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Sam Agars

She’s been in the Hong Kong squad less than two weeks but Agnes Tse Wing-kiu will live out a dream she thought had passed her by in next week’s Women’s Sevens World Series qualifier.
The 27-year-old has come from the clouds to earn her spot in the final 12 and is one of five debutants in a new-look Hong Kong team.
While Tse has been part of Hong Kong development squads, she wasn’t selected for the tour to Borneo two weeks ago and only came in as injury cover for fellow winger Chong Ka-yan.
“It could have come a bit earlier,” she joked about her debut. “But I think that this is a good age because I’ve had a few years development.
“I was very surprised, I could never have imagined it. I’m very excited, it’s an honour to be here and it’s a big chance to show ourselves and other Hong Kong girls what we can do.”

Tse’s job as a flight attendant for Cathay Pacific has hindered her ability to train in the past but she has found a way to juggle work and rugby.
After impressing at club level for City Sparkle, she was also recently added to the Hong Kong 15s squad.
“I come to training when I get my day off, I get a bit tired, you could say, balancing work and training, but I’m happy doing it,” she said.
Tse, the only member of the Hong Kong squad not training full time at the Sports Institute, is joined by Vivian Poon Hoi-yan, Agnes Chan Tsz-ching, Amber Tsang Wing-chi and Stephanie Chan Chor-ki on sevens debut and she feels there is a good mix of experience and youth.

“The senior girls are very experienced so I think they will push the junior girls to a higher level,” Tse said about a squad that features eight-time Hong Kong Sevens representatives Christy Cheng Ka-chi and Natasha Olson-Thorne.
Hong Kong finalised their squad after a training session at the institute on Friday, with coach Kevin West labelling the rise of Tse “a great story”.
How prestigious California university Berkeley put Hong Kong Sevens hopeful on track for his ‘everything’
“She came in and she’s done really well, it’s great to see. She hasn’t been in the programme, we brought her in after Borneo when we knew Ka-yan was injured to have extra cover and she’s fought her way into the team.”
As well as Chong, big names Lindsay Varty, Aggie Poon Pak-yan, Amelie Seure and Candy Cheng Tsz-ting are missing from a squad that has six changes from last year’s Sevens.

Hong Kong missed the finals 12 months ago – and the chance to play in the main stadium on the Friday – and it will be no easier this time around, with China, Kazakhstan and Brazil awaiting in a daunting pool Y.
China and Kazakhstan finished above Hong Kong in last year’s Asia Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, while Brazil were relegated from the world series at the end of last season and are hell-bent on winning their way back in.
Heartbreak for Hong Kong women’s team in Sevens Series Qualifier
“It’s a very similar pool in that Brazil are extremely physical [like China and Kazakhstan],” West said.
“Perhaps they have a little bit more of that Brazilian flair and pace, so it is going to be a very tough, physical battle for us. But we have to play China and Kazakhstan every year, so why avoid it?”


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Hong Kong Sevens

Hong Kong Sevens beckons for Cathay Pacific flight attendant Agnes Tse: ‘I could never have imagined it’

Agnes Tse prepares for her first Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Sam Agars

Players from the Hong Kong women's rugby team, Au Yeung Sin-yi (top) and Poon Pak-yan (below), photographed during a training session at the Sports Institute in Sha Tin. 30MAR18 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Newly selected women players for the national rugby team, (left to right): Amber Tsang Wing-chi; Vivian Poon Hoi-yan; Agnes Chan Tsz-ching; Stephanie Chan Chor-ki; and Agnes Tse Wing-kiu, poses for a photo at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in Sha Tin. 30MAR18 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Coach Kevin West (centre), of Hong Kong Women National Rugby at Hong Kong Sports Institute, Sha Tin. 30MAR18 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens

The winger is one of five debutants named by Kevin West as the hosts look to mesh experience with enthusiasm


Hong Kong Sevens beckons for Cathay Pacific flight attendant Agnes Tse: ‘I could never have imagined it’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The winger is one of five debutants named by Kevin West as the hosts look to mesh experience with enthusiasm

The winger is one of five debutants named by Kevin West as the hosts look to mesh experience with enthusiasm