The Hong Kong, China men’s and women’s squads for the Rugby Sevens competition at the Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games have been announced. The six-team Men’s Rugby Sevens competition promises to be intense with the five top teams in Asian taking part: Japan, Korea, China, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong, China. These five contenders will be joined by Guam to round out the competition. 

 

Experienced players Jeff Wong Chun Kiu, Rowan Varty, Mark Wright, Kwok Ka Chun, Tsang Hing Hung and Keith Robertson will lead an exciting team. Although under a slight injury cloud, Kwok is in the final squad and plans to re-join training by week two of the final three-week training period. Newcastle University player Anthony Haynes has cleared late injury concerns to break into the final squad. Haynes will return to Hong Kong next week for the final intensive training period before the Games. The side will again be captained by scrumhalf Jeff Wong. 

 

Several players have forced their way into the final 12 on the back of strong performances during the preparation period.   Among them are winger Salom Yiu Kam Shing, centre Benjamin Ho Tsz Chun and prop Simon Leung Ho Yam. Crowd favourite Fan Shun Kei has also re-established himself in the Sevens set-up. Speedster Adam Raby has cracked the squad after performing well on his national sevens debut in Kota Kinabalu. 

 

Hong Kong, China Men’s Sevens coach Dai Rees commented on the selection saying: “It is definitely the strongest squad we have run out in the last several months and the culmination of our expanded trial period. We have had good performances in the Asian Rugby Sevens Series in Shanghai and Malaysia, winning the bronze and silver medal respectively, and now we need to go one better. I am most pleased with the camaraderie that has developed in the squad and the desire to perform at peak level in front of our home crowd.”

 

“The East Asian Games format doesn’t give teams a chance to recover from a loss. We need to win all three of our day one matches and the opening two on Sunday to reach the final. There is not a big gap between Japan and us at the moment and we have beaten all of the other teams on the series. Now we have our full strength team and can focus on playing together as a squad. People are talking about us getting to the medal podium but we want gold,” added Rees.

 

The women’s competition at the East Asian Games features four teams: Rugby World Cup 2009 Bowl Champions China, Japan, Guam and Hong Kong, China. The Hong Kong Women’s VII features several players from the recent fifteen-aside Women’s Rugby World Cup Qualifier in Singapore including Royce Chan, Leong Sze who captained the team in Singapore. Other experienced players are the tireless Hoty Chan and Samantha Scott both of whom can be relied upon for a steady hand throughout the competition. Man Po Kei from Gai Wu is also figuring in the final squad after having recorded the lion’s share of the team’s points in Singapore. 

 

Hong Kong, China Women’s Sevens coach Zanio Yong Chi Fung talked about his team today saying, “We have been training together since June and are very excited and looking forward to the Tournament. All of our team members are working very hard to fight for victory for Hong Kong. Our build-up has been good and currently we are focusing on how to apply different match strategies against our various opponents. China and Japan are our two main rivals in Asia and we are hoping to beat Japan and at least get a silver medal.”

 

Among the standout players for Coach Yong is Royce Chan who captained the team at the Women’s Rugby World Cup Qualifiers. “Royce is hard working and determined and has great defensive skills. She’s a natural leader and always sets a good example for her teammates.” Another up and comer is Kim Lau: “She’s young and is only in her second year in the squad. She has speed and good defence. Kim has shown a lot of progress and has set herself a high standard to do better.”

 

The Rugby Sevens competition at the Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games will take place on Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, 2009 at the Hong Kong Stadium. Matches are from 10.00 to 16.00 on Saturday December 5 and from 11.30 to 17.30 on Sunday, December 6. The opening match for the Hong Kong Men’s VII is against Guam at 11.28 while the Women’s VII also play Guam in their opener at 10.22 on Saturday. 

 

Tickets are available through www.hkticketing.com.