appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Paul McNamara

Revenge was the word on the lips of the Hong Kong players after they paid the price for an untidy performance in their 14-7 loss to Japan at a partisan Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday.
Unless China inflict a fairly heavy beating on Japan early on day three of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, these two teams are poised for a speedy rematch in Sunday afternoon’s Melrose Claymores final.
And the prospect of a quick-fire second shot at their arch-rivals swiftly erased the stench of defeat for the city team contingent.
Although “gutted about losing”, Blake Elliot was already “looking forward to getting some revenge against Japan tomorrow”.
Playing in his home tournament for the first time, the 22-year-old Elliot said the opening two days had been “a tremendous experience”.
“I have been very nervous, but those nerves bring some energy, and as soon as you go on the field you just think about the rugby,” he said.
Hong Kong and Japan have slugged it out in a series of high-profile contests over the past few years, and there is every chance they will be in a shoot-out for Asian Games gold in Nagoya later this year.

The city team have had the better of the argument, lately, twice beating the Japanese in last year’s Asia series, but Toma Shiwachi’s first-half try laid the platform for his team to turn the tables.
Christie charged over to level before half-time but Shotaro Tsuoka’s second-half score was decisive.
“If you give a good team like Japan three or four opportunities, which we did through giving away the ball cheaply and conceding penalties, they will take them,” co-captain Christie said.
Acknowledging it would be nice to “get one up” on Japan ahead of the Asian Games in six months, Christie nonetheless said the Kai Tak tournament was “a real development opportunity”. Precisely half of the 12-man party count their caps in single figures.
“This is a stepping stone towards the Games, but it’s too far into the future to think about too much,” he said, adding that the fresher faces would have learned more from the uncomfortable outing against Japan than they did when blitzing China on a heady Friday night.
“Most of them only got two or three minutes against China, but they had longer today,” he said. “They can watch back to assess where they went wrong, and what they can improve, as well as what they did well.”

Immediately before Hong Kong strode out to play, an increasingly raucous Kai Tak audience was treated to a performance from the Vengaboys, a group that reached their apex around the turn of the century. Certainly long before Elliot was born in 2004. Five years later he was already thinking “I really want to play in the sevens”.
“Then I joined the programme six or seven years ago and it’s been my goal since, so this is a dream come true,” he said.
Currently in the process of obtaining a passport, Elliot’s “next big target” is selection for the Asian Games. “I have about 10 more years to play, and a lot I want to achieve,” he said.
Unique among sevens tournaments, the Melrose Claymore requires Hong Kong to play only once a day. Christie acknowledged he would have liked a second runout on Saturday, “because there’s only so many times we’ll play in front of this crowd”.
“We’re not in the main tournament but we’re privileged to have what we’ve got,” he said, adding that only time would tell whether Japan playing tomorrow morning would work in Hong Kong’s favour.
“They had a rest on Friday, so they might be fresher than us now, and sometimes having a game is a good blowout,” he said.
“We’ve had some hard times in the past against Japan, so we’re always highly motivated when we play them.”


Hong Kong recognised as ‘global player’ in world rugby after record-breaking Sevens party

Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens: Jorja Miller to the four as New Zealand keep record intact

Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens: city’s men get one back on Japan to win third Melrose Claymores

Hong Kong Sevens a treat for fans but local restaurants hungry for more trade

Hong Kong Sevens

Hong Kong eye revenge after Japan shock partisan Kai Tak Stadium crowd

James Christie (centre) tries to take the attack to Japan during Hong Kong’s Melrose Claymores defeat. Photo: Sam Tsang

Blake Elliot attracts the attention of two Japanese opponents. Photo: Elson Li

Seran Inoue of Japan tries to race clear from Rory Stewart-Cox. Photo: Sam Tsang

Australia star acknowledges players’ careers on line at Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens

Aden Ekanayake challenged his Australia team “to stay on the winning train”. Photo: Sam Tsang

Australia’s Aden Ekanayake made his international debut in 2024. Photo: Elson Li

Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens: German star combining rugby with police duties

Niklas Koch tries to wriggle clear of Fiji’s Kavekini Tanivanuakula during Germany’s opening Cathay/HSBC Sevens clash. Photo: Elson Li

Niklas Koch grabs hold of Douglas Daveta during Germany’s defeat by Fiji. Photo: Elson Li

 Terio Tamani of Fiji and Germany’s Ben Ellermann do battle at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Elson Li

Antoine Zeghdar spreads play to Enahemo Artaud during France’s victory over Great Britain. Photo: Elson Li

Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens

Fifteens

Hong Kong Rugby Union

City team down but not out following defeat and could face Japanese in speedy Melrose Claymores final rematch on Sunday


City team down but not out following defeat and could face Japanese in speedy Melrose Claymores final rematch on Sunday.


Hong Kong Sevens: Latest news

Hong Kong eye revenge after Japan shock partisan Kai Tak Stadium crowd

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}City team down but not out following defeat and could face Japanese in speedy Melrose Claymores final rematch on Sunday

City team down but not out following defeat and could face Japanese in speedy Melrose Claymores final rematch on Sunday