As part of his role at Glasgow 2014 Mason will report to the rugby sevens competition manager and will also liaise with the International Rugby Board's (IRB) technical delegate at Glasgow 2014 to ensure the competition is run in accordance with the technical rules and event operational protocols of the IRB.

"My experience with the Hong Kong Sevens has obviously had a lot of influence in the decision -making by the federation responsible for running the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and may have put me ahead of other candidates," said Mason, who revealed that he will be on the ground in Glasgow from May through to the end of the tournament on Sunday July 27.

"I am very honoured, ecstatic really, to be invited.

"I think the fact that the organisers in Glasgow have reached as far as Hong Kong to ask me to be involved is fabulous and I am looking forward to it.

"I had to use 101 days of accumulated leave but it will be well worth the experience at the end of the day.

"I was kind of saving my leave up for pre-retirement in a couple of years but this is a great opportunity that I could not pass up."

Fiji celebrate their win in last year's Hong Kong Sevens Cup final against Wales ©Getty Images



Mason has been working with the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) as tournament operations director of the Hong Kong Sevens since 2004 having previously spent a year in the assistant's role.

In that time the event has become one of the marquee tournaments on the HSBC Rugby Sevens World Series.

This year's tournament is due to take place from March 28 to 30 at the Hong Kong Stadium and will see the world's top men's 16 teams competing in the seventh round of the series while a 12-team world series qualifier will also take place alongside the main tournament, which will see teams battle it out for a core-team place on next season's main tour.

"The Hong Kong Sevens is simply the world's best sevens tournament and I am proud to have played a role in its success," added Mason, a senior superintendent of administration for the Kowloon West Region of the Hong Kong Police.

"The best moment for me of the weekend is to hear the whistle blow for the kick-off of the Cup final because at that point there is very little that can go wrong with the schedule."

Sixteen teams will compete across two days of competition at Ibrox Stadium during the rugby sevens tournament at this year's Commonwealth Games, in what is expected to be one of the most popular sports at the Games.

Mason will be familiar with many of the players taking to the pitch at Ibrox as 12 of the 16 teams will also have taken part in next month's Hong Kong Sevens.

Commenting on Mason's appointment, a Glasgow 2014 spokesperson told insidethegames: "Glasgow 2014 is delighted that Rod has agreed to join the Organising Committee in the role of rugby sevens technical operations manager.

"He brings with him extensive experience acquired from several years involvement with the Hong Kong Sevens event."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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