Top teams bolster squads for return to HKFC Tens
Penguins back to defend title, with Asia Pacific Dragons to provide stern challenge
Penguins have confirmed that they will defend their title at this year’s GFI HKFC Tens rugby tournament, which will be held from March 26-27 at Hong Kong Football Club.
The star-studded Asia Pacific Dragons are also among the leading sides to confirm early as they look to add to their 2012 victory in their fourth straight appearance at the annual 10-a-side event.
We [already] have players confirmed from New Zealand, England, Fiji and Samoa
The Dragons were top seeds last year when they were known as the BGC APB All Stars, but the Penguins upset Tana Umaga’s squad of current and former internationals in the quarter-finals.
Samurai will make an eighth attempt to win the elusive trophy after losing in the final for a second time last March. Japan-based club YCAC will also be among the favourites after reaching the semis last year with a New Zealand-dominated squad featuring fringe All Blacks Sevens players.
Penguins scored a dramatic last-minute try to edge Samurai 21-14 in last year’s final and lift the Cup for the first time in their seventh straight GFI HKFC Tens, having lost in the final on their first two appearances in 2007 and 2008.
This year, former Scotland international Sean Lineen, currently coaching Scotland’s U20s, and Craig De Goldi, the former New Zealand sevens player who won gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, will both coach the historic UK-based touring side as they compete as defending champions for the first time.