IN PICTURES: 40 years of the Hong Kong Sevens - part 4 (1991-1995). Join us for an eight-part romp through the SCMP archives looking at how the world-famous event grew from humble beginnings to become a phenomenon
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 the pictures in our eight-part series, click here to enter your best memories of the Sevens and the most original/entertaining answers will win a pair of three-day tickets to this year’s Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens from March 27-29.
Part 4 of our coverage begins in 1991, with France and Scotland making their debuts and the first appearance of a perennial Sevens story - police warning that hundreds of tickets could be in the hands of touts. "There was uproar last month when the 12,300 tickets reserved for Hong Kong sold out within two hours," the SCMP said on its front page. Despite that, a news report from day one of the tournament says doormen gave away tickets that fans failed to sell outside the stadium.
Fiji delighted the crowd again after a repeat of the 1990 final against New Zealand, winning 18-14 this time. Timoci Wainiqolo scored the match-winning try in injury time. "That took 10 years of my life," New Zealand coach Wayne Smith told the SCMP. "It was an incredible final but sickening to lose."
Kiwi star Eric Rush was named "best and fairest player" as he and Fiji's Waisale Serevi continued to light up the event.
In the continued absence of England, the Barbarians, led by Will Carling and Jeremy Guscott, were big crowd favourites, but Fiji saw them off in the semis.
