Travel Jan. 16, 2009 - 03:37AM JST ( 2 )

HONG KONG —

Tickets for the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2009 extravaganza will go on public sale on Jan 17. The 12 core teams participating in the IRB Sevens World Series in 2008/2009 are Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, defending Hong Kong champions New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, USA and Wales.

Eleven other teams will join the core teams along with the hosts in Hong Kong. These teams are Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Uruguay, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

The Hong Kong Sevens’ key role as a development tool for Asian rugby has been reconfirmed - with six Asian teams confirmed to line up against the heavyweights of Sevens rugby.

The first two events on the 2008/09 IRB Sevens World Series have already produced results that indicate that this season’s Series will be more competitive than ever. South Africa made team history by winning two consecutive tournaments, including their home event in George. It was the first time that South Africa has won its host IRB Sevens event since the inception of the IRB World Sevens Series 10 years ago in 1999.

England are also off to a flyer after reaching the Cup final in Dubai and winning the Plate in George. They lie tied-third on the IRB Sevens table with Fiji on 24 points, behind South Africa with a perfect 40 points from two events and New Zealand who are in second place with 28.

The exciting line-up and Hong Kong’s unique role as the only IRB Sevens World Series event to host 24 teams, ensures that tickets will again be in great demand worldwide. After another strong take up of tickets by Hong Kong’s thriving domestic rugby scene and the appointed official travel agents, the 2009 Sevens is expected to again be a sell-out, attracting upwards of 120,000 spectators through the gates during the 3-day event.

Following the successful precedent of the Bledisloe Cup match held in Hong Kong in November, tickets for the Hong Kong Sevens will be sold locally through Hong Kong Ticketing. Public tickets will go on sale to Hong Kong and Macau residents starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

To ensure the greatest possible distribution of tickets to the local public, the HKRFU has restricted individual purchases to a maximum of two per person in any combination of adult or child tickets.

Ticket prices remain the same as for the 2008 event. Adult tickets for the three-day spectacle remain at HK$1,080. A limited number of children’s tickets will be available for children aged 12 and below at HK$300 per three-day child’s ticket.

The method of purchase for fans from outside of Hong Kong will be via 11 appointed Official Travel Agents or Cathay Pacific, the co-title sponsor and official airline of the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens.

Cathay Pacific and the Official Travel Agents will offer a variety of packages including event tickets, travel and accommodation.

The Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2009 will be held from Friday March 27 - Sunday March 29 at the Hong Kong Stadium.

For reservations, visit hkticketing.com.