Women’s Rugby World Cup: Hong Kong coach assesses national team amid postponement uncertainty – ‘they sacrifice their time, body and emotions’
- Coach Chan says time management ‘the biggest concern’ as semi-pro squad expected to ‘perform like professionals’
- With tournament and Asian-leg qualifiers on hold, Hong Kong players will first focus on domestic games
Organisers tasked with safely hosting the New Zealand event, originally slated for September, cited the still-unpredictable Covid-19 pandemic as the reason for pushing it to an unknown date in 2022. Hong Kong’s Asia Rugby Championship matches against Kazakhstan and Japan – which act as World Cup qualifiers – are likewise on hold given increasing hesitancy about holding safe pan-regional events.
“Having chatted with some experienced players, they are not hiding their perspective: for sure there is disappointment,” said forwards coach Chan, adding that staff have “at least four or five” contingency plans every time a postponement is announced.
“The players have been trying to prepare at their best and peak for the World Cup qualifiers which were supposed to happen these two months since being postponed last year. It’s understandable and the delay is good for the sport because it can give teams a bigger, clearer picture to prepare for.”
