Head coach Anna Richards (centre right), captain Royce Chan (centre left) and the Hong Kong squad get together before heading to Ireland.
Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1851546/hong-kongs-senior-women-take-world-sevens-series-qualifiers HK Sevens
Hong Kong’s senior women to take on the world at Sevens Series qualifiers in Dublin
Forward Natasha Olsen-Thorne (right) will be one of several veterans leading the charge this weekend as Hong Kong do battle at the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series qualifiers in Dublin. Photos: HKRU
Hong Kong’s senior sevens players are under no illusions about the size of the task facing them at the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series qualifiers in Dublin this weekend, but they remain quietly confident of their ability to take a few scalps from the more fancied teams.
The 12-team tournament features the best national sevens sides outside the world’s top 10 and takes place Saturday and Sunday at the University College in the Irish capital with two core team places on the 2015-16 global circuit at stake.
After a few days in Ireland adjusting to conditions, coach Mark Komar said the mood in the Hong Kong camp was upbeat: “The team have settled in very well. The facilities are fantastic and we have had some good training sessions.
“We’ve had a look at both South Africa and Ireland [the top two teams in Hong Kong’s pool along with Mexico]. The Irish have just come off playing in the European series against some tough opposition while South Africa have experienced life in the World Series over the past season. 
“Both teams look impressive but the girls are feeling confident and we have been able to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of our top opposition in the pool,” Komar added.
Competition for the core team places is expected to be extreme this weekend, with South Africa, Ireland, Hong Kong and Mexico joined by Asian heavyweights China and Japan, plus Wales, Kenya, Netherlands, Samoa, Brazil and Colombia.
China and South Africa were relegated after finishing bottom of the 12-team Women’s Sevens Series last season and are expected to put up a fierce fight to rejoin the circuit which was won by New Zealand.
WATCH: Hong Kong women’s sevens players and coaches talk about their ‘exciting future’
Hong Kong’s head coach Anna Richards has picked an experienced squad of professional players from the Hong Kong Sports Institute’s rugby programme.
Royce Chan Leong-sze returns as captain with Christy Cheng Ka-chi vice-captain, and only the injured Adrienne Garvey is missing from the team which competed at the Hong Kong Women’s Sevens in March.
Amelie Seure and Christine Gordon will provide strength up front against expected larger opponents, while Natasha Olson-Thorne and Aggie Poon Pak-yan add speed and mobility on the fringes.
Hong Kong squad
Royce Chan Leong-sze (C), Christy Cheng Ka-chi (VC), Candy Cheng Tsz-ting, Christine Gordon, Ivy Kwong Sau-yan, Lai Pou-fan, Nam Ka-man, Natasha Olson-Thorne, Aggie Poon Pak-yan, Amelie Seure, Sham Wai-sum, Lindsay Varty
Head coach: Anna Richards
Coach: Mark Komar
Manager: Cheung Tan-li
Hong Kong’s preliminary match results (Saturday, August 22)
Match 5: South Africa 31-5 Hong Kong (19:28)
Match 11: Ireland 50-0 Hong Kong (22:22)
Match 17: Hong Kong 48-0 Mexico (01:06 Sunday)
Note: Times are HKT