Hong Kong’s national rugby sevens team will be participating in the HSBC World Sevens Series as a wildcard. They will line up alongside 15 other teams, including Japan, the other Asian side in the competition.
Narrowly missed out on qualifications for the Rio Olympics
The Hong Kong team narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Rio Olympics last year but they have since bounded back with their autumn Asia Rugby Sevens Series titles, winning in Hong Kong, Seoul and Colombo.
Team have bounced back well since then
Finishing at the summit of the 2016 Asia Rugby Sevens Series also means that the Hong Kongers are in the mix to become a core team at the 2018-2019 HSBC World Sevens Series during the World Sevens Series qualifier at April’s HSBC Hong Kong Sevens from 7-9 April. This had also earned them the wild card entry for participating in the Singapore Rugby Sevens from 15-16 April.
Said Jevon Groves, 28, Hong Kong’s elite men’s sevens coach, “The Hong Kong team has bounced back form the disappointment of missing out on the Olympics and have performed really well. It was my first major tournament as part of the coaching team and I am glad we won the overall series.”
He added, “Hong Kong has had a few disappointments against Japan recently but we have learnt a lot from those games. We are in a better place now.”
Training camp in Fiji
To train for the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens, the Hong Kongers are training with former coach Gareth Bader in Fiji, in an intensive training camp.
And said Groves, “We had a live training session with the Fijian team on Monday which was very tough but will be beneficial for our boys going into the tournament, the Coral Coast Sevens in Sigatoka. Being able to play in a tough Fijian tournament will benefit our preparation for the tough assignments ahead.”
Hong Kong will also take part in the Borneo Sevens before the SHBC World Sevens Series qualifier in Hong Kong, followed by the Singapore Sevens.
Said Groves, “Qualifying for the HSBC World Sevens Series is really important because it will dictate the level in which we will be playing in the next couple of years – which are important in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.”
Tickets are available
Tickers are currently available for the HSBC World Sevens Singapore series and can be bought at www.singapore7s.sg.
Hong Kong rugby supporters who are interested to head down can book a two day season pass at $150 (Category 1) or choose a family package for two adults and two children ($320).
Photo credit to Rugby Singapore.
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