Scrum down! - Time Out Hong Kong

Three days of rugby mania hit town for the annual Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Lisa Cam, Li Meng de Bakker and Chun-Chit Samuel Lai check out the teams, the competitions, the parties and all the fun in between

It's the must-go-to Hong Kong event of the year. Whether or not you like ? or for that matter, understand ? the sport of rugby sevens, there's so much fun and so many games which surround the main tournament, it's worth getting in on as much of the action as you can. And, of course, we want you to support our homegrown Hong Kong team if you have tickets for the games or are watching them on TV inside the HSBC Sevens Village. Our lads may be minnows but we reckon it's their year to shine?

There are a total of 28 teams taking part in this year's tournament at Hong Kong Stadium and they are divided into two separate competitions, with 16 sides in the main pool, which includes Hong Kong after our side triumphed in the Asian Sevens Series last year. A 12-team pre-qualification tournament also makes up the schedule, which kicks off with Zimbabwe vs Mexico at 4pm on March 22.

The 2013 tournament is being plugged as the biggest Hong Kong Sevens in the competition's 38-year history. It's organised by the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union and, in addition to the honour of scooping the annual title, there's US$100,000 up for grabs for the winning team, as well as US$25,000 going to the runners-up. The top teams are all there ? be it Fiji, Australia, England, France, Hong Kong or New Zealand, down to the likes of Chinese Taipei and the Cook Islands.

So dress up in a comedy costume and catch the action at the stadium or on TV. Or, if the big tournament isn't your style, maybe you want to catch some of the other rugby games happening around town over the coming days?

The Hong Kong Beach 5s
'Rugby Week', as it's dubbed, kicks off with the biggest beach rugger tournament in Asia. More than 800 players hit the Repulse Bay sand and compete in games of rugby, netball and dodgeball. Featuring live DJs and food and drink outlets, the third edition of the two-day event promises to be a festive beach carnival of rugby fun. Free; Repulse Bay Beach, Mar 16 & 17, 9am-9.30pm. facebook.com/beach5s

The Hong Kong 10s
Get ready for some intense crouch and touch at the 28th GFI HKFC Tens, recognised as the premier 10s tournament in the world. The event sees defending champs BGC Asia-Pacific All Stars guarding their glory from 2012 runners-up, the New Zealand Legends, as well as semi-finalists the HSBC Penguins and ULR Samurai International.?First day free, second day $100; Hong Kong Football Club, 3 Sports Rd, Happy Valley, Mar 20 & 21. hongkongtens.com.

The Altus Kowloon Rugbyfest
Warm up your passion for rugby with a relaxed friendly game between sports clubs, associations and basically anybody who can gather in a team to play. Dubbed 'the best social tournament in the world', up to 24 teams from associations like PLA, the British Army and Laos National team are participating. The post game event to look out for is Rugbyfest dinner, which is hosted by a pack of rugby legends. Free; King's Park Sports Ground, 11 Wylie Path, Ho Man Tin, Mar 20, 10am. rugbyfest.org

The Hong Kong Women's Sevens
Hong Kong hosted the first ever Women's International Rugby Union Sevens tournament in handover year, 1997. The games now have their own World Cup and an upcoming place in the 2016 Olympics. Twelve teams from Europe, North America, Asia and Africa compete at this year's Hong Kong Women's Sevens. It's history in the making? Free; Hong Kong Football Club, 3 Sports Rd, Happy Valley, Mar 22, 8am-7pm. Final in Hong Kong Stadium, Mar 22, 7.40pm (you need Sevens tickets to see it). hkrugby.com

The Standard Chartered International Youth Tournament
Watch the up-and- coming stars of the future as Hong Kong youth rugby clubs come head-to-head with teams from Singapore, Dubai, China, Japan and Russia for a day of junior Sevens games. Free; King's Park Sports Ground, 11 Wylie Path, Ho Man Tin, Mar 21. hkrugby.com

The USFHK Rugby Competition
Although not officially part of Rugby Week, Hong Kong's university teams battle out their own Sevens tournament in early April. Part of The University Sports Federation of Hong Kong league, all of the major unis in the SAR are taking part. Free; King's Park Sports Ground, 11 Wylie Path, Ho Man Tin, April 6 & 7. hkrugby.com

Our pick of the parties

It's all about the parties. Check if you need a ticket beforehand...

- Carlsberg Rugby 7s Flip Cup Championship, Play Club, Mar 21, 9.30pm; 1/F, On Hing Bld, 1 On Hing Tce, Central; playclub.asia.

- Beer, goodies and live screenings of the games, The Pawn, Mar 22-24; 62 Johnston Rd, Wan Chai, 2866 3444; thepawn.com.hk.

- Screenings and Sevens-themed merchandise on offer, Dickens Bar, Mar 22-25; L/G, The Excelsior, 281 Gloucester Rd, Causeway Bay, 2837 6782; mandarinoriental.com.?

- Louis Roderer Champagne Tent After Party, India Recreation Club, March 22-24, 8pm, 7.30pm on Sun; 63 Caroline Hill Rd, Causeway Bay, 2530 2773; ironmongerevents.com.

- The Ultimate Rugby Sevens Afterparty, Armani/ Privet; 2/F, Chater House, 8 Connaught Road, Central, 3582 2828; armaniprive-hk.com.

- HSBC Sevens Village, March 22-24, open during Sevens; Opposite Hong Kong Stadium, throughout the tournement.

Source: http://www.timeout.com.hk/around-town/features/57196/scrum-down.html

private practice deion sanders creutzfeldt jakob disease the lone ranger yu darvish mad cow pennsylvania primary