CATHAY YOUTH INVITATIONAL 7s HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE

The Cathay Youth Invitational 7s 2026 took place from 16-17 April 2026 at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground, featuring some of the top schools and clubs (U18 Boys and Girls) from across the globe. One of Hong Kong China’s greatest sevens rugby stars, Jamie Hood, organised the inaugural event last year and the 2026 edition, which is delivered by the Hong Kong China Rugby community team.

The youth 7s showcase event gives players the chance to compete at the spiritual home of rugby sevens, and only a short walk away from the main tournament and is generously supported by Cathay.

Hood said of the 2026 edition, “Last year, we managed to get some overseas teams to come in, and we had schools from Singapore, select teams from throughout Asia, as well as Chinese provincial teams join in, which was really, really good to have in our first year.

For this second edition, we've managed to expand to some girls' teams. We had an Australian team that could come over and play too, so year on year, we're trying to grow it, trying to get more age groups, trying to get more boys and girls teams involved. It really is trying to grow the spectacle around the Cathay HSBC Sevens week and raise the profile of schools' rugby and youth rugby.”

With games played across two days in a very busy and milestone 50th edition of the Hong Kong Sevens Week, the tournament was very much aligned with the organisation of the week and an accessible means for fans to enjoy the rugby and for the participants to meet some of the competing international HSBC SVNS teams.

“I think it's really trying to bring the world in, and that's what this tournament's all about. It's the festival feel of it, trying to get as many schools from throughout the region, clubs from throughout the region, and whether that's Australia, whether that's from the United States, whether that's other teams in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and just having that idea that Hong Kong is where everybody comes in to enjoy the Sevens rugby and to enjoy the party atmosphere.”

Last year, several of the tournament ambassadors also attended the event, and it was a great opportunity for the youths involved in the tournament to meet some of their rugby heroes.

“The very fact that it is in line with such a prestigious tournament as the Hong Kong Sevens, everyone feels like such a part of the atmosphere here and for the players to meet the ambassadors at the Kai Tak Youth sports ground, which is a fantastic facility, means it is a pleasure for the all the teams to be involved and playing rugby this week and taking away amazing memories and experiences.”

For Jamie himself, his involvement stems from his passion for the game. “I love being involved in rugby. I love being involved in Hong Kong China Rugby. Especially the youth part of the game, and trying to push them into performance rugby is a passion project for me, and I'm loving being part of it.”

He says the future of the Cathay Youth Invitational 7s looks bright, and having Cathay on board is a great endorsement. “You can see from our HKCR national teams and opportunities they have coming up with the Men’s Rugby World Cup next year, and our 7s teams have the Asian Games later this year. 

There are such big tournaments on the horizon, and we've got to keep continuing to grow our homegrown talent, and with those who are in Hong Kong. The best way to do that, I feel, is to raise the standards, and that's bringing in overseas teams to play our young players.

The Cathay CEO was down here watching again this year, and I think he enjoyed it as well. I think it's got a lot of potential in the future to grow into something that can really be further aligned with Hong Kong Sevens and attract more spectators over here to watch before they go to the main event

Of his favourite memory and takeaway from 50 years of the Cathay HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Jamie said, “This new Kai Tak stadium is fantastic. I've been to watch a Coldplay concert as well as the rugby tournaments. It's so easy to get in, so easy to move around. You feel really at home when you're here. It's fantastic being a part of 50 years of the tournament in Hong Kong, and what a place to spend the 50th anniversary.”