Costumes, cheers fill Kai Tak on HK Seven's final day

Tens of thousands of rugby fans were in vibrant costumes and high spirits at Kai Tak Stadium on Sunday as they awaited the crowning of this year’s Hong Kong Sevens champions later in the day. Following two days of thrilling matches and non-stop entertainment, devoted supporters were back early, determined to soak up every moment of the tournament’s grand finale. Fans of all ages, both local and from abroad, gathered at Kai Tak Stadium to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic rugby event. In the crowd were people dressed as Super Mario characters, alongside a group of men whose Sailor Moon outfits turned heads. And then there was 71-year-old New Zealander Dave Mehrtens who is finally realising his lifelong dream. A rugby fan since childhood, Mehrtens is attending the Hong Kong Sevens for the first time. “Ever since I was a little bloke, I wanted to come here and see this,” he said. “I’m slowly getting used to it. It’s very daunting – it’s just so big. Everything’s big. Way bigger than what I’m used to. I decided to do this before I die, actually.” For Omar Perez, a visitor from Belgium, the weekend offered the perfect balance of celebration and sport. After enjoying the lively atmosphere in the South Stand the day before, he was ready to focus on the finals. “First time in Hong Kong, despite that it might feel busy sometimes, everything is well organised, super clean and everyone has been super friendly to us and we're looking forward to coming back,” he said. Younger fans were equally enthusiastic, with many of them gathering near the front-row seats hoping to get autographs of their favourite players. One young fan, Montague Morrison, shared his strategy: bringing an extra shirt to toss onto the field for players to sign. The 10-year-old said he had set himself an ambitious goal – to fill his jersey with at least 50 signatures before the day ends. Edited by Aaron Tam