Bars and restaurants ready for HK Rugby Sevens

The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens are more than one of Hong Kong's favorite sporting events. The competition draws visitors from all over Asia, and keeps fans who can't make the trip glued to TVs at home and in popular bars and restaurants.

In Hong Kong, Hong Kong Telecommunications' new loyalty and rewards program The Club will host the official satellite party of the Sevens at The Wheel, the island's new iconic attraction. Tickets are open to The Club members and the public. You can get close to the action at Sevens Village beer garden, located next to the stadium, where beer comes by the pitchers and games are on the big screen. This location puts you so close to the action, you can hear the crowds.

Many eateries are joining the festivities with pre - and after-game specials. A sampling:

Linguini Fini hosts Seven's Funk '70s next weekend from 10:30 pm till late. The restaurant will put funkadelic on the turntables and a team of staff decked out in '70s gear. Unlimited burger sliders, pizza, buffalo wings, french fries and fried chicken can be enjoyed for HK$259 ($33) per person, including free-flow Peroni, prosecco and "south stand" cocktails. (49 Elgin Street, SoHo; 852-2387-6338.

Posto Pubblico's Sevens after party features Mic Mcgirk on April 8 for only HK$129 plus 10 percent service charge, with free-flow Peroni and prosecco from 10 pm till late. Party guests who come in costume will get a free serving of the restaurant's popular veal meatballs. Kitchen is open till midnight. Pregame on the weekend, brunch offerings include the Eggs DeVito (HK$98) with pork meatball, roasted peppers and tomato hollandaise and the Steak & Eggs (HK$228), a 6oz NY strip loin with 2 eggs and salad. Free-flow prosecco is priced at HK$88 per person. (28 Elgin Street, SoHo; 852-2577-7160.)

In the heart of Wanchai, Stone Nullah Tavern offers specially priced beer buckets (seven Peronis for HK$200). After the games, there are late-night hotdogs, and guests in creative costumes will get a free pint. Pre-game barbecue brunch on the weekend is HK$339, including a nacho bar and all-you-can-eat mains like southern fried chicken, maple-glazed ribs and fish tacos. Add HK$99 for free-flow beer and margaritas. (G/F, 69 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai; 852-3182-0128.)

If you're not joining the fun in Hong Kong, many bars and restaurants in mainland cities are poised to bring you Sevens games and special menus.

In Shanghai, for example, The Brew at the Kerry Hotel Pudong will show the game on April 7 from 6 pm onward, and April 8 from 11 am onward and the finals on April 9 starting at 4 pm. Rugby lovers can enjoy the new brewmaster's choice craft beer with the daily happy hour offer (buy 1 get 1 free) from 3 pm to 8 pm (1388 Hua Mu Road Pudong; 021-6169-8888).