raducanu booked her spot in the last eight after cruising past Rebecca Sramkova in straight sets. Photo: Reuters Zheng Qinwen survived a scare to reach the Queen's Club quarter-finals as the Chinese top seed beat McCartney Kessler 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. Zheng trailed 4-2 in the final set of the last 16 clash against the world number 42. But the Paris Olympic champion roared back to avoid a shock defeat at the Wimbledon warm-up event in west London. Zheng beat Donna Vekic on the clay at Roland Garros last year to become the first Asian player to win Olympic gold in a singles event and also reached the Australian Open final in 2024. The 22-year-old, currently fifth in the WTA rankings, bowed out in the French Open quarter-finals recently and is hoping to make her first strong run at Wimbledon, where she has never been past the third round in three visits. Success at Queen's would be a significant boost to her Wimbledon aspirations and next up for the Chinese star is a last eight clash with former US Open champion Emma Raducanu. British wildcard Raducanu eased to a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova. The 22-year-old will officially become British number one on Monday after compatriot Katie Boulter suffered a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 defeat against Russian fifth seed Diana Shnaider. Raducanu has been troubled by poor form and back spasms throughout her 2025 campaign, but the world number 37 has been revitalised by playing in front of the British crowd at Queen's. "It wasn't easy. I don't think it was my cleanest performance, but I'm really happy to have pushed through in some tight moments," she said. "It was really helpful when it was coming back in the first set to have that roar of support to help me get through that last service game, so I appreciate that," she added. In the first women's event at Queen's for 52 years, 2022 Wimbledon champion and fourth seed Elena Rybakina made the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-2 win against Britain's Heather Watson. Rybakina will play Germany's Tatjana Maria in the last eight on Friday, while Australian Open holder Madison Keys faces Shnaider and Emma Navarro takes on fellow American Amanda Anisimova. (AFP)
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
2025 events at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park, from National Games to Football Festival
Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park has been notching up firsts since its main stadium was officially opened in March, and the milestones are set to continue during 2025. More than 42,000 spectators shared the euphoria of watching the city's footballers beat India at Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday, in the first outing at the venue by the Hong Kong representative team. The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens was staged at the stadium for the first time in late March, by which time the HK$30 billion (US$3.9 billion) park had already hosted international 15-a-side rugby at its 5,000-seat sports ground. An aerial view of Hong Kong's new Kai Tak Stadium, which opened in March. Photo: Reuters Elite-level snooker came to the indoor Kai Tak Arena, which can hold up to 10,000 people, for March's World Grand Prix. Here is a selection of what is still to come this year. National Games of China Hong Kong will co-host the 15th National Games with Guangdong and Macau from November 9 to 21, with three of its seven medal events – rugby sevens, fencing and men's handball – to be held at Kai Tak. The sevens will be held at the 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium from November 12 to 14, after handball takes over Kai Tak Arena from November 1 to 10.
