Sevens set for coveted 'elite' status

Hong Kong rugby chiefs were celebrating yesterday after the seven-a-side game ticked all the eligibility requirements needed to become an elite sport at the Sports Institute starting next April.

The Josh Peters-led side finished runners-up at the Under-20 Asian Sevens Championship in Johor Baharu, Malaysia, to earn rugby the honour of becoming the first team sport at the elite training academy, provided the government-funded agency gives the green light.

'I am delighted that we are now in a position to work closely with the Hong Kong Sports Institute to establish rugby [sevens] as the first elite team sport in 2013,' said Hong Kong Rugby Football Union chairman Trevor Gregory (pictured), who watched the youngsters come through some anxious moments before achieving the proud goal.

Dai Rees, HKRFU head of performance, said: 'The top-three finish completes the set of results required for rugby to be considered for entry [to the Sports Institute].

'Over the next six months the senior management at the union will meet with senior officials at the institute to consider all aspects of the potential four-year funding.

'If rugby is accepted into the institute as the first team sport it will open up many opportunities for all performance sevens players in Hong Kong - men, women and junior.'

Trisha Leahy, chief executive of the institute, had confirmed earlier that once rugby had the required two senior and two junior results, it would be a formality for the sport to be recognised as elite. There are presently 15 sports on the elite roster. Rugby will be the first team sport.