Advertisement
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: Hong Kong women’s repechage run ended in final by brutal France
- Monaghan’s side cannot repeat their flawless display against Argentina in the semis as Okemba and Guerin run riot
- Sevens Series mainstays France finally qualify for Tokyo after failing to do so on two previous occasions
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
3
Hong Kong’s women were just one game away from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games but fell to familiar opponents France 51-0 in the World Rugby Sevens repechage final on Sunday.
Coach Iain Monaghan’s team had soared through the semis with a 24-5 win against Argentina, but were ultimately overpowered by the World Rugby Sevens Series team in Monaco’s Stade Louis II.
It was a repeat of Hong Kong’s pool match against the Les Bleus earlier in the day as they conceded an early try to Fanny Horta. French captain Lina Guerin scored a quick-fire double against a nervous-looking Hong Kong, before Anne-Cecile Ciofani crossed and Guerin sealed her hat-trick before half-time.
Advertisement
Ciofani nabbed her own hat-trick in the second, with star Seraphine Okemba latching onto a slick pass to secure a brace, and earn the tournament’s top try scorer award with 10.
“I have no words to describe my feeling right now. It’s just crazy,” Okemba said. “We’ve been working really hard and didn’t qualify at the World Series or the European championships, but now we’ve qualified for the Olympics. So I’m really excited and looking forward to what’s next.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x