https://www.scmp.com/rss/320631/feed The top rugby sevens competition for teams in Asia was organised by Asia Rugby, formerly the Asian Rugby Football Union. The men’s competition comprised three tournaments – Qingdao (5-6 Sep), Bangkok (26-27 Sep) and Colombo (10-11 Oct). The women’s series comprised legs in China and Sri Lanka. Japan won both the women’s and men’s competitions in 2015. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Max Woodward shakes his head at the thought because, let's face it, it wasn't really that long ago that he was out at King's Park on a Saturday morning scrambling around with his mini rugby mates, sharing their dreams. "When I was younger the big one was playing the Hong Kong Sevens," says Woodward. "Back in the day that was the pinnacle, the dream, but now there are all these opportunities past that. It's just superb for us all." From dream to reality. That pretty much sums up Woodward's life... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1874545/captain-hong-kongs-mens-sevens-team-max-woodwards-dream-becomes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1874545/captain-hong-kongs-mens-sevens-team-max-woodwards-dream-becomes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Oct 2015 16:30:30 +0000 Hong Kong had the luck of the draw Thursday, topping the easier group for next month's Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic qualifiers. Hong Kong were drawn in pool B, alongside Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines and Iran. They avoided South Korea and China, who both landed in pool A alongside favourites Japan, Singapore and Taiwan. If we win the group, then we get the best deal in the semi-final Andy Yuen, former Hong Kong player The team will be aiming to finish on top of their pool in the regional... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1871146/hong-kong-mens-team-handed-good-draw-sevens-olympic-qualifiers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1871146/hong-kong-mens-team-handed-good-draw-sevens-olympic-qualifiers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Oct 2015 15:15:00 +0000 Sevens coach Gareth Baber says the margins between the Asian nations are small as Hong Kong try to find a way to beat arch-rivals Japan for the qualifying spot at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Hong Kong lost 29-22 to Japan in Sunday's Cup final at the Sri Lanka Sevens, the third and final leg of the 2015 Asia Rugby Sevens Series, and ended up finishing second to the unbeaten Brave Blossoms in the overall standings. We made a few individual errors and didn’t quite deal with some of the pressurised... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1866796/heat-moment-decisions-will-decide-who-goes-rio-olympics-says-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1866796/heat-moment-decisions-will-decide-who-goes-rio-olympics-says-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2015 02:15:15 +0000 Asian powerhouses Japan beat a determined Hong Kong at the Sri Lanka Sevens on Sunday to win back the regional men’s sevens crown they lost to their Colombo Cup final opponents last year. Hong Kong finished second in the tournament and claimed runners-up spot in the 2015 Asia Rugby Sevens Series for men, ahead of South Korea and Sri Lanka. The Hong Kong's women's seven claimed third place in Colombo to tie Japan and China on 14 points at the top of the overall standings for the 2015 Asia Rugby... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1866470/hong-kong-men-and-women-build-momentum-all-powerful-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1866470/hong-kong-men-and-women-build-momentum-all-powerful-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Oct 2015 15:30:15 +0000 The Hong Kong men’s seven advanced to their first Cup final of the 2015 Asia Rugby Sevens Series in Colombo on Sunday, setting up a meeting with Japan in what many observers expect to be a preview of the Asia zone Olympic qualifying decider next month at Hong Kong Stadium. Following on from two convincing wins over China Saturday in the Sri Lanka Sevens preliminaries, Hong Kong comfortably beat Taiwan 33-5 in the quarter-finals despite conceding yet another early try. WATCH: Men’s Cup final –... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1866345/hong-kong-mens-seven-cruise-colombo-cup-final-clash-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1866345/hong-kong-mens-seven-cruise-colombo-cup-final-clash-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Oct 2015 12:30:45 +0000 The Hong Kong men’s and women’s senior sevens teams both advanced to Sunday’s Cup quarter-finals at the Sri Lanka Sevens – the final event on this year’s Asian sevens circuit. After a perfect first day in Colombo, the men’s team topped their group and will face Taiwan (14:56 HKT) while the women – who started the tournament as top seeds after their victory at the China Sevens last month – will meet Kazakhstan (12:22 HKT). Hong Kong’s women’s seven split their matches on Saturday – a 5-7 loss to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1866235/hong-kong-men-and-women-power-through-sri-lanka-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1866235/hong-kong-men-and-women-power-through-sri-lanka-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2015 17:00:45 +0000 KNOCKOUT STAGE Sunday, 11 October 2015 WOMEN’S CUP QUARTER-FINAL Kazakhstan 7-14 Hong Kong: WOMEN’S CUP SEMI-FINAL Hong Kong 0-17 Japan: WOMEN’S 3RD/4TH PLAY-OFF Hong Kong 21-15 Thailand: MEN’S CUP QUARTER-FINAL Hong Kong 33-5 Taiwan: MEN’S CUP SEMI-FINAL Malaysia 7-38 Hong Kong: MEN’S CUP FINAL Japan 29-22 Hong Kong: PRELIMINARY STAGE Saturday, 10 October 2015 WOMEN’S POOL W Hong Kong 5-7 Thailand: Hong Kong 52-0 Uzbekistan: Hong Kong 5-15 Japan: MEN’S POOL C Hong Kong 29-14... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/play-week/article/1866076/watch-hong-kongs-men-and-women-sri-lanka-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/play-week/article/1866076/watch-hong-kongs-men-and-women-sri-lanka-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2015 08:00:00 +0000 Hong Kong’s women are now the hunted and not the hunter as they try to clinch the 2015 Asia Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Sri Lanka this weekend. The team lead the two-leg series after claiming their debut tournament victory in China last month. Hong Kong beat Japan and the hosts in Qingdao to break the stranglehold the two nations and Kazakhstan have held on Asian women’s sevens for almost a decade. READ ALL OUR ASIAN SEVENS SERIES COVERAGE HERE... The men’s team, meanwhile, will be trying... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1866014/confident-hong-kong-women-hope-wrap-asian-sevens-crown-colombo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1866014/confident-hong-kong-women-hope-wrap-asian-sevens-crown-colombo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2015 16:15:15 +0000 Hong Kong claimed third place overall at the Thailand Sevens in Bangkok on Sunday after losing a gripping semi-final to Japan 24-19 that went to extra-time. Hong Kong's 33-7 win over Sri Lanka in the third place play-off leaves them tied fourth on the Asian Rugby Sevens Series table with one event remaining next month in Sri Lanka. Hong Kong and Sri Lanka are both on 18 points after two series events, with Japan, South Korea and China ahead of them on 24, 21 and 19 points, respectively. Hong... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1861887/hong-kong-lose-gripping-semi-final-against-japan-thailand-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1861887/hong-kong-lose-gripping-semi-final-against-japan-thailand-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2015 14:45:30 +0000 Hong Kong breezed through the first day of the Thailand Sevens, without breaking much of a sweat against their opponents - Taiwan and Sri Lanka - in Bangkok on Saturday. Unusually seeded second in pool B after ending up in the Plate in the series opener in Qingdao, the Bauhinias did not even let Taiwan near the tryline, thrashing them 34-0. Hong Kong notched six tries in a match where they dominated both territory and possession. Squad veteran Rowan Varty took up the reins early, opening the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1861716/hong-kong-flying-start-thailand-sevens-two-easy-wins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1861716/hong-kong-flying-start-thailand-sevens-two-easy-wins?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2015 17:00:00 +0000 Hong Kong sevens coach Gareth Baber has kept faith with his squad for this weekend's Thailand Sevens in Bangkok, despite the side suffering their first Asia Rugby Sevens Series defeat in more than a year at the China Sevens three weeks ago. In the first of three tournaments in the 2015 series, in Qingdao, Hong Kong lost to the hosts in the quarter-finals and ended up winning the Plate competition. However, Baber retained 11 of the 12-man team from the series opener. Hard-tackling back Tyler... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1861174/hong-kong-coach-gareth-baber-retains-11-out-12-players-thailand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1861174/hong-kong-coach-gareth-baber-retains-11-out-12-players-thailand?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2015 15:15:30 +0000 The Hong Kong women’s sevens side established themselves among the best in the region after winning their first-ever Asia Rugby Women’s Sevens Series tournament title at the China Sevens in Qingdao on Sunday. Coached by Anna Richards, Hong Kong swept aside Asia's defending champions China 24-15 in the Cup final, repeating their victory over the hosts in Saturday's preliminary rounds. Read all our Asian Seven Series coverage here Speedster Aggie Poon Pak-yan ran away with overall point-scoring... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1855792/hong-kong-win-qingdao-womens-team-beat-china-asia-sevens-series?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1855792/hong-kong-win-qingdao-womens-team-beat-china-asia-sevens-series?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2015 13:45:00 +0000 Flying winger Aggie Poon Pak-yan gave Hong Kong an electric start to their 2015 Asia Rugby Women’s Sevens Series campaign on Saturday, running in seven tries on the first day of the China Sevens in Qingdao where both the women’s and men’s teams advanced to the Cup quarter-finals without loss. Hong Kong’s men eased their way through to the last eight at the top of pool A following wins over the United Arab Emirates (24-0) and the Philippines (45-0). Asia’s defending champions will now face... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1855606/double-happiness-perfect-hong-kong-teams-power-cup-quarters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1855606/double-happiness-perfect-hong-kong-teams-power-cup-quarters?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Sep 2015 14:15:30 +0000 Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2015 – final standings Pos Team CHN THA SRI Pts 1 Japan 12 12 12 36 2 Hong Kong 8 10 11 29 3 South Korea 10 11 8 29 4 Sri Lanka 9 9 10 28 5 China 11 8 6 25 6 Malaysia 5 5 9 19 7 UAE 4 7 4 15 8 Singapore 3 6 3 12 9 Thailand 2 4 5 11 10 Philippines 6 3 2 11 11 Kazakhstan 7 2 - 9 12 Taiwan 1 1 7 9 KEY: CHN-China Sevens; THA-Thailand Sevens; SRI-Sri Lanka Sevens; Pts-Series points. NOTE: With two teams tied for second place, final positions were... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1855328/asia-rugby-sevens-series-2015-fixtures-results?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1855328/asia-rugby-sevens-series-2015-fixtures-results?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Sep 2015 10:00:30 +0000 With the Olympic qualifiers looming, Hong Kong women’s sevens head coach Anna Richards is trying to keep her team grounded as they kick off the season at the China Sevens in Qingdao this weekend. After reaching the Plate final at the World Rugby 2015-16 Women’s Sevens Series qualifiers in Ireland two weeks ago, Hong Kong tackle the first leg of the Asian sevens series starting Saturday ahead of the two-leg Asia Rugby Olympic Qualifiers in Hong Kong on November 7-8. The second leg of the women’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1854806/coach-richards-battling-keep-hong-kong-grounded-ahead-asian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1854806/coach-richards-battling-keep-hong-kong-grounded-ahead-asian?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2015 14:00:45 +0000 Follow @KevinKungHK Hong Kong have appointed young "all-star" Max Woodward as captain of the sevens team, who start arguably their most important season with the opening leg of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series this weekend in Qingdao, China. Woodward, 24, takes over as captain from Jamie Hood as Hong Kong look to defend their Asian crown after sweeping all three events in last year's series. Head coach Gareth Baber once again faces a fine balancing act with multiple goals – and squads – in action... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1854540/all-star-max-woodward-takes-charge-hong-kong-sevens-squad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/sevens/article/1854540/all-star-max-woodward-takes-charge-hong-kong-sevens-squad?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2015 14:45:45 +0000 Hong Kong finished a creditable sixth in the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series qualifying tournament after losing 21-5 to South Africa in the Cup quarter-finals in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday. The loss meant Hong Kong were eliminated from contention for one of two spots up for grabs for the 2015-16 world series. Hong Kong enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but could not break down a solid South African defence and their only score was a breakaway effort from speedster Aggie Poon Pak-yan, who... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1852047/plate-runners-hong-kong-finish-sixth-womens-sevens-series?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1852047/plate-runners-hong-kong-finish-sixth-womens-sevens-series?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2015 01:45:30 +0000 Hong Kong wrapped up another perfect Asia Rugby U20 Sevens Series at King’s Park on Saturday, beating Malaysia 52-7 in the Cup final to successfully defend their regional crown and maintain an impressive unbeaten run spanning two years of the competition. In a repeat of the 2014 regional series, the Hong Kong Rugby Union’s junior men’s team won both legs of this year's circuit – the U20s Johor Sevens and this weekend's Hong Kong tournament – without losing a match. “It feels amazing,” said... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1851739/dominant-hong-kong-juniors-sweep-second-successive-asian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1851739/dominant-hong-kong-juniors-sweep-second-successive-asian?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2015 13:15:15 +0000 WATCH: Highlights from day two of the Asia Rugby U20 Sevens Series in Hong Kong: WATCH: Highlights from day one of the Asia Rugby U20 Sevens Series in Hong Kong: https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/play-week/article/1851666/video-asian-u20-sevens-day-one-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/play-week/article/1851666/video-asian-u20-sevens-day-one-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2015 04:00:15 +0000 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... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1851546/hong-kongs-senior-women-take-world-sevens-series-qualifiers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/1851546/hong-kongs-senior-women-take-world-sevens-series-qualifiers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2015 13:45:30 +0000