Latest news with #HongKongSevens
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Key Hong Kong rugby sevens pair set to return after injury and childbirth
Two major Hong Kong sevens figures are set for long-awaited returns to action after they were included in squads for this weekend's LIT Super Sevens Series climax in England. Seb Brien has been sidelined since he tore an anterior cruciate ligament in Hong Kong's 15s victory over Brazil in July last year. Melody Li Nim-yan, meanwhile, has been away since January 2024 to have a child. Brien's injury deprived him of the chance to play in Kai Tak Stadium's debut Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in March. He has also been forced out of the ongoing Asia Rugby Emirates Men's Championship, where Hong Kong are vying for 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification. But the wing, who would have been named sevens joint-captain alongside James Christie before he was laid low, is ready to end his injury agony in Bury St Edmund's on Saturday. 'The time away from rugby has been very testing,' Brien said. 'You spend a lot of time alone with the physio and away from the squad, so it's really nice integrating back. 'I'm looking forward to channelling my hard work back into playing. I've been at that awkward stage of rejoining the squad while they've been away at tournaments, and only three or four players being at training.'
The South African
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
The making of Gino Cupido: A rising star in South African rugby
In a candid conversation, Gino Cupido opens up about his upbringing, his sporting achievements, and the passions that fuel his drive. Gino Cupido has quickly risen through the ranks of South African rugby. Known for his explosive speed and versatility, he made his mark as a standout age-grade player for Western Province, the Junior Springboks, and more recently, the Blitzboks. After debuting for the national sevens team at the 2025 Hong Kong Sevens, Cupido has already proven himself as one of South Africa's most promising young talents. But behind the rapid rise is a young man grounded in faith, community, humility — and a deep understanding that the road from a small village to the world stage is paved with far more than talent alone. The 19-year-old hails from Sir Lowry's Pass Village, a tight-knit coloured community tucked between Somerset West and Grabouw, and like so many others, is often forgotten in South Africa's rugby landscape. 'People think I'm from the Strand, but I'm actually from the Sir Lowry's. Our community club Sir Lowrians RFC is where it all started for me. And there are many other excellent players, just like me, at the club, who fall through the cracks because of lack of opportunities.' Growing up, Cupido never imagined becoming one of South Africa's most talked-about rugby prodigies and he is adamant what he represents is far bigger than personal success, it's pride for a community and hope for those who come from the same streets. 'It's a big deal, especially from our community. It's special to make my parents and our small town proud. I thank them for everything. Without them, I wouldn't be here.' From Hoërskool Strand, where he captained teams and sprinted on the athletics track, Cupido progressed through the Western Province age-group systems, starred at the 2022 Craven Week, and then burst onto the national radar in 2023 at the Commonwealth Youth Games and the U18 International Series – scoring tries, winning medals, and standing tall against top opposition. Then came 2024, and with it his senior Currie Cup debut for Western Province. Still a teenager, Cupido showed his quality in matches against seasoned opponents, gaining invaluable experience. He then earned a call-up to the Junior Boks U20 squad and later a place in the South Africa 'A' sevens squad for Dubai Invitational. But it was his 2025 Blitzboks debut that truly made headlines. Named in the squad for the Hong Kong Sevens, coach Philip Snyman called him an 'unknown quantity with great potential.' Within minutes of his debut, Cupido silenced any doubts, sprinting 95 metres to score a stunning try against Uruguay. He added three more in the tournament before injury briefly sidelined him. 'After I scored that first try, I kept watching the video on my phone, asking myself, 'Is that really me?' It's a moment I'll never forget,' he reflects. More recently, he starred for the Junior Boks in the U20 Rugby Championship and has since made the squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship. And even though he missed out on selection for South Africa's campaign opener against Australian, he was named in the team for Friday's showdown against England. Beyond rugby though, Gino speaks with striking maturity about the diversity, team culture, and human connection within this Junior Bok side. 'We all come from different backgrounds, so I get to know what other people's circumstances are. It's not just about rugby – I learn how to work with people, how to respect that not everyone is the same.' He talks about team dynamics with care: 'Sometimes you can joke, sometimes you can't. I'm learning day by day how to work with different personalities.' Cupido's humility is unshakable, even as fame begins to circle him. 'For me, it's not about being famous. I always pray to God to stay true to myself. Because that's all I can be.' 'Success for me is about becoming better in my sport and as a person. Everything has to be in balance.' It's this authenticity that endears him to coaches and teammates alike. 'Every coach I've worked with played a different role in my journey,' he says. From his school coaches to WP mentors and Blitzboks guru Philip Snyman, he names each with reverence. 'They all connect with players — there's love in how they coach. That's special.' Cupido is now a key figure in both the Blitzboks and Junior Springboks setups. Looking ahead, he aspires to lift the Currie Cup, compete in the URC, and ultimately wear the green and gold of the Springboks. But he knows there are no shortcuts. 'I have goals. Big ones. But I also know it's going to take hard work, day by day. That's what it's about.' He may be young. But Gino Cupido already carries the spirit of a veteran – steady, faithful, and fiercely determined. As he says, 'I'm playing for myself, my family, and my town. And I know what I have to do to succeed.' HAVE YOU SEEN GINO CUPIDO IN ACTION YET? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
South China Morning Post
14-06-2025
- Sport
- 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'.
South China Morning Post
12-06-2025
- Sport
- 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.
HKFP
19-05-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Hong Kong seeks to turn To Kwa Wan waterfront into tourism hotspot channelling Sydney's Darling Harbour
Hong Kong's urban redevelopment body is looking into redeveloping a Victoria Harbour waterfront area in eastern Kowloon into a tourism cove with restaurants and outdoor music venues. In a blog post on Sunday, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) managing director, Wai Chi-sing, said that the authority had begun a study on the possibility of developing To Kwa Wan into a world-class harbourfront development, which he dubbed the 'Victoria Cove Area.' Wai said the development would be similar to Sydney's Darling Harbour, formerly an industrial harbour that was redeveloped in the 1980s. It would also draw inspiration from the Aker Brygge promenade in Oslo, a former shipyard, he added. The official said that the URA's study, which began in March, covered an 800-hectare area of land and water, including parts of To Kwa Wan, Kowloon Bay, and Kai Tak – the site of a flagship sports park and proposed major commercial, tourism, and residential developments. The study suggested that some idle barges on the To Kwa Wan waterfront could be converted into restaurants, concert stages, swimming pools, or floating beaches, while two breakwaters in the area could host art installations. The neighbouring waters off the Kai Tak Sports Park, with their calm currents, would be suitable for water sports such as rowing or canoeing, or for floating platforms that could be used as performance stages. The sports park is touted by the government as a state-of-the-art venue for large-scale events in a bid to boost tourism amid the city's slow recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. It hosted the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in March and sold-out concerts by British band Coldplay last month. Wai added that proposals for the waterfront development would have to comply with regulatory and licensing regimes, and would require technical impact assessments and consultations with stakeholders such as the government and barge operators. Watersports should not interfere with shipping routes, and restaurants must have the appropriate licenses, he said. A consultant has begun discussions with various government departments and is expected to submit a preliminary report and feasibility study to the URA in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, recent legislative amendments loosening rules for creating new land through reclamation could make the development process easier, Wai said. On May 7, the Legislative Council passed a law making it easier for the government to create new land through reclamation in Victoria Harbour – despite objections from environmental activists. The Development Bureau said it would allow fast-tracking smaller reclamation works measuring 0.8 hectares or less and would 'enhance harbourfront areas for public enjoyment.'
