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University ‘Unicorns’ Rugby Football Club

The ‘Unicorns’ are a group of determined, dynamic, sophisticated (and magical) rugby playing girls who enjoy the competitiveness of the 10’s league. Since our formation in 2010, we have had a variety of different nationalities in the herd, each bringing with them diversity, experience, a range of intelligence and the odd cooled beverage.

As a team, we aim to work together to achieve success. With steady performances in the league over the last few seasons and local beach rugby competitions, the team is growing in stature and skill. The many social events the club provides also add to the sense of unity within the team, with annual tour being the highlight for many players.

We warmly invite anyone who wishes to gain rugby experience to join with us – whether complete beginner or experienced player there will be a place for you in our team. Feel free to contact us with any further questions!

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.universityrfc.org.hk
Training: 7.30-9pm Tuesday & Thursday @ Pitch 1, Stanley Ho Sports Centre, Sandy Bay
Coach: Alex Tarleton
Captain: Suzie Perry

Toulouse v Racing Métro – 15 November, 2014

Toulouse and Racing Métro will be returning to Hong Kong this November for a ‘friendly’ match. Toulouse coach Guy Novès confirmed the fixture would be taking place for a second consecutive year. Toulouse ran out 19-12 winners in 2013.

Former Toulouse wing Hosea Gear told AFP after last year’s victory “Today was also about spreading the brand of both our clubs. It was a no-holds-barred game and both teams didn’t take penalties as the idea was to play as expansive a game as possible,” .

The timing of the fixture on November 15, means that leading internationals for both teams will be unavailable due to the Test matches taking place that month.

More details as we have them

Macau Beach Rugby 2014 @ Hac Sá Beach – 6 September, 2014

Men’s and women’s teams from Hong Kong, China and Macau will be competing at this year’s Macau Beach Rugby Tournament which kicks off at 11am on Hac Sá Beach on Coloane Island. The finals should be around 4pm.

Macau Beach Rugby 2014
When: 11am, 6 September, 2014
Where: Hac Sá Beach, Coloane, Macau
How much: Free
More info: www.macaurugby.com

Men’s Asian Sevens Series – Day 1

Asian champions Japan and all the other big guns moved smoothly into the knockout stages of the first leg of the Asian Rugby Football Union’s Asian Sevens Series in Hong Kong on Saturday.

Asia’s only representative on the Sevens World Series Japan underlined their status as the top team in the region hammering the United Arab Emirates, 51-0, and Malaysia, 28-0, to top Pool A.

Other top seeds South Korea, Sri Lanka and hosts Hong Kong also remained unbeaten on the opening day of the first leg of the Asian Sevens Series, which teams are using as a build-up to next month’s Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Japan coach Tomohiro Segawa was particularly pleased with his rock-solid defence which helped the reigning Asian champions to become the only seeded team to keep a clean slate on day one.

“No one scored against us and I’m very happy with our defence which is a key area in sevens,” Segawa said. “I’m also pleased with our new players who seemed to fit in quite well. This series will be a good experience for them.”

Japan fielded four debutants as they look towards building depth for their first full season on the Sevens World Series beginning in October, as well as the Olympics. Japan will meet China in the cup quarterfinal on Sunday.

Arch-rivals Hong Kong, who played in all four Cup finals in the Asian Sevens Series against Japan last season, easily defeated Kazakhstan 38-5 but faced a tougher time against the Philippines before eventually emerging winners, 24-0.

“We came out to win two games and accomplished that,” said Hong Kong coach Gareth Baber.

“We controlled possession well and I’m happy with the way our younger players who had their first hit-outs went. They didn’t look out of place. They were a bit nervy at times, which is understandable, but they played their part to make sure we got two from two.”

Teenager Michael Coverdale and Jack Capon made winning debuts for Hong Kong, who will face Singapore in the Cup quarterfinals. The winner of this game will take on the winner of the match between Sri Lanka and Malaysia in the semi-finals.

Sri Lanka started slowly with a hard-fought 17-5 victory over China before raising the tempo with a 40-12 rout of Chinese-Taipei, scoring 35 points in the first half.

“We had a good day. We stuck to our game plan which was to move the ball wide,” said Sri Lanka captain Fazil Marija.

Sri Lanka, coached by former Fiji captain Setefano Cakau, finished third behind Japan and Hong Kong last season and Marija admitted both teams will once again provide the main obstacle for the islanders.

“They are both physical sides and if we meet them, we will have to keep contact to a minimum and move the ball away from those areas. If we can spread the ball wide, I’m confident we can beat them,” Marija said. But first-up for Sri Lanka will be Malaysia.

With an eye on the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea have brought a young team to the first leg in Hong Kong and coach Chung Hyun Suk was happy after his team emerged with wins over Singapore, 50-0, and Thailand, 35-10.

“We have a mix of young and experienced players and this was the first opportunity for them to play together and I’m pleased with the way they performed,” said Chung.

Entry to Sunday play at the Hong Kong Football Club is free.

Additional reporting, photo courtesy of HKRFU

Women’s Asian Sevens @ Hong Kong: Day 1 – 23 August 2014

Asian champions China dominated the Women’s Asian Sevens on the opening day remaining unbeaten with victories over Thailand, 35-0, Sri Lanka, 38-0, and Hong Kong 31-12. China will face Kazakhstan in the Cup semi-finals. The other semi-finals will be between Japan and Hong Kong.

Second-half tries from Rose Fong and Natasha Olson-Thorn helped Hong Kong escape relegation from the Plate competition as they edged Thailand on points differential.

Hong Kong was held to a 12-12 draw by Thailand and seemed on the verge of missing out on a berth in the Cup competition when China led 24-0 at halftime.

But the hosts showed a lot of gumption as they hit back with tries from Fong and Olson-Thorn to score vital points that helped boost their points difference.

“That was our game of redemption and the girls redeemed themselves after two average performances earlier in the day,” said Hong Kong head coach Anna Richards. “That second-half performance against China will give the girls a lot of self-belief,” Richards added.

Sunday’s womens semi-finals start at 10:30am at HK Football Club. The Women’s Cup Final starts at 17:05 – entry is free.

Hong Kong Women Ready For Asian Sevens Series

Hong Kong women’s 7s team will take part in the Asian Sevens series this weekend and coach Anna Richards is happy with her squad’s preparation for the tournament. Training has been going well in recent months and Royce Chan will again captain the side.

“We’ve been back in full training since the start of June and they’re doing well. First and foremost we’ve only really been concentrating on core skills and I think the players have improved immensely since they first started nearly a year ago,” she said.

“The amount of training they’ve been doing really showed up in their performances in the Asian Four Nations over the summer. Their skills were much better.”

Richards is also concentrating on trying to get more girls through from junior up to senior level. “It’s important we identify talent and develop that talent as soon as we can,” she said.

Hong Kong Women’s Sevens Squad:
Royce Chan (captain), Christy Cheng, Amelie Seure, Chrissy Gordon, Melody Li, Ivy Kwong, Lai Pou Fan, Candy Chen, Rose Fong, Natasha Olsen-Thorne, Lindsay Varty, Aggie Poon

New Territories District Sports Association Sevens Tournament 2014

This year’s New Territories District Sports Association Sevens Tournament will be held on Sunday 7th September at the Sai Kung Stadium – and for the first time there will be a men’s and women’s competition!

You are eligible to play for the District you live, work or study in – please contact your team co-ordinator as below. The Hong Kong Island and Kowloon District tournament will be held in December – watch out for more details soon…

District – Contact – E-mail
Sai Kung – Ho Chai – [email protected]
Shatin – Sailo Lai – [email protected]
Tai Po – Anthony Ho – [email protected]
Tsuen Wan – Peter Ng – [email protected]
Yuen Long – Billy Chan – [email protected]
Kwai Tsing – Him Cheng – [email protected]
North District – Brandon Huang – [email protected]
Tuen Mun – Iris Lau – [email protected]

England Win Rugby World Cup 2014!

England were crowned champions after beating first-time finalists Canada 21-9 in an enthralling Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 title decider at Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris on Sunday.

The two sides had met in the pool stages with a 13-13 draw securing their places in the last four, but England’s greater experience – many of the players having been involved in one or more of the last three final defeats to New Zealand – gave them the favourites tag for many.

England and Canada both emerged with the intention of playing running rugby despite the prize at stake, much to the delight of the crowd. Both sides created early chances but it was an Emily Scarratt penalty that handed six-time finalists England the lead.

It could have been better for England but for some great defence from Canada captain Kelly Russell and her fellow back row Karen Paquin, who hauled down wing Kat Merchant in full flight. Natasha Hunt was ruled held up on the line and then Marlie Packer came close with another barnstorming run, but all England had to show for these efforts was a second Scarratt penalty.

The try eventually came just after the half hour, England keeping the ball alive to work an overlap on the right, Maggie Alphonsi sending full back Danielle Waterman, starting her third WRWC final, over in the right corner to the delight of the England contingent in the crowd. Canada, though, had the final say of the half with Magali Harvey’s penalty making it 11-3 at the break.

Canada emerged from the tunnel with renewed vigour and grew in confidence with every passing minute, wrestling the upper hand in the scrum from England and forcing penalties. They cut the deficit to two points through two Harvey penalties, the last just creeping over the bar. Canada’s tails were up but they instantly conceded a penalty to allow Scarratt to restore the five-point cushion after an hour.

The score remained that way into the last six minutes despite the best endeavours of both sides, but then Scarratt glided through the defence to ease England nerves, the centre shrugging off the tackle of Mandy Marchak to touch down for the decisive score. She converted her own try to push England out to 21-9 but, despite needing two scores, Canada fought vainly until the final whistle.

“All credit to Canada, they were fantastic today, but this group of girls and this group of staff deserve everything that we have got because we have worked so hard for this,” said jubilant England captain Katy Mclean. “So many great legends that have gone before us haven’t won (a World Cup) in an England shirt and that was for all of them that were here today and for all of the England rugby family.”

Canada captain Kelly Russell said: “A big physical game from both sides, I am so proud of the girls, they put everything they had into it, a lot of heart all round. Credit to England they were the better team today.”

Additional reporting courtesy IRB. Photo Dan Sheridan @INPHO