HKCR are saddened to learn of the passing last Friday of Rod Mason, our Sevens Tournament Director 2004-2015.

Rod was already a well known figure in the local rugby community when he stepped up to fill the sizeable shoes of previous Tournament Director and fellow senior police officer Peter Burbidge-King; Rod had been a member of the successful Police 1st team of the late 80s and early 90s, even playing one season whilst simultaneously working undercover, and he also served as the Police Rugby Club Chairman and as Captain of the infamous Old Bill social team.

Taking on the Sevens mantle was quite a step up however, particularly at a time when the Union had far fewer full time staff resources.  The Tournament Director played a critical role liaising with various Government departments, working with the Union team on co-ordinating the event logistics and the entertainment, drafting the schedule, running the team managers’ briefing, and then on-event running the show. Delivering up to 80 games of 7s involving 28 teams over 3 long days along with youth matches, mini march pasts, live band performances, fireworks and all the other elements that go into making the Hong Kong tournament so special whilst sticking to a rigid timetable literally to the second as it is broadcast to millions of fans around the world is incredibly stressful and challenging, but Rod thrived on it … and he was good, really good. He put together a great group of operators he christened the “A Team” and they came to define the look, sound and feel of the Sevens from 2004 through to 2015. Rod encouraged innovation and creativity, whilst always maintaining a healthy respect for the history and tradition of the tournament, a winning blend that contributed to successive sell-outs from the World Cup Sevens of 2005 onwards.

As well as the Sevens Rod was a key figure in helping deliver the two Bledisloe Cup matches staged in Hong Kong, the 2013 British & Irish Lions match, the 2009 East Asian Games Sevens, and he also worked on the 2014 Commonwealth Games Sevens in Glasgow. But it was his contribution to the Sevens that Rod was quite rightly most proud of, and that he will be gratefully remembered  for…to see him in full flow in his Tournament Control Tower on a Sevens Saturday was a wonderful thing - headphones on, majestically conducting the show, waiting until just the right time then turning to the DJ …"Okay Simon, I think our South Stand are ready for a bit of a sing-song, next up Sweet Caroline."

Glorious days. Thank you Rod for the memories, for the fun, the laughter, the friendship, for what you did for Hong Kong rugby. Rest in peace, our thoughts are with Pauline and all the family.