East said his experiences and impressions of the tournament had been positive and while he believed it benefited players, he was less sure about whether Sevens would work in England.

“This is an excellent opportunity for under-23s to play against different nationalities, so I think the concept is excellent for Hong Kong,” he said.

“In England it's very different because there is the concept of six-a-side football and I think it would probably impose on that rather than add to it.”

Masters team Wallsend Boys Club, in yellow, boasted a number of former A-League players

He also said the “quick and attractive” nature of the game, plus the slightly smaller field, were the biggest differences as an official.

“From a referee's point of view we still have to run up and down but not as far,” East said.

“I think you have to run more intensely but for shorter periods.”

For spectators, the tournament features 65 back-to-back matches over the weekend with Saturday's play running non-stop from 9am until about 7pm.

It offers an intimate yet comfortable fan experience, a carnival atmosphere, the opportunity to drink 2L jugs of beer at your seat and high quality football with a stunning city backdrop.

“I'm more than happy to come to Hong Kong – great place, great weather and a good tournament,” East said.

“It's a very well run tournament, everyone knows what they're doing, the teams are organised very well and everything seems to run like clockwork – it's excellent.”