Fine balancing act as Hong Kong battle on two fronts
With different sevens tournaments on same weekend, players are spread thin
The importance of winning a first team gold at the National Games has resulted in Hong Kong rugby putting all their big eggs in the one basket.
Despite a clash with the opening leg of the Asian Sevens Series in Kuala Lumpur, the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union has opted to send the strongest available side, underlining the importance of being earnest in the bid to win a historic team gold medal.
Sevens captain Rowan Varty will lead a side including all the regulars who featured at the last Asian Games in Guangdong in 2010, when Hong Kong returned with a silver medal after being pipped by Japan.
In Shenyang next weekend, Hong Kong will come up against the cream of mainland rugby in the form of four other provinces plus the PLA. The biggest threat will be Beijing, however.
With rugby sevens now part of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, this will be the first opportunity for the HKRFU to show its worth.
Anthony Haynes, Kwok Ka-chun, Salom Yiu Kam-shing and Tom and Alex McQueen all figure in the medal plans. They all are Asian Games qualified, a necessity to be able to take part in the National Games.
Those players who fail to come under this umbrella - especially key forwards Nick Hewson, Eni Gesinde and Lee Jones - will all be bound for Malaysia as Hong Kong keep an eye on their title defence in the Asian Sevens Series.