Kye Oates of Australia touches down a try during a Pool A rugby 7s match between Australia and China's Hong Kong at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in Hong Kong, south China, Nov. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)
HONG KONG, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong Sevens marked its return on Friday as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series opened the 2022-2023 season at the Hong Kong Stadium with an influx of more than 30,000 fans.
Hong Kong Sevens was suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2022 edition is the first multi-day mass sports event locally since the outbreak of the pandemic.
The three-day tournament saw 16 teams divided into four groups to compete in a single round-robin format.
Host Hong Kong, China lost 43-0 to reigning champion Australia and Samoa beat New Zealand 24-0 in Group A on the opening day.
Fiji, 19-time champion of Hong Kong Sevens, registered their opening win by dominating Japan 59-12.
Hong Kong, China will host New Zealand before taking on Samoa on Saturday. ■
Nick Malouf (2nd R) of Australia competes for the ball during a Pool A rugby 7s match between Australia and China's Hong Kong at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in Hong Kong, south China, Nov. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)
Max Denmark (C) of China's Hong Kong breaks through during a Pool A rugby 7s match between Australia and China's Hong Kong at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in Hong Kong, south China, Nov. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)
Henry Paterson (R) of Australia breaks through during a Pool A rugby 7s match between Australia and China's Hong Kong at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in Hong Kong, south China, Nov. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)
