The organizer of the Hong Kong Sevens said foreign teams will be placed in strict “closed loop” bubbles as the event is set to take place from November 4 to 6 at the Hong Kong Stadium after a three-year hiatus.
The Hong Kong Rugby Union said on Friday that they have already reserved single rooms at local hotels for all international players and officials to be placed under a strict “bubble arrangement” or closed-loop system.
Designated transportation will also be in place to take them to their training sites, according to the union.
Meanwhile, the competition — which used to attract a crowd of 40,000 at the Hong Kong Stadium— will cap its ground capacity to 85 percent and limit spectator numbers to around 34,000. They will also have to be separated in the stands in groups of eight people.
Spectators will be required to use the
vaccine pass and have their temperatures measured when entering the Hong Kong Stadium. Only drinking is allowed in the stadium.
Separately, the Rugby Union has frozen 2019 ticket prices, with a three-day adult pass and kid’s pass available for HK$1,950 and HK$950, respectively. General sales will begin on September 29.
Union Chief Executive Officer Robbie McRobbie said they will make adjustments to the competition should authorities further relax the city’s
Covid rules.
He noted that the union had suffered a loss of over HK$250 million with the Sevens being canceled or postponed in the previous years and had since axed half of its employees.
He added that the union will not be able to take the hit should the event be canceled once again.