Tag: Asia Rugby

Ireland Too Good for Hong Kong

Ireland secured a place as a core team on the World Rugby Sevens Series 2020 by beating Hong Kong in the final of the men’s annual world series qualifier.

After three days of action, Anthony Eddy’s side proved to be worthy winners as they finished up with a comfortable 28-7 win in the competition-decider.

The victory in front of a packed, 40,000 strong crowd at the Hong Kong Stadium means Ireland will become one of the 15 core teams contesting the 10-round world series.

In the final Ireland struck first through Harry McNulty and captain Billy Dardis added the conversion. It gave them a spring in their step and an excellent angled run from O’Shea delivered their second just before half-time. A second successful conversion put them 14 points up before they extended that out to 21.

Hong Kong responded when Ireland went down to six men following a yellow card but Terry Kennedy’s converted try created a 28-7 advantage. As the time went into the red, the home side continued to battle but Ireland’s gutsy defence held firm and the players cried tears of joy as the full-time whistle sounded.

“We’re just delighted with this,” said captain Dardis after the full-time whistle. “It’s been a long and hard road. I think that we all just stood on the pitch there and couldn’t move. We’re just speechless. It’s class! It won’t sink in for a couple of weeks.”

This time last year, Ireland were knocked out at the semi-final stage by eventual winners Japan but went on to have a head-turning season.

The side played as the invitational team at the London and Paris rounds in the 2018 world series and took home a bronze medal from London. They won 23 of their 24 matches across the Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix Series and at this all-important qualifying competition showed their strength and quality.

Ireland were housed in Pool F alongside Jamaica, Uruguay and Russia. The first day saw them comprehensively beat the Reggae Crocs 26-0 before starting strongly against Los Teros Sevens.

A 26-7 lead over Uruguay was clawed back though and had Tomas Ubilla not missed the final conversion attempt, a loss would have been recorded. Ireland used the overnight break to refocus and returned to record back-to-back wins over Russia on day two.

The first 33-7 victory completed their pool campaign before a statement quarter-final result followed. A 47-0 victory in the last-eight included braces from Jordon Conroy, O’Shea and Kennedy and created a last-four meeting with Germany.

The semi-final was a clash of the titans as both sides gave it absolutely everything. Although Anthony Eddy’s outfit led 5-0 at the break they went 10-5 down in the second half.

Despite the high stakes, Ireland kept their composure and worked a team try with just over a minute to go. Captain Dardis was the try-scorer and his monster conversion pushed them 12-10 in front. The cherry on top arrived after they secured the final kick-off and Conroy carried two German defenders over the line with him. Dardis again converted for a 19-10 victory.

Having earned their place on the World Rugby Sevens Series 2020, Ireland can now look forward to playing at the top level of rugby sevens ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Ireland will aim for Olympic qualification when the European regional qualification tournament takes place in Colomiers, France on 13-14 July, 2019.

World Rugby recently announced a new-look men’s and women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series which includes at least six combined events, as the women’s series increases to eight rounds for the first time in its history over the next four-year cycle. Dubai, Cape Town, New Zealand, Sydney, Hong Kong and Paris will host combined men’s and women’s sevens events from next season onwards as part of the next four-year world series hosting cycle.

Additional reporting and images: World Rugby

Brazil Win Hong Kong Women’s 7s Qualifier

Brazil win promotion to the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series 2020 after beating Scotland in the final of the world series qualifier in Hong Kong.

After two days of thrilling action, head coach Reuben Samuel’s side finished up as 28-19 winners over a strong Scottish outfit, scoring 120 points in six games at the 12-team tournament.

The final between the two confident sides was a game of cat and mouse in the first half. Scott Forrest’s Scotland scored first before ‘Las Yarras’ from Brazil held a slender 7-5 lead at the interval. Brazil went behind again early in the second half after Rhona Lloyd capitalised from the restart but a potent period followed.

Bianca dos Santos Silva raced away from Lloyd before Thalia da Silva Costa extended their lead again with four minutes left on the clock. It was a lead that they would not relinquish.

“It’s a little indescribable but we worked really, really hard for this. We just told ourselves to do everything we’ve been training to do and we finally did it,” said vice-captain Isadora Cerullo after the full-time whistle.

“It’s an amazing feeling. I’m incredibly proud, not just of the 12 players at the tournament because we’re a much bigger group than that. We’re looking to build even more, bring in a lot of new players and show everyone that our programme is growing and that we deserve to be back on the world circuit.”

Brazil’s route to the final saw them march out of day one unbeaten and hitting the quarter-finals at pace. A last-eight meeting with Kazakhstan commenced the second day and it marked their second encounter with Valerii Popov’s side in the same number of days.

After a narrow 14-12 victory in the pool stage, Las Yarras dominated and made no mistake at the second time of asking. A 21-5 victory was the result and it booked a semi-final match-up against Kenya. In the final four, they continued to be precise with their work, moving the ball well to their speedsters, and their clinical finishing helped them on their way to a 17-5 win.

Additional reporting and image: World Rugby

Hong Kong 80 Minutes Away From Rugby World Cup Debut

Looking to emulate the women’s team and play in the Rugby World Cup, Hong Kong’s men need a bonus-point win – for scoring four tries or more – and have to prevent Canada from securing a losing-bonus point (for a loss within seven points) to advance to next year’s tournament in Japan.

It’ll be a tough challenge as Canada have looked imposing in the repechage, claiming bonus point wins against Kenya and Germany, as they to look to continue a proud tradition of qualifying for every Rugby World Cup since the first in 1987. The match kick’s off at 4am Hong Kong time Saturday morning.

https://youtu.be/wzQgxm6uYFQ

Their poor performance in the loss against Germany sees Hong Kong needing to take risks, Dai Rees, Chief Rugby Operations Officer at the HKRU, believes that the reward is worth it.

“We have made changes to the squad again and have taken some chances along the route in our selection and learned some important lessons for this game. We want a squad that can come in with high energy.

“Canada have played basically the same squad both games, while we have had a different line-up each time, and have now been able to use everyone. We’re confident that if we bring that energy and are in it at half time, then the game will look after itself.

“It’s going to take a ten-out-of-ten performance but we have prepared with specificity for Canada and are hoping that this group brings energy and takes some risks to qualify.

“The reward is to come off with a victory and four tries. We aren’t coming in just looking for a win, we’re going in with a game plan to qualify for the World Cup.”

The need to first establish parity with physical Canadians has seen Hong Kong revert to its heavy unit, with a selection that resembles the squad named against Germany.

Reflecting the balancing act required in needing both a supercharged attack and a spotless defence, Hong Kong has called up two players from the wider travel squad as injury cover, with 6’7”, 15-stone lock Craig Lodge earning the start – and his first Hong Kong cap – in a high-pressure situation, while scrumhalf Jamie Lauder moves to the reserves bench.

The inclusion of Lodge into the second row alongside Fin Field forces captain James Cunningham to the flank, where he frequently plays for his club Kowloon, adding more muscle to what has already been an impactful back row with No.8 Thomas Lamboley and flanker Toby Fenn productive both offensively and defensively in France.

The starting front row against Germany, loosehead prop Dan Barlow, hooker Dayne Jans and tight head prop Grant Kemp, will man the coalface to start against Canada. Nick Hewson and Michael Parfitt have been named as backrow reserves, with props Ben Higgins and Jack Parfitt and reserve hooker and former U20s captain, Alexander Post, making his first match appearance in France, shoring up the tight five.

“Bringing a guy like Craig, who is 6’7”, 6’8”, on to the park, and moving JC [James Cunningham], another 6’4” big man, into the back row, will help us better combat Canada’s size and strength early on,” said Rees.

“We need to bring a lot of power and strength in the first half, but we’re also in it for the long haul, and are hoping that if we can keep close entering the last 30 minutes or so, then the tries will start to come,” Rees added.

Hong Kong will look to its ever dangerous backs to capitalize on what is hoped will be a flagging Canadian defence in Marseille, with another 6’7” behemoth in winger Conor Hartley eager to get the ball in hand more than in his first outing against Germany. Hartley’s physicality should present a jarring contrast for the Canadians with his silky back-three partners Salom Yiu and Casey Stone at full-back.

Typifying the energy Hong Kong selectors are after is Liam Slatem, the cagey scrumhalf who gets the start over Lauder and Jamie Hood, both capable nines in their own rights, while steady fly-half Matt Rosslee anchors the backline and looks to continue what has been a fruitful tournament with the boot.

The centre pairing of Ben Axten-Burrett and Tyler Spitz also gets another run after testing well against Kenya.

Utility backs Jamie Hood and Jamie Lauder provide attacking threats at every position across the backline, while the direct running of reserve centre Max Woodward should further help break down the Canadian defence late in the game.

Rees complimented the call-ups for the impact they have had, saying, “It’s been tough for both of them. They weren’t selected in the original 30, and now they get this huge opportunity for the last game, but they’ve come in and added energy for us.

“Alex Post as well, they have all come in and contributed, and the entire 35-man travel squad has been tremendous in supporting the group as well. You couldn’t ask for more from any of the players or management.

“One of the true tests of a group is how they handle themselves on tour. Here we are five and a half weeks away from home and the energy level is as high as it was when we left. The camaraderie and the professionalism the players and coaches have displayed should make all of Hong Kong proud,” Rees added.

Hong Kong v Canada
RWC 2019 Repechage, Marseille, 23 November 2018

1. Dan Barlow, 2. Dayne Jans, 3. Grant Kemp, 4. Craig Lodge, 5. Finlay Field, 6. James Cunningham ©, 7. Toby Fenn, 8. Thomas Lamboley, 9. Liam Slatem, 10. Matt Rosslee, 11. Conor Hartley 12. Ben Axten-Burrett 13. Tyler Spitz, 14. Yiu Kam-Shing, Salom 15. Casey Stone. 16. Alexander Post, 17. Ben Higgins, 18. Jack Parfitt, 19. Michael Parfitt, 20. Nick Hewson, 21. Jamie Lauder 22. Jamie Hood, 23. Max Woodward

Additional reporting and images: HKRU, World Rugby

Hong Kong v Canada for Rugby World Cup 2019

Canada and Hong Kong will play off for the 20th and final place at RWC 2019 on Friday 23 November after both sides came through difficult challenges from Germany and Kenya respectively to pick up bonus-point wins in round two of the RWC repechage at the Stade Delort in Marseille.

After taking maximum points for the second match in a row with a 29-10 victory over Germany, Canada lead the standings by five points from Hong Kong, who need to win with a bonus point when the sides meet in the third and final round and also deny the Canucks anything from the game to make it to their first Rugby World Cup.

A place in Pool B alongside defending champions New Zealand, two-time Rugby World Cup winners South Africa, Italy and Namibia awaits the winner of the round-robin repechage tournament.

For Kenya and Germany, the qualification dream is now over.

Additional reporting and images: World Rugby

Hong Kong v Wales @ Cardiff Arms Park

Hong Kong take on Wales tonight [03:00 HK time] at the iconic Cardiff Arms Park in the second and final test of their European Tour. In announcing the team Coach Jo Hull, needing to expose a largely inexperienced squad to international rugby against top ranked countries, has kept the team largely intact from last week’s first, with a few tweaks.

Centre Grace Hood starts in place of Sarah Lucas, whom she replaced at half-time in Alicante.  Lucas moves to the bench for the start of the match. Hong Kong sevens contract player Stephanie Chan will get her first start at full-back, while U20s star Jessica Eden earns her first cap for Hong Kong on the wing.

New prop Debby Lam Ka-wai has been named to the bench and Flanker Pun Wai-yan comes in for Maggie Au Yeung who moves to the opposite flank, pushing first test try-scorer Winnie Siu to the bench. Experienced scrum half Sham Wai-sum and utility back Lau Sze-wah also make the bench.

For Hull, the measure of success lies in how much improvement the side shows from game one to two.

“The challenge we have set for the team is that we must see improvement from game to game. The whole purpose of this trip is to improve. This is year one of our three year journey for 2021 [Women’s Rugby World Cup] qualification and even, in the bigger picture, 2025″ said Hull

“This is the group and this is the first step. By playing these teams, the players will get invaluable experience and exposure at this level. We need to expose them as much as possible before 2021 and 2025.”

Hull is under no illusions that the difficulty level is increasing in Wales, ranked ninth in the world entering tonight’s clash.

“Looking at the Spain game, it really was a huge defensive effort from us. The key areas we were lacking in were our set piece and being able to get ahold of the ball initially, and then keep ahold of it and keep that possession.

“We were defending from the start of the game, so our defence has again been a focus for us ahead of Wales. They are a very strong and physical team.

“The breakdown is going to be important for us in terms of being able to stop them from gaining momentum. So we have been looking at our scrum and lineout a lot this week and we need to see significant improvement there.

“It is difficult to play rugby if we are missing a lot of tackles, as we did in Spain. The big challenge is to match their physicality and make sure they don’t run away with the game or build too much momentum early on and not to let them bully us,” continued Hull.

“We felt the subs did well against Spain, so it is reassuring to see that we are starting to develop a bench that can add impact to the game,” Hull added.

Hong Kong v Wales Test (Cardiff Arms Park, Wales, 16 Nov 2018)

1. Lau Nga-Wun, 2. Dr. Karen So (Captain), 3. Yip Cho-Kwan, 4. Chan Ka-Yan, 5. Tsang Ching-Man, 6. Pun Wai-Yan, 7. Maggie Au Yeung, 8. Melody Li (Vice Captain), 9. Jessica Ho, 10. Cheng Lok-Tung, 11. Chong Ka-Yan, 12. Grace Hood, 13. Natasha Olson-Thorne (Vice Captain), 14. Jessica Eden, 15. Stephanie Chan, 16. Charlotte Myrans, 17. Vincci Leung, 18. Lam Ka-Wai, 19. Amber Chan, 20. Winnie Siu, 21. Sham Wai-Sum, 22. Sarah Lucas 23. Lau Sze-Wa.

Additional reporting and images: HKRU, Gai Wu

New Zealand to Host Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021

New Zealand will host the ninth Women’s Rugby World Cup in July and August of 2021. World Rugby awarded the hosting rights for the first tournament in the Southern Hemisphere to Auckland and Whangarei on New Zealand’s North Island by 25 votes to 17 ahead of Australia.

Women’s rugby continues to experience global growth and participation levels are at an all-time high. The six week tournament will be played at four stadiums with the final at the iconic Eden Park, which hosted the men’s Rugby World Cup 2011 final.

According to World Rugby New Zealand and Australia both submitted strong and compelling bids based on the hosting criteria which looked to build on the popularity of the 2017 tournament in Ireland. Which was the best attended Women’s Rugby World Cup and saw over 45 million views across official tournament platforms.

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “Congratulations to New Zealand on being elected Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 host. They presented a very strong and compelling bid and we look forward to working with New Zealand Rugby to host a successful and inspiring tournament.

“Women’s rugby continues to grow with over 2.4 million women and girls playing rugby at all levels, accounting for more than a quarter of players globally. With Women’s Rugby World Cup attracting record crowds and broadcast audiences in each of the last three tournaments – Ireland 2017, France 2014 and England 2010 – I am in no doubt that the 2021 tournament, the first to be held in the Southern Hemisphere, will continue this record breaking trend.

“I would also like to thank Australia for its exceptional bid. We hope to welcome Australia back to bid again in the future.”

The New Zealand Government strongly supported the bid and after the announcement, New Zealand Rugby Board Member and former Black Fern Farah Palmer said: “We are honoured and excited to be awarded the WRWC2021 and look forward to delivering the first Women’s Rugby World Cup tournament in the Southern Hemisphere. We are looking forward to working together to deliver a world-class tournament for players, officials, fans, commercial partners and spectators watching around the world.”

New Zealand are the current World Champions after winning their fifth Women’s Rugby World Cup, beating England 41 – 32 in a pulsating final at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

Additional reporting and images: World Rugby

Hong Kong Take on Spain’s Leonas

Six debutants make the starting fifteen against Spain in Alicante (Sunday, 19:30 HK time) as Hong Kong’s women rugby players look to build on last year’s World Cup appearance.

Up front prop Yip Cho-kwan marks her first cap in a front row which also features Tammy Lau and captain and hooker Dr Karen So. Newcomer Tsang Ching-man forms a locking partnership with Angela Chan, while the back row sees flanker Maggie Au Yeung partnering with Winnie Siu and Melody Li at No.8.

Jessica Ho starts at scrumhalf and she will be hoping to get some quality ball to new-comer Cheng Lok-tung at fly-half. Sevens captain Natasha Olson-Thorne will start at outside centre, pairing with U20s graduate Sarah Lucas, while smiling speedster Chong Ka-yan assumes her customary place on the left wing with Bena Yu on the right. Cindy Yuen starts at fullback.

On the bench there are five more new caps with front rowers Charlotte Myrans and Vincci Leung joining flanker Amber Tsang in back-stopping the forwards, while another National Age Grade player Grace Hood is in line for a first cap at centre. Sevens star Stephanie Chan is likely to earn her first cap off the bench which also features the experience of prop Debby Lam and back Chloe Mak.

At the World Cup Spain’s overwhelming pace was apparent as they scored four of their five tries from longer than 50-metres out. Spain was also among the top teams at forcing turnovers, setting the platform for their devastating counter-attacks.

National coach Jo Hull understands this, saying, “They will be fast, with a lot of sevens influence, and will want to play a counterattacking game. They love to counter,” said Hull.

“One of the big things we have been working on is our ability to play at a higher game speed to withstand the intensity of test rugby. That’s the biggest challenge for us, and playing physically stronger teams.”

A year on from the historic first appearance at a fifteen-a-side world cup, the squad has more exposure to the demands of test rugby and another season of strength and conditioning work and high performance training beneath their belts.

After two losing tours to the Iberian Peninsula in recent years and a 31-7 loss to the Leonas at the 2017 Rugby World Cup. Spain will provide an early test of how Hong Kong’s new look team sizes up against one of the world’s leading rugby nations ahead of Rugby World Cup qualification campaign.

Hong Kong v Spain (Alicante, Spain, 11 Nov 2018)

1. Lau Nga-Wun, 2. Dr Karen So (Captain), 3. Yip Cho-Kwan, 4. Chan Ka-Yan, 5. Tsang Ching-Man, 6. Maggie Au Yeung, 7. Winnie Siu, 8. Melody Li, 9. Jessica Ho, 10. Cheng Lok-Tung, 11. Chong Ka-Yan, 12. Sarah Lucas, 13. Natasha Olson-Thorne (Vice Captain), 14. Bena Yu, 15. Cindy Yuen
Reserves: 16. Charlotte Myrans, 17. Vincci Leung, 18. Debby Lam, 19. Amber Tsang, 20. Pun Wai-Yan, 21. Chloe Mak, 22. Grace Hood, 23. Stephanie Chan.

Additional reporting and images: HKRU

Women’s 15s on Tour

Hong Kong’s women’s national 15s team headed to Europe this week for, what will hopefully become an annual, Autumn tour. Hong Kong will play test matches against Spain on 11 November in Alicante, and Wales on 16 November at the legendary Cardiff Arms Park.

With an eye to the future and qualification for the 2021 Rugby World Cup the young 26 player squad features fourteen new caps including several graduates of the HKRU’s National Age Grade programmes. The opportunity for the younger players to experience playing overseas and against players they have never played against before is important Hong Kong coach Jo Hull.

“In my perspective, this is the squad that should be together for the next milestone of Hong Kong Rugby. These are the players we need and now we need to give them time to work together, introduce them to the performance environment and get them that exposure, together as a team, to grow and develop,” said Hull

“It is our first international outing since the Rugby World Cup and a chance to showcase our new players and expose them to that level of rugby, which is what we need to do for future World Cup qualification. These are the players that need to gain that experience. To get it, we have to play against the best and we have to put ourselves into test match environments, as early on as possible,” Hull continued.

With the large number of debutants, Hull will look to her senior players to set the tone. That task will fall to new captain Karen So and Rugby World Cup 2017 veterans Natasha Olson-Thorne, Melody Li, Lau Nga-wun and Chong Ka-yan.

“The veterans stepping up will be huge for us, but even though they are veterans for us, they are still young and a bit inexperienced compared to other teams at this level. They need to lead the team now and we’ve asked them to take more ownership and to foster and bring the younger players on,” added Hull.

Among the tour debutants are the centre s and U20s graduates Grace Hood and Sarah Lucas. The duo were also included in the senior tour to Perth, Australia earlier this year. After training with the national squad over the summer, Hood returned to Bath University at the start of the school term but is meeting up directly with the squad in Europe for the upcoming tests.

“Both of them are, I think, future players for Hong Kong and we are keen to give them a go and see how they get on in a test match environment,” Hull said.

Lucas has been proving her mettle domestically, where she has had some impressive outings for USRC Tigers.

“It’s good to see that we’re starting to get players in from a variety of clubs. We are particularly excited about a contingent of players from Kowloon and are looking forward to see how Vincci [Leung Win-yi] from Tai Po Dragons handles the environment,” said Hull.

Leung is one of several new tight five forwards in the squad, alongside Kowloon prop Yip Cho Kwan and lock Amber Tsang. Gai Wu prop Lam Ka-wi and lock Chau Man-huen, Causeway Bay lock Tsang Ching-man and hooker Charlotte Myrans from Tigers are other new faces in the tight five, as Hull looks to build strength and depth in the team’s engine room.

Sevens emerging star Stephanie Chan and Amber Tsang are both being given a chance to add a fifteens cap to their sevens version. Hull believes Chan has a lot to offer in the longer code.

“She is new to the fifteens programme, but she’s been on our radar for several years. She transferred to Gai Wu this season and really is a player that has emerged off of the back of training and playing hard at club level, before she started to shine at sevens.”

“She offers us a lot of versatility in terms of her pace and her decision-making in attack, and her footwork. We’re looking at her across a few positions as she gives us a lot of strike power and pace,” said Hull.

With two challenging but contrasting matches ahead and a squad that will need to gel quickly in the tough tour environment, Hull is realistic about the short-term expectations.

“A huge goal is just to spend as much time together as we can. A lot of our players have full-time jobs. They can’t always focus on our professional environment full-time. The tour gives us a chance to immerse everyone in a high performance environment, to come together as a team and to develop as people as well, all of which will hopefully come together on the pitch.”

“Our time together has been very focused, because it is so limited. But overall, the group has come together very well. Our training has been focused on the needs of the games, and how we think that Spain and Wales will play and what we have seen from them in previous matches.

“Spain will be fast, with a lot of sevens influence, and will want to play a counterattacking game. They love to counter. Wales are a strong team, more structured probably than Spain and they have talent all over the field, from forwards to the backs,” Hull said.

Hull believes that Hong Kong stacks up well against their opponents

“We have different focuses going into each game. A big thing we have been working on is our ability to play at a higher game speed, to withstand the intensity of test rugby. That is the biggest challenge for us, and our set piece and playing against physically stronger teams.”

“What we do well is in the intensity of our play. What this group will need to harness is that experience and exposure to international rugby from these games, what to do in different scenarios and situations, when the game is going against us or if we are winning and need to close it out.”

“We aren’t expecting or needing a miracle on tour, or to get it right all of the time, but we are expecting the squad to come together and show the potential to keep them together and grow and nurture this group of players.”

Hong Kong Squad for Autumn Tests (Spain, Wales)

Forwards: Karen So Hoi-Ting (Captain), Au Yeung Sin-Yi*, Chan Ka-Yan, Chau Man-Huen*, Lam Ka-Wai*, Lau Nga-Wun, Vincci Leung Wing-Yi*, Melody Li Nim-Yan, Charlotte Myrans*, Pun Wai-Yan, Winnie Siu Wing-Ni, Tsang Ching-Man*, Amber Tsang Wing-Chi*, Yip Cho-Kwan*.

Backs:Stephanie Chan Chor-Ki*, Cheng Lok-Tung*, Chong Ka-Yan, Jessica Eden*, Jessica Ho Wai-On, Lau Sze-Wa, Sarah Lucas*, Grace Hood*, Mak Ho-Yee, Natasha Olson-Thorne, Yuen Lok-Yee, Bena Yu Bo-Yan*.

* Potential First Caps

Additional reporting and images: HKRU