Hong Kong Rugby Union hits the road, announces squads for European sevens training camp and competition
- Warm-up games with international opposition will be essential to Hong Kong’s preparations for the Asian Games in Hangzhou
- Immediately following the Games, men’s and women’s squads will begin preparation for 45th Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in November
It’s been a long time coming, but Hong Kong rugby players are once again gearing up for competition.
The Hong Kong Rugby Union has announced an expanded training squad for a packed, six-week European training tour as Hong Kong’s sevens squad looks ahead to the Asian Games and the return of the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
A total of 43 players – 22 women and 21 men – have been selected for the tour, with a mix of established and aspiring stars. Both teams will have their first taste of international competition since last November, with tournaments set for England and Portugal.
HKRU head sevens coach Paul John is hoping the time away will provide much-needed opportunities to prepare for a frenetic international season, punctuated by the Hangzhou Asian Games in September and the HSBC Rugby World Series qualifiers in August, and culminating with the Hong Kong Sevens in November.
Training in the United Kingdom also offers the opportunity to enter both squads into two events on the UK Super Sevens Series, which takes place in May and June, and the long-running international sevens warm-up tournament in the Algarve in Portugal.
The squads feature most of Hong Kong’s top threats with men’s and women’s captains Max Woodward, Melody Li and Natasha Olson-Thorne leading dangerous players like Max Denmark, Liam Herbert, Russ Webb, Chong Ka-yan and ex-Hong Kong sprinter Hui Manling.