Five reasons to watch the men’s HSBC SVNS Hong Kong

One of the great sporting events of the year, the Hong Kong SVNS should perhaps already be on your must-watch list, but just in case, here’s why you should clear your diary this weekend:

1. It is the Hong Kong SVNS…

All HSBC SVNS stops are special but Hong Kong, well, it’s Hong Kong. A true bucket-list event, the spiritual home of rugby sevens has been drawing in fans, in their hundreds of thousands, since 1976.

After 30 years at the beloved Hong Kong Stadium, there is the added excitement this year of a new home. The shiny Kai Tak Stadium boasts a sunken pitch, huge stands, and enough bars to ensure even the thirstiest of SVNS fans will be well watered.

While there is understandable trepidation from some diehard traditionalists, no one is expecting the ingredients that make a Hong Kong SVNS so special – the electric atmosphere, the magic on the pitch and the weather – to change. Although, the Kai Tak does have a retractable roof and an in-stadium cooling system… innovations surely to be welcomed by players and fans alike.

2. So tight at the top

There is so much riding on all three days of action in Hong Kong, 28-30 March. With just two regular season stops left, a mere six points separates the top-four in the table.

While the brilliant Argentina have grabbed some sort of control by winning the past two events to snatch a lead, the defending League champions cannot shake off the chasing pack.

Spain, despite being the only team in the top-four yet to win, sit second, four points off the top, while Fiji and South Africa are locked together, a further two points back.

Fiji will get an early chance to shake things up further, as they face Argentina in Pool A on day one. Unmissable stuff.

3. Can Argentina lift Hong Kong hoodoo?

Leaders Argentina boast arguably the most formidable, settled squad. From megawatt stars, Marcos Moneta (14 tries so far this season) and Luciano Gonzalez (13 and counting) to big name stalwarts Santiago Alvarez and German Schulz, Los Pumas seem poised to claim a second League trophy in a row.

But there are some of those nagging doubts that make sport so great.

First up, while the team duly completed a four-year unbeaten streak in Vancouver last time out, they do not have the same memories in Hong Kong. Ninth a year ago, Argentina’s men have just one podium finish to lean on. And that was more than 20 years ago, in 2004.

Add on the fact that after winning the League last season, the team went on to lose out in the Grand Final to France and were then knocked out at the quarterfinal stage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and there is still  plenty to prove for the favourites.

4. Spain can’t, can they?

A year ago, Spain finished eighth in Hong Kong. It was their second-best result of a tough season that ended with them not only battling to avoid relegation in the HSBC SVNS Playoffs but also failing to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris.

Now, they are on the verge of completing an underdog story for the ages.

The only team to reach the semifinal stage at all four SVNS stops so far, Spain are flying. Second in Dubai, third in Perth, third in Vancouver and fourth in Cape Town, the only thing left for the men in red is to finally beat Argentina (they are on a 18-match losing streak against the leaders) and grab a first ever series win.

Do that and perhaps rugby will knock football off the front pages back home.

5. New names poised to pounce

Jonah Lomu, David Campese and Eric Rush are just a sprinkling of the headliners to have lit up Hong Kong in the past. Some of the fun of the next few days will be watching the next wave of superstars announcing their gifts to the world.

Step forward Fiji’s Joji Nasova. The hulking win has burst to the top of the try scoring charts this season, doting down 16 times already and drawing the following praise from his head coach.

“He’s stood out really well this season,” Osea Kolinisau said. “Just a complete player. Good in defence. Solid in attack. Very vocal and that’s something we need.”

Add on 20-year-old SVNS debutant Isikeli Basiyalo, someone who has been “very impressive in camp” according to Kolinisau, and perhaps Fiji great Waisale Serevi will soon have company on the Hong Kong honours board.