Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: Hong Kong women’s rugby sevens team have belief and firepower to push for qualification, says coach Iain Monaghan
- Co-captains Li and Olson-Thorne to lead Hong Kong’s pool C campaign in Monaco next month
- Coach Monaghan balances ‘excitement’ and ‘trepidation’ as they prepare for first international matches in 18 months
Women’s team coach Iain Monaghan has picked a mixture of experienced stars, domestic league top performers and promising youngsters in his squad of 13.
After a year and a half without international competition – and weeks of intensive preparation at the Hong Kong Sports Institute – familiar faces Melody Li Nim-yan and Natasha Olson-Thorne are tasked to lead the team into repechage pool C against France, Colombia and Madagascar.
“We have had 18 months to prepare to the point where we are as ready as we can possibly be. I think the girls have collectively had enough of intra-squad games and pushing their individual mental and physical levels to their limits.”
Joining co-captains Li and Olson-Thorne are perennial threats Nam Ka-man, Chong Ka-yan, Jessica Ho Wai-on, Stephanie Chan Chor-ki and Vivian Poon Hoi-yan. Their solid foundations have allowed for the inclusion of young Chloe Chan Wing and Shanna Forrest, who potentially make their Hong Kong debuts next month.
Also seeking their first caps are former national track and field athlete Hui Man-ling and former fifteens team captain Chow Mei-nam, who will add speed and power to the artillery. Monaghan singled out Chow’s professionalism, physical presence and game IQ as being “a huge bonus”.
The team will likely fly to Monaco earlier than previous events to abide by the competing teams’ one-week quarantine rule set by World Rugby Sevens Repechage organisers. It is expected that the squad will also be whittled down to 12 ahead of the tournament.
“This is not going to be a normal tournament. You are going for the Olympics and it will be heavily policed around Covid-19. The players need to be confident in themselves to deal with that pressure,” Monaghan said.
“We have a really good blend and I am happy with where we’re at. All of these girls have travelled the world and played in big tournaments. They have really stepped up in training, but you will never know how well we have prepared until you are in the tournament.
“We are ambitious and definitely believe in ourselves to put in the kind of performance that we need to – to get to the position where we can be pushing for Olympic qualification.”
Hong Kong rugby fans will be able to stream the repechage matches on World Rugby’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
Hong Kong women’s sevens squad
Melody Li Nim-yan, Natasha Olson-Thorne, Chloe Chan Wing, Winnie Au Yeung Sin-yi, Vivian Poon Hoi-yan, Nam Ka-man, Chong Ka-yan, Stephanie Chan Chor-ki, Jessica Ho Wai-on, Agnes Tse Wing-kiu, Shanna Forrest, Chow Mei-nam, Hui Man-ling.
