A Conor Hartley hat-trick was the highlight of a six-try, bonus point victory as Hong Kong began their Asia Rugby title defence under new head coach Andy Hall in Incheon.
With a squad featuring three new caps and several players in their first test against Asian opponents it took twenty minutes for Hong Kong to settle, but once they found their footing and grew into the game, the new-look team expanded a 14-10 half-time lead into a convincing 47-10 win.
Wing Conor Hartley led all scorers with three tries, while wing Harry Sayers and fullback Paul Altier scored on their debut and Dayne Jans was also among the tries. Centre Matt Rosslee had a near-perfect outing with the boot as he struck three penalties and four conversions on the day.
Hall was pleased to have his first win under his belt and for the squad to have their first test victory since the disappointment of the Rugby World Cup repechage last November.
“It’s always nice to get a win, especially with some big shoes to fill,” said Hall, who had called for the team to put a marker in the sand in Asia ahead of today’s match.
“We really responded to that today, especially with that second half. Our forwards deserve a lot of credit. Our scrum was a weapon today for us against Korea, particularly early on, and that gave us a good attacking platform.”
The pack set up Hong Kong’s first scoring opportunity in the fourth minute when they blew up the hosts’ forwards in the game’s opening scrum, gifting Rosslee his first chance of the day, which he buried.
Korea replied immediately with their only try of the match, as they capitalised off the sliver of daylight allowed by the defence to pierce the try-line after seven minutes, claiming the lead 7-3.
Rosslee replied with a second penalty after 15 minutes to pull matters back to within a point at 7-6, before Hong Kong’s first try-scoring opportunity came five minutes later off an attacking lineout on Korea’s 10-metre line. The attacking lineout is one of Hong Kong’s go-to attacking weapons, but Korea managed to disrupt the driving maul.
Hong Kong shifted gears and produced some good chaos rugby that eventually saw lock Fin Field flick an overhead basketball pass out wide for Conor Hartley who smashed over for the score as Hong Kong took the lead 11-7.
Fly half Han Gumin scored a penalty (11-10) but missed a second that would have given Korea the lead. Rosslee kept his cool to slot home a penalty that put Hong Kong ahead 14-10 at the break.
A Korean miscue to start the second half gave Hong Kong possession in a strong attacking position. The pressure told quickly as Hartley picked a devastating line to crash over for his second close range score. Rosslee’s conversion pushed Hong Kong’s lead to 21-10 after 50 minutes.
The floodgates then opened as Hong Kong scored twice more in the next ten minutes, with both of the debutants in the back three crossing the whitewash. First Sayers made his splash with a change of direction break that led to a 40-metre try and a 28-10 lead after Rosslee’s conversion. Moments later, Altier was on hand to finish another positive attack with a try in the corner, as Hong Kong extended the lead to 35-10 with 20 minutes left.
The forwards got on the score sheet in the 70th minute when hooker Dayne Jans ultimately trundled the ball over the line to convert an attacking lineout. In the 80th minute, Hartley strolled through some flailing arm tackles to complete his hat trick, final score 47-10.
Hall was pleased with his side’s clinical display in the second half, saying, “We talked a lot about taking our opportunities at half-time and I was pleased that we executed that. Paul and Harry both scored on their debut, which is an important bit of confidence for those back three players.
“Conor had a great game as well; beyond the tries, he really showed a lot of maturity in his game today and led the young guys in the back row well.
“It’s a good start and we have a bit of momentum now, but we have Malaysia next week and that is a quick turnaround, said Hall.
“We need to get home and get into things quickly. Malaysia are much improved and have some shock value. They have the potential to surprise us if we don’t get our approach correct,” Hall added.
Hong Kong’s win sees them leapfrog Malaysia into second place on the leader board with five points. Korea are on top on ten points after their two bonus point wins over Malaysia.
Hong Kong Squad v South Korea (Incheon, 8 June)
1. Ben Higgins, 2. Alex Post, 3. Grant Kemp, 4. Fin Field, 5. Kyle Sullivan, 6. James Cunningham, 7. Callum McCullugh, 8. Kane Boucaut, 9. Liam Slatem (Captain), 10. Jack Neville, 11. Conor Hartley, 12. Matt Rosslee, 13. Ben Axten-Burrett, 14. Harry Sayers, 15. Paul Altier, 16. Dayne Jans, 17. Dan Barlow, 18. Jack Parfitt, 19. Craig Lodge, 20. Cris Pierrepoint, 21. Bryn Phillips, 22. Lewis Warer, 23, Rob Keith.
Hong Kong begin their defence of the Asia Men’s Rugby Championship against South Korea in Incheon on the 8 June. New head coach Andrew Hall will be looking both to the future and to see how the team can make, what permanently seems a step too far and qualify for the Men’s Rugby World Cup.
Hall’s first selection underlines the fresh feel, with just nine of last year’s squad for the same tie selected, a number that reflects retirements after the repechage and the omission of most of the sevens squad as they prepare for the Asian series and Olympic qualifier later this year.
Three players are set to earn their first caps in Korea: flanker Callum McCullough, fullback Paul Altier and winger Harry Sayers. Sayers and McCullough, Hong Kong born players raised in the United Kingdom and New Zealand respectively, returned to the SAR in 2018 to press their international claims.
Photo by : Ike Li / Ike Images
Altier, meanwhile, is the poster boy of the HKRU’s development schemes having earned representative honours at every age grade level. The fullback, who will return to his studies at University of Bath in the fall, is the current captain of the U20s squad and will lead that team to the Junior World Trophy later this summer.
All three will look to seize on the opportunities presented in this transitional period, according to Hall, who is keen on rewarding form and players who put their hands up when given chances.
The 25-year old McCullough earns his first cap as, “reward for some really good club form this season and some hard work in his ERP trial,” said Hall, who also noted that McCullough’s height will provide an added benefit in pressurising the Korean line-out.
Sayers will complete his collection of Hong Kong caps by adding a fifteen a-side appearance to his sevens debut last month at the Singapore Sevens.
“Harry is another guy who really took his opportunity well with the sevens this season. He has some real gas, and adds another weapon and a bit of aggression for us on the outside,” said Hall.
“I’m delighted for Paul as well,” added Hall. “He has worked hard and proved himself at every level in our age grade programmes. In our view, he was always the next cab off the rank in terms of being named in the squad by merit, and we have watched him progress for a long while now. It’s hugely pleasing to see a guy like that get a first cap.”
Joining the three newcomers in the squad are several players who have yet to experience Asian international competition – after debuting at last year’s World Cup Repechage, including forwards Grant Kemp and Craig Lodge, and backs Ben Axten-Burrett, Lewis Warner and Bryn Phillips.
Hall reflected on selecting his first squad and the start of a new cycle, saying, “There are all sorts of emotions, really; excitement, for me and the players, and a bit of nerves as well. We have some big shoes to fill, but I have had great support from the coaching team and the last say on this selection, which is exciting.”
“There is a lot of anticipation – from me, the coaches and the players – to get back to the international game. This is our first opportunity since the repechage; we have put that result behind us mentally and it will be good now in an international to really bury that.
“We have an opportunity to put a marker in the sand,” Hall added. “We have had success in Korea the last few years, but it’s never easy and we recognise that. That success has come down to having the right approach, players who are ‘on it’, and executing well. Nothing changes now.
“We have to stop their momentum, that is it. If you give them a sniff of the game, they are extremely difficult to contain.”
The early momentum is already in Korea’s favour after they swept Malaysia and had a week’s rest ahead of Hong Kong. Should they defend home turf, Hong Kong will not be able to afford any miscues over the coming month.
“They are coming into it with two games and two wins under their belts. They are comfortable in their combinations and patterns, and will be very happy with that, so we are going to have to disrupt that and ensure they don’t get into their stride.”
Hong Kong Squad v South Korea (Incheon, 8 June)
1. Ben Higgins, 2. Alex Post, 3. Grant Kemp, 4. Fin Field, 5. Kyle Sullivan, 6. James Cunningham, 7. Callum McCullugh, 8. Kane Boucaut, 9. Liam Slatem (Captain), 10. Jack Neville, 11. Conor Hartley, 12. Matt Rosslee, 13. Ben Axten-Burrett, 14. Harry Sayers, 15. Paul Altier, 16. Dayne Jans, 17. Dan Barlow, 18. Jack Parfitt, 19. Craig Lodge, 20. Cris Pierrepoint, 21. Bryn Phillips, 22. Lewis Warer, 23, Rob Keith.
Seven-a-side football might not have become an Olympic sport and global sensation like it’s rugby namesake, but the Hong Kong Soccer 7s – which celebrates it’s Twentieth Anniversary this year on 17-19 May – has become an important tournament for clubs and players across the globe.
The twentieth tournament sees newcomers Fulham and Portimonense face off in the group stage. The English and Portuguese sides will be joined in Group A by competition regulars West Ham United and local outfit HKFC Captain’s Select for the tournament.
Newcastle United begin the defence of their title, having beaten Rangers in the 2018 final, alongside Brighton & Hove Albion, current AFC Champions League holders Kashima Antlers from Japan and Hong Kong side YauYee League Select in Group C.
Six-time winners Aston Villa will go head-to-head with two-time champions Leicester City in Group B in a repeat of the 2017 final, with the duo joined bynine-time Hong Kong champions Kitcheeand Singapore Cricket Club.
Finally, in Group D, Rangers return in search of their maiden titleagainst newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers, HKFA Red Dragons and Hong Kong Football Club in Group D.
“The group that intrigues me the most is Group A in the Main tournament which sees West Ham, who are always a strong side, and two newcomers in Portimonenseand Fulham, so who knows how strong they’ll be,” said HKFC Soccer Sevens Tournament Director Chris Plowman. “They’re going to be going up against our HKFC Captain’s Select team, so if there’s a group of death, I’m guessing that’s the one.
“Leicester and Villa in the same group will be interesting and Kitcheeas a local side are always very strong. Singapore Cricket Club have got some tough matches on their hands.”
“It’s wonderful.” said Hong Kong national team coach and former Finland international MixuPaatelainen “There’s history to this tournament and you can see there are big clubs from England taking part.” Mixu added “the tournament will be valuable for Hong Kong’s youngsters to play against hopefully the future stars of the Premier League.”
In the Masters tournament, defending champions Discovery Bay have been paired in Group A with two-time winners Citi All Stars, last year’s runners-up Nottingham Forest Mobsters, HKFC Chairman’s Select and Singapore Cricket Club Masters.
In Group B, meanwhile, playonPROSwill play competition regulars Wallsend Boys Club, and Hong Kong sides Eleven FC, HKFC Masters and Kowloon Cricket Club Veterans.
“It is a very exciting draw and you can see from the line-up it will be very fierce competition,” said Wayne Fong of sponsors Citi Hong Kong. “We like that the tournament changes every year and invites teams from all over the world to make it more diverse, allowing this tournament to be better and bigger.”
Soccer Sevens Date: 17-19 May, 2019 Venue: HK Football Club Tickets: $300 (Weekend pass), $160 (Day ticket), Free (Friday night) More info:
17 May (Fri): 6 – 9pm; exhibition youth matches start at 4.45pm
18 May (Sat): 9am – 7.40pm
19 May (Sun): 9am – 6pm
Electro-pop titans Kraftwerk – Ralf Hütter, Henning Schmitz, Fritz Hilpert, Falk Grieffenhagen – returned to Hong Kong bringing their unique 3D Show to Kitec’s Star Hall on 29 April.
The 19 song, two-hour performance fused music with art, including a unique visual for every city Kraftwerk visit on the tour. In last night’s performance, the group merged visuals of the Hong Kong skyline with futuristic animations including a UFO flying over the city – all presented in 3-D.
Click here or any photo for more images of the concert.
French-speaking communities across the world celebrate the richness and vibrancy of their cultures on the 20 March. International Francophonie Day, as it’s known, commemorates the grouping of French-speaking states by the Niamey Convention in 1970.
In recent years the Alliance Francais de Hong Kong has organised the Festival de la Francophonie which this year runs from 12 March to 3 April and features an eclectic selection of music, film, theatre, comedy and an opening lecture from Dany Laferrière.
A mini French-speaking Film Festival at the Fringe Club’s Upstairs Studio feature four films, entry is free with registration
19 March: Toujours Aventurier (Switzerland) – Screening with the alpinist J. Troillet
22 March: Petit Paysan (France) – Screening with the director
26 March: Les Rois Mongols (Canada)
29 March: Une Part d’Ombre (Belgium).
The free Mars en Folie concert at MOM Livehouse features the rock of Cherry Chérie (Canada), the electro-pop melodies of Suzane (France) and Stevans (Switzerland) and the ethnic rap of Témé Tan (Belgium).
The fourth Hong Kong French Theatre Festival features a play a day from 26-30 March at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre. Tickets are $300.
8pm, 26 March: Est-ce que j’ai une Gueule d’Arletty? (Do I have an Arletty Face?) by Eric Bu & Elodie Menant.
8pm, 27 March: Le Porteur d’Histoir (The Story Teller) by Alexis Michalik
8pm, 28 March: Signé Dumas (Signed Dumas) by Cyril Gély & Eric Rouquette
8pm, 29 March: La Cantatrice Chauve (The Bald Soprano) by Eugene Ionesco
5pm, 30 March: Tu Seras un Homme Papa by Gael Leiblang (at Bulle d’Art)
There’s also a workshop, lecture and more amidst this celebration of the French speaking world.
NB: All events are in French, some will have subtitles in English.
The Tenth European Union Film Festival (EUFF) brings 15 award-winning films to the screens of Broadway Cinematheque and AMC Pacific Place between the 21 February and 10 March.
To mark the 10th Anniversary, this year’s EUFF features a special free opening performance of the Spanish film Champions replete with orchestra, several free screenings of European classics including one to celebrate International Women’s Day (8 March). There’s also a Q&A with the director of the closing film, Michael Inside, Frank Berry.
The films featured in the festival are: The Best of All Worlds, After Love, Bear with Us, The Eternal Road, Just a Breath Away, 3 Days in Quibero, Aurora Borealis: Northern Lights, Michael Inside, Dogman, An Impossibly Small Object, Breaking the Limits, Mother Knows Best, Champions, A Serious Game, Eldorado, Amelie, The Lives of Others, Female Pleasure. Tickets are available here
European Union Film Festival Date: 21 February – 10 March, 2019 Venue: Broadway Cinematheque; AMC Pacific Place Tickets: $95, $85
After the individual creativity of Art Week, the wonders of team creativity are on display as Rugby Week 2019 scrums down.
The action starts at King’s Park on Wednesday 3 April with KowloonFest where the old and venerable rumble around the pitch and have a lot of fun as their brain sees them sprinting to score a fantastic try only to find their legs unable to keep up…
While the 7s is all speed and patterns, perhaps the best rugby of the week is at the Hong Kong Tens. With proper scrums and brutal power forward play the Tens features, especially on Thursday night, perhaps the closest we in Hong Kong can get to seeing modern rugby up close and personal. Select teams packed with talent, new and old, from around the world put a physicality and rawness to images seen on television that really has to be experienced in person.
The wonderful HK Women’s Seven is again a qualifier for the Women’s World Series. If you can’t get a ticket to the Sevens then head to So Kon Po and cheer on Hong Kong.
The Sevens, amidst the partying a rugby tournament takes place. The quality of the other World Series tournaments isn’t as good as in the past – empty stadiums on the World Series attest to that. Yet Hong Kong still sees teams raising their game…
Here are the dates for your diary for what promises to be some fantastic sport and a lot of fun.
