From humble beginnings in 1976, the Hong Kong Sevens has grown into the city's leading sports event, famed throughout the world. This year, as the tournament celebrates 40 years, we're taking a ride through the SCMP archives to see how the event became the jewel in the sevens crown. 

And if you see yourself or a friend in any of our pictures in our eight-part series, click here to enter your best memories of the Sevens and the most original/entertaining answers could win a pair of three-day tickets to this year’s Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens from March 27-29. 

Aptly, the idea for the Hong Kong Sevens was first mooted over a boozy lunch. 

Ian Gow, an executive with Rothmans Tobacco, wanted an event to promote his cigarettes – back in the days when using sport to sell one of the most unhealthy products around was the done thing.

He sold A.D.C Tokkie Smith, chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union and former captain, on the idea of inviting the world's best rugby teams to play in the city and the plan was duly hatched. Seven-a-side rather than 15s seemed easier both financially and logistically, and a proposal was sent off to the sport's chiefs at Twickenham.

The blazers at the RFU reacted with horror at this upstart competition, with its – gasp – commercial sponsorship. This was still years before the first Rugby World Cup and England wouldn't send a team to Hong Kong until the 90s.