The Hong Kong Sevens will not take place from November 5 to 7 as had been hoped, with World Rugby citing the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic, including travel restrictions.

Hong Kong will operate even stricter border entry and quarantine requirements for international visitors from next Monday (August 9).

It has pursued a so-called zero COVID approach, and is introducing the measures as the Delta variant spreads across the south-east of Asia.

The Hong Kong Sevens event was also axed last year, while it had already been delayed from April to November this year.

A edition is now not on the calendar until April 1 to 3 in 2022, when the new season is underway.

The Paris Sevens women’s event has also been cancelled for 2021.

This tournament was due to take place in Marcoussis in May, but was postponed until October, and has now been cancelled.

World Rugby said "the health and welfare of players, teams and all involved remains the top priority."

The World Rugby Sevens Series 2021 begins on 18 and 19 September at BC Place in Vancouver, featuring a men’s event and women’s fast-four tournament, followed by another event in Canada at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton the following weekend.

The 2021 circuit will now feature five men’s rounds and just two women’s rounds.

Rugby sevens featured at Tokyo 2020 after making its Olympic debut five years earlier at Rio de Janeiro.

Fiji triumphed 27-12 over New Zealand in the men's final, but the Black Ferns Sevens earned gold for their country with a 26-12 win against France in the women's final.

World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said that while regretful, the decisions to cancel the events in Hong Kong and Paris were the correct ones.

"Over six days of thrilling competition at Tokyo 2020 we again witnessed the incredible skills, athleticism, determination and unique values of solidarity and respect that make rugby sevens such a unique and popular sport on the Olympic programme and with fans around the globe," Gilpin commented.

"The inclusion of rugby sevens for the first time in the Olympic Games at Rio 2016 attracted an estimated 30 million new fans globally and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series presents us with a great opportunity to build on the positive effects of competing on the Olympic stage.

"While it is obviously very disappointing not to be able to go ahead with two of our planned Sevens Series events in Hong Kong and Paris in 2021, the decisions have been taken with the health and wellbeing of the rugby community and the wider public as top priority, and following extensive consultation with the host organisations, participating unions and relevant government bodies.

"The future of rugby sevens is very bright and players, teams and fans can look ahead to a very busy and exciting year in 2022 when the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will be followed by Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

"We continue to work with all respective governments, health agencies, stakeholders and partners to ensure the Series events meet relevant COVID-19 requirements as the health and wellbeing of players, fans and all involved remains paramount."

As reported by the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) chief executive Robbie McRobbie echoed Gilpin’s views.

"It's a huge disappointment from all concerned," McRobbie said.

"I hope our community trusts the fact that we make these decisions very much with public health at the forefront.

"That we are making the right decisions for our organisation, our community and Hong Kong.

"We left the decision as late as we could.

"Once you hit 90 days you’re in the realm of having to pay very significant deposits on hotels and flights.

"So we left it late - in fact, later this time than the previous postponements and cancellations - but we really have reached the point of no return."

Rugby Sevens makes up 95 per cent of the HKRU’s income, but McRobbie said it would not be viable to host the event if the ground was less than half full.

Vancouver was the host for the last men's World Rugby Sevens Series competition on 7 and 8 March 2020, which was won by New Zealand.

New Zealand also won the last women’s event, held in Sydney on 1 and 2 February 2020.

The planned events in May and October 2020 were all cancelled.