The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, a sporting event known as much for its carnival-like atmosphere as much as the sport itself, returns to Singapore for the second year running, from 15 to 16 April 2017, promises to be even more colourful and engaging than the inaugural event in the country.
The Rugby Sevens features the world’s top rugby nations who play a variant of the traditional format, where 7-a-side teams take to the field and play seven-minute halves, which makes for a much faster which scores occurring much more often than the regular format.
The Hong Kong 7s is already a staple among sport fans, who plan vacations around the festivities of the event with attendees turning up in costume and reveling the weekend away. For a while, Hong Kong was the only destination in the region. However, 2016 marked the addition of Singapore as part of the Rugby 7s season for the first time with over 30,000 spectators in attendance at the iconic Singapore National Stadium as Kenya beat reigning World Series champion Fiji for a historic win.
While Kenya sent shockwaves around the rugby world, host Singapore also won the hearts of participating teams who rated the National Stadium and Pan Pacific Singapore as one of the best Stadium and Hotel respectively on the world circuit. Overseas visitors experienced a truly integrated Sevens experience with many fun activities at the Sports Hub for rugby fans of all ages and also enjoyed free transport to the Official After Party Hub, Clarke Quay, for more revelery.
“The Singapore Rugby 7s was a resounding success and Singapore has really positioned itself as an alternative to the Hong Kong 7s in Asia,” said World Rugby Chief Executive, Mr. Brett Gosper.
Rugby Singapore is confident that the 2017 event in Singapore will be even more colourful and entertaining than the first try with music and interactive games with the in-stadium DJ and live music entertainment both inside and outside the stadium planned.
“Sevens Rugby is one of the most colourful sporting spectacles on the planet as you host 16 teams from all five continents and fans from many different countries,” said Mr. Low Teo Ping. “Besides spectacular plays and unpredictable try finishes coupled with dramatic try-scoring celebrations, spectators with their painted faces, fancy costumes and unique chants are what adds colour to the tournament. Given the success of this year’s tournament, I strongly encourage fans to buy their tickets early to avoid disappointment.”
There are also plans to hold a “Midnight 7s” women’s tournament as part of the event which will run from 9pm to 3am ensuring that the celebrations do not stop once the sun sets..
Tickets for next year’s HSBC Singapore Sevens go on sale this Saturday 15 October, with tickets costing as low as $2 for children under the age of 12 and with packages for groups and families as well. Tickets can be purchased at singapore7s.sg.