World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series: Hong Kong teams make winning start to tournament in Dubai
- Women beat Paraguay 17-0 in opening game before going down 19-0 to Argentina on Friday
- Hong Kong’s men make five changes to squad and get under way with 21-7 victory over Papua New Guinea
Hong Kong began their World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series campaign in Dubai on Friday, and made five changes to the men’s team that just missed out on qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
Jevon Groves side take on Georgia, Papua New Guinea and Uruguay in Pool A at the 12-team tournament, with a top four finish in their sights, but without the likes of Max Woodward, Salom Yiu Kam-shing, Alex McQueen, Mike Coverdale and Alessandro Nardoni.
Instead, Sebastian Brien comes in as captain, and is joined in the squad by other replacements Harry Sayers, Callum McCullough, Pierce Mackinlay-West, and Fong Kit-Fung.
Hong Kong’s men opened their tournament with a 21-7 win over PNG on Friday, and Groves said while a top four finish was the target the reality was his side faced “some really tough teams”.
A high finish in Dubai, and across the series’ other two legs in Montevideo and Munich would give Hong Kong a chance of making the World Series promotion event in May.
“If we put ourselves in the position of getting to the top four consistently over the three legs, then it gives us a chance to get to that final, final leg,” Groves said. “That’s the ultimate target for us, but we know, with the make-up of the tournament groups and how they cross over, it’s going to be very, very tough to get to that top four in this tournament.”
Groves said the changes he made to the squad were as much to do with ensuring players were rested, as it was about the ability of those coming in, and hailed the depth of the men’s programme.
“The lads coming in are experienced, they have played well in some big tournaments,” he said. “I’m excited to see this squad play, to see how these players go against a different type of opposition.”
The men’s second game against Georgia was at 12:04am (HKT) on Saturday, with Uruguay the last pool game at 7.27pm.
Hong Kong’s women, meanwhile, began their tournament with a 17-0 win over Paraguay, before losing 19-0 to Argentina on Friday. They face Poland in their last game in Pool C on Saturday.
Head coach Andy Vilk has named a relatively settled squad, with eight of those who played in the Asia Rugby Olympic Qualifier included, including co-captains Natasha Olson-Thorn and Melody Li.
Emerging stars Julia Mba Oyana, Sabay Lynam and Gabriella Rivers make their season debuts alongside Chan Tsz-Ching.
Hong Kong men: Seb Brien (capt), James Christie, Max Denmark, Liam Doherty, Fong Kit-Fung, Liam Herbert, Cado Lee Ka-to, Pierce MacKinlay-West, Callum McCullough, Bryn Phillips, Harry Sayers, Russell Webb.
Hong Kong women: Natasha Olson-Thorne (co-capt), Melody Li Nim-yan, (co-capt), Au Yeung Sin Yi, Chloe Chan, Chan Tsz-Ching, Chong Ka Yan, Jessica Ho Wai On, Sabay Lynam, Nam Ka Man, Julia Mba Oyana, Vivian Poon Hoi Yan, Gabriella Rivers.
