After national anthem blunder, Hong Kong ready to focus on wrapping up title at final Asia Rugby Sevens Series event
- Hong Kong’s men go into final round of matches in the United Arab Emirates having yet to lose a game
- But coach Jevon Groves says he has yet to see ‘a complete performance’ and wants that to change this weekend
Hong Kong will hope to put the furore surrounding the national anthem blunder behind them this weekend, when the Asia Rugby Sevens Series makes its final stop in Abu Dhbai.
The men’s second successive victory of the series in Korea was completely overshadowed by the playing of the wrong song before the final, a game where they beat the hosts 19-12.
All but assured of retaining their men’s overall title in the city of Al Ain, Hong Kong have handed senior debuts to Pat Joe Laidler and Juan Mba Oyana, whose sister Julia is a member of the women’s team, and recalled Max Denmark to the squad.
But despite their dominance of the past two tournaments in Bangkok and Incheon, Hong Kong coach Jevon Groves said he had yet to see “a complete performance” from his side.
“We know that all of the teams will be the best version of themselves this weekend, having been together and been training and playing together across the series,” he said.
“The challenge for us is to avoid complacency, remember the hard work that got us to this position, and to go out and find a complete performance where we control games from minute one to minute 14. I don’t think that we have done that yet this series, so that is the goal.”
Hong Kong have again made five changes to the group that competed in Korea, with Fong Kit-fung and Eric Kwok Pak-nga coming in alongside Laidler, Mba Oyana and Denmark.
Their inclusion means Michael Coverdale, Harry Sayers, Liam Doherty, Salom Yiu Kam-shing and Mak Kwai-chung miss out.
Max Woodward will again captain the side, with Russ Webb, Seb Brien, Alessandro Nardoni, Kane Boucaut, Alex McQueen, Callum McCullough and Liam Herbert making up the rest of the 13-man squad
“I am pleased for Pat and Juan, they have been training with us for a while now, and it is good to see them get this opportunity,” Groves said. “I am happy with the make-up of the squad as a whole.
We have a lot of experience in the group with Max, Seb, Russ and Alex, and it will be good to see how players like Kane, Callum and Liam go in back-to-back tournaments.
“If all goes well by the end of the weekend, we would have used most of the senior training squad across the series.
“If the performances are there, it will bode well for increasing our competitiveness across the senior sevens playing group. That competition for places can only mean better results on the pitch.”
Hong Kong have been placed in Pool A alongside Sri Lanka, China and Malaysia, with Korea topping Pool B, which also includes Philippines, UAE and Japan.
In contrast to Groves, Iain Monaghan, the women’s coach, has made just one change to his squad, handing a first start of the series to Sabay Lynam as a replacement for Cherly So Yee-kei.
Mel Li and Natasha Olson-Thorne return as co-captains, while newcomers Georgia Rivers and Julia Mba Oyana retain their places in the squad. Standouts Nam Ka-man and Jessica Eden also return for a third appearance, alongside Jessica Ho Wai-on, who had a strong series debut in Korea, and Chan Tsz-ching. Vivian Poon Hoi-yan will help orchestrate the backs, while Chloe Chan, Au Yeung Sin-yi, Shanna Forrest and Rivers join Melody Li in adding muscle up front.
Hong Kong have been placed in Pool A alongside Japan, Kazakhstan and Malaysia, while China, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Philippines make up Pool B.
Hong Kong men: Max Woodward (capt), Kane Boucaut, Seb Brien, Max Denmark, Fong Kit-fung, Liam Herbert, Eric Kwok Pak-nga, Pat Joe Laidler, Callum McCullough, Alex McQueen, Juan Mba Oyana, Alessandro Nardoni, Russ Webb.
Hong Kong women: Melody Li Nim-yan (co-capt), Natasha Olson-Thorne (co-capt), Au Yeung Sin-yi, Nam Ka-man, Chloe Chan, Chan Tsz-ching, Jessica Eden, Jessica Ho Wai-on, Poon Hoi-yan, Shanna Forrest, Sabay Lynam, Julia Mba Oyana, Georgia Rivers.
