From small beginnings, great things arise.

This Friday marks the 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong Sevens, as rugby’s wild child takes a moment to reflect on its massive journey at the stunning new Kai Tak Stadium.

Make no mistake, the celebrations promise to be as lively and extraordinary as always.

However, the tournament has become a legendary event on the rugby calendar and an essential pilgrimage for all rugby enthusiasts.

Originally, it began as somewhat of a marketing ploy by Rothmans, a cigarette company.

Sevens rugby was virtually unheard of, yet a curious crowd of 3000 gathered in 1976 at the Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley for a free, one-day event.

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The Hong Kong team was captained by former England international Bob Lloyd.

“We had no inkling the tournament would evolve into what it has today – not in the slightest,” reflected the 83-year-old, as he took a ceremonial kick-off to acknowledge the anniversary this month.

“The same goes for the game. The players today, both men and women – they are outstanding. The Hong Kong rugby union knew they were onto a winner. Just look where the game stands now with the Olympics and the World Series. Hong Kong was the catalyst.”

Initially, Australia’s men’s team was referred to as the Wallaroos – a nickname which is now used for the national women’s XVs team.

Sitting on the sidelines was Peter Reed, who has attended every single Hong Kong Sevens since its inception.

“I had just arrived in January of 1976, so it was a fantastic way to start,” Reed reminisced.

“It was well received and went off splendidly. I remember there was a massive brawl between the Aussies and the Fijians, and that lit the fuse,” Reed recounted.

And thus begins the story of Australia’s rather lukewarm reception at the tournament.

The legendary Mark Ella was taken aback to hear boos during his debut in Hong Kong.

However, he and teammate David Campese soon discovered how to channel it into motivation.

”It was quite astonishing initially,” Ella reflected.

“I would think to myself, ‘what did we do to earn this?’ Surprisingly, it did motivate us somewhat, and before long, we began to see the humour in it. Regardless of how much the crowd booed, it was evident that they appreciated good rugby, which made it a bit easier to bear.”

So what had Ella and the team done to provoke such a reaction?

New Zealander Jamie Scott offered a witty explanation in a 1994 South China Morning Post article.

”The roots of this rather amusing phenomenon can be traced back to the expulsion of Fijian player Jo Rauto during the semi-finals of the 1976 Rothmans Sevens,” the playful Kiwi wrote.

“Rauto and the spirited Wallaroo hooker got into a bit of a spat, interrupted only by Hong Kong-based referee Harry Brickwood.

”Rauto attempted to swing a punch, but instead hit Brickwood.

”Fiji, even then a darling of the crowd, managed to score despite being down to six players. Ultimately though, six good men can’t best seven skilled players, leading to the crowd’s booing as the Wallaroos advanced to face the Cantabrians in the final…

”Over the years, it became the norm to boo Australia, and many commentators on-site attempted to sway the crowd into reconsidering their stance. In one instance, after Australia scored, the announcer urged, ‘Don’t boo’. When Australia missed the conversion, the crowd erupted with cheers.’

Fortunately, the booing has lessened in recent years.

The Australian women’s team will commence their 2026 campaign with pool matches against South Africa (2.25pm AEST) and Great Britain (5:35pm AEST) on Friday.

Coach Tim Walsh has made a solitary change from New York, with Bienne Terita stepping in.

“We’re gearing up for round one of the world championships in iconic Hong Kong – the traditional cradle of rugby sevens,” Walsh stated.

“The initial six rounds have instilled a lot of confidence and conviction in the squad to perform at their best.

“The Black Ferns (New Zealand) will obviously be the frontrunners but our focus lies on our pool games against South Africa, who emerged from the SVNS 2 Championship, the ever-evolving Great Britain, and the Paris silver medallists Canada.”

On the men’s side, James McGregor is back for Liam Barry’s squad, with Ethan McFarland making way.

“This marks a restart of the competition after six regular rounds, and with four additional teams, there’s added pressure to perform well and secure a spot for the World Series in 2027,” Barry remarked.

The Australian men’s team will face Kenya, the USA, and New Zealand in the pool stages.

Sam Worthington travelled to the 2026 Hong Kong Sevens thanks to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Cathay Pacific and The Mira

Great things often have humble beginnings.

This Friday, the Hong Kong Sevens celebrates its 50th anniversary, showcasing the remarkable journey of rugby’s wildest event at the newly minted Kai Tak Stadium.

Rest assured, the festivities will be as raucous and delightful as ever.

The event has now become a staple on the sporting calendar and is a must-visit for any rugby enthusiast.

It all commenced as a promotional ploy by the tobacco firm Rothmans.

Sevens rugby was still in its infancy, yet, with no entry fee, a curious crowd of around 3,000 turned up in 1976 for a one-day event held at the Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley.

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The Hong Kong team was captained by former England player Bob Lloyd.

“We never anticipated the tournament would evolve into what it is now – not in the slightest,” remarked the 83-year-old as he performed a ceremonial kick-off to commemorate the milestone this month.

“The same goes for the game itself. The men and women today are amazing. The Hong Kong union tapped into something significant. Just look at the state of the game now, with the Olympics and the World Series – Hong Kong was the starting point.”

The Australian men’s side was nicknamed the Wallaroos – a title now held by the national women’s XVs team.

Peter Reed, who has never missed a year of the Hong Kong Sevens, watched from the sidelines.

“I had just arrived in January 1976, so it was a fantastic way to start,” Reed reminisced.

“The attendance was impressive, and everything seemed to go smoothly. One thing that stands out was a massive brawl between the Australians and the Fijians, which escalated from there,” he said.

And thus begins the saga of Australia’s unpopularity at the event.

The legendary Mark Ella was taken aback by the boos when he first stepped onto the field in Hong Kong.

However, he and teammate David Campese quickly learnt to channel it as fuel for their performance.

“It was quite surprising at first,” Ella recalled. “I remember thinking, ‘What did we do to deserve this?’ It actually motivated us to perform better, and eventually, we began to take it in our stride. But despite the boos, it was apparent that the crowd appreciated quality gameplay, which made things a little more bearable.”

But what had Ella and the others done to earn this treatment?

New Zealander Jamie Scott most eloquently captured the essence of this in a 1994 piece for the South China Morning Post.

“This practice, rather commendable, can be traced back to the expulsion of Fijian Jo Rauto during the semi-finals of the 1976 Rothmans Sevens,” the cheeky Kiwi recounted.

“Rauto and the fiery Wallaroo hooker were in disagreement, only to be interrupted by Hong Kong-based referee Harry Brickwood. Rauto threw a punch, which instead of hitting the Australian, landed on Brickwood. Despite being down to six players, Fiji, a crowd favourite even then, managed to score. But six exemplary players couldn’t trump seven, which led to the crowd booing as the Wallaroos progressed to face the Cantabrians in the final…”

“Over the years, it became increasingly fashionable to boo Australia, and numerous commentators at the venue have attempted to dissuade the crowd from doing so. In one instance, following an Australian score, the crowd booed. ‘Please, don’t boo,’ said an announcer. When Australia missed the subsequent conversion, the crowd cheered.”

In recent years, the disapproval has eased off somewhat.

The immensely talented women’s team from Australia is set to commence their 2026 campaign with matches against South Africa (2:25pm AEST) and Great Britain (5:35pm AEST) on Friday.

Coach Tim Walsh has made one adjustment from the squad in New York, with Bienne Terita coming into the mix.

“We’re excited to head to the first round of the world championships in the iconic Hong Kong – the traditional heart of rugby sevens,” Walsh commented.

“The first six legs have instilled a great deal of confidence and belief within the squad for solid performances.

“The (New Zealand) Black Ferns are naturally the favourites, but we’re focused solely on our pool matches against South Africa, who have heightened their game out of the SVNS 2 Championship, the ever-evolving Great Britain, and the silver medallists from Paris, Canada.”

For the men’s team, James McGregor steps back in, replacing Liam Barry.

“This marks a competition restart following six regular rounds, with four new teams adding an extra layer of pressure to perform well in order to qualify for the World Series in 2027,” Barry said.

Australia’s men are set to face Kenya, the USA, and New Zealand in their pool matches.

Sam Worthington attended the 2026 Hong Kong Sevens thanks to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Cathay Pacific and The Mira