Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: Hong Kong thrashed by fearsome France, but advance to women’s knockout round

Tournament favourites France maintain third consecutive shutout as they outmuscle second-place Hong Kong

Coach Monaghan’s side prepare for semi-final against Argentina but are likely to face France in the final should they make it through

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Hong Kong women’s rugby sevens player Chong Ka-yan scores a try against Colombia in a pool match at the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in the Stade Louis II in Monaco. Photo: Getty / World Rugby

Published: 7:44pm, 20 Jun 2021Updated: 9:22pm, 20 Jun 2021

Hong Kong’s women were handed a humbling 55-0 loss to France in their final World Rugby Sevens Repechage pool C match on Sunday, putting them behind the outright favourites but nonetheless qualifying for the evening knockout rounds.

Anne-Cecile Ciofani scored a double swiftly after kick-off to dictate the game in Monaco’s Stade Louis II, before the tournament top-scorer Seraphine Okemba added to her tally. Young Chloe Jacquet and Carla Neisen continued the onslaught as coach Iain Monaghan’s side struggled to gain a foothold in the first half.

Hong Kong saw more of the ball in the second but continued to be outmuscled by David Courteix’s side, who have yet to concede a single point in three games.

Okemba and Jacquet snatched their second despite some valiant Hong Kong defence, before Shannon Izar and Chloe Pelle scored late to secure their highest win so far.

Hong Kong women’s rugby sevens co-captain Natasha Olson-Thorne scores a try against Colombia in a pool game at the World Rugby Sevens Repechage at the Stade Louis II in Monaco. Photo: Getty / World Rugby

Table-toppers Les Bleus, who beat Colombia 47-0 and Madagascar 49-0 the previous day, will face Colombia again in a favourable semi-final match-up, while Hong Kong prepare to face Argentina in their next tie.