‘It’s like losing our Perry Baker and Carlin Isles’: injury-hit Hong Kong prepare for the pool of death at Women’s Sevens
The hosts enter the World Series qualifier without Aggie Poon and Chong Ka-yan but full of confidence and enthusiasm
Hong Kong coach Kevin West has likened injuries to speedsters Aggie Poon Pak-yan and Chong Ka-yan to “like losing our Perry Baker and Carlin Isles” as he prepares to take a new-look side into the Women’s Sevens World Series qualifier.
While Poon and Chong aren’t quite to the level of the lightning-quick American try machines, they have been an integral part of the Hong Kong team for many years and will be sorely missed.
They are among six players missing from last year’s Sevens team, but with injury comes opportunity and five players will make their debut when the tournament kicks off on Thursday.
“The girls have come together well,” he said. “In the last tournament in Borneo, 11 different girls scored a try so we’re trying to mix up the game so we’re not reliant on one person.”
Vivian Poon Hoi-yan, Agnes Chan Tsz-ching, Amber Tsang Wing-chi, Stephanie Chan Chor-ki and Agnes Tse Wing-kiu are set to debut and captain Christy Cheng Ka-chi is excited about what lies ahead.