ASIA RUGBY EMIRATES SEVENS SERIES 2025 LEG 2 PREVIEW AND SQUADS

Series Decider in Colombo this Weekend 

The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series (ARESS) 2025 concludes this weekend at the second and final leg, taking place from 18-19 October in Colombo, Sri Lanka, at the Racecourse Stadium.

Both Hong Kong China Men and Women are in great positions to qualify for World Rugby HSBC SVNS Division 3 2026, following the men’s win in the opening leg and the women’s bronze place finish (behind Japan and China who already hold positions in SVNS Division 1 and 2 respectively).

The same expanded format of 12 women’s and 12 men’s teams go ahead in this final leg of the regional qualifiers, with the Asian Sevens Champions crown also up for grabs. 

Fans can watch all the action back (via Asia Rugby Live) and check out the full results (via Asia Rugby website).

HONG KONG CHINA SQUADS

Men’s Coaches

Jevon GROVES – Head Coach

Peter JERICEVICH – Coach 

WONG Tsz Kit – S&C Coach

Stephen MUTCH – Head of Athletic Performance

Mark KOMAR – Analyst 

Paul JOHN – Team Manager

Men’s Players (Club)

1. Juan Esono MBA OYANA (USRC Tigers)
2. Alessandro NARDONI (HK Scottish)
3. James CHRISTIE © (HK Scottish)
4. Sebastian BRIEN © (HKU Sandy Bay)
5. Callum McCULLOUGH (HKFC)
6. Jack COMBES (USRC Tigers)
7. Bryn PHILLIPS (Kowloon)
8. Matthew RICKARD (HKU Sandy Bay)
9. Julien BOURRON (HKFC)
10. Harry SAYERS (Valley)
11. Liam HERBERT (USRC Tigers)
12. FONG Kit Fung (Kowloon)
13. Max DENMARK (HKFC)

Women’s Coaches 

Andy VILK – Head Coach 

Robbie FERGUSSON – Coach

CHONG Shing Hin – S&C Coach

Callum CHIA – Physiotherapist

Mark KOMAR – Analyst

Paul JOHN – Team Manager

Women’s Players (Club)

1. HO Jessica Wai On (USRC Tigers)
2. AU YEUNG Sin Yi (USRC Tigers)
3. Chloe CHAN © (Valley)
4. CHAN Stephanie Chor Ki (Gai Wu)
5. CHONG Ka Yan (USRC Tigers)
6. Jessica EDEN (Valley)
7. Shanna FORREST (Kowloon)
8. LI Nim Yan Melody Blessing (Gai Wu)
9. NAM Ka Man (USRC Tigers)
10. Julia Mibuy MBA OYANA (Kowloon)
11. Natasha OLSON-THORNE © (USRC Tigers)
12. Sabay LYNAM (Kowloon)
13. Gabriella RIVERS (Kowloon)

Men’s Pool and Expectations

By winning the opening leg last month, Hong Kong China Men know that destiny is in their hands as they top the standings on 20 points, and have a slight two-point lead over Japan, who the boys beat in the final last time out. China is currently in third place on 16 points.

The men have been drawn in Pool A alongside Malaysia, Korea and the Philippines. The coaching staff have selected a slightly different group of players as they ensure players get game time in a busy season, with Juan Esono Mba Oyana, Jack Combes, and Max Denmark coming into the team.

James Christie and Seb Brien continue to co-captain the side.

Men’s Head Coach Jevon Groves had remarked after the win in China that they would have difficult selection conversations for this tournament. “As we have a group of players I feel can commit at this level who are still in Hong Kong, and it's a nice challenge for us coaches to have, and it bodes well and brings out the best in the pacers who are selected. The group we can choose from is bigger, and with a long season ahead, it's a good place to be.”

Liam Herbert scored four times in Hangzhou and was a key cog in the team’s solid performances across two days. He says the squad has been working hard since August and has put in a lot of time and effort.

“It's been a lot of effort from the boys, and it's good we could show what we can do in Hangzhou. This weekend in Sri Lanka, the competition will be the same, but we have not played China yet, and if we do, it would be good to get one over them before the National Games.”

On trying to qualify for the new SVNS Division 3, which has replaced the Challenger Series, Herbert said the team is keen to right some wrongs and play on the Series as it's on the global stage, and it's important for them to perform at that level. “How we are playing now, I think we are back to our best, and we are very keen to go again. We have focused on our fitness and changed our programme, and we have benefited from it.”

The team’s bond and togetherness are strong, and Herbert says it's an advantage. “We train together all of the time, and we are always around together and go on holidays together. That means we really trust each other on and off the field.”

Women’s Pool and Team Goals

For the women, both the Japanese Sakura (SVNS 1) and Chinese women (SVNS 2) are already guaranteed to play on World Rugby’s global 7s series.

Realistically, Hong Kong China women remain in a two-way fight with Thailand, and the highest finisher will proceed to HSBC SVNS Division 3. The girls beat the Thais twice in the opening round, and the two sides have been drawn together again in the pool in Colombo.

The women are drawn in Pool F with Thailand, Sri Lanka and Singapore. Currently, the girls have 16 Series points, two more than Thailand on 14, and ahead of ⁠Kazakhstan, who have 12 points.

Coming into the squad for this leg are the experienced Jessica Wai On Ho and the dangerous try-scoring threat of Sabay Lynam. Chloe Chan and Natasha Olson-Thorne retain the co-captaincy.

Ka-Yan Chong, who assisted and scored tries in the opening leg and who has been a core part of the team for a long period of time said, “We were happy with how we performed in that first leg, and we knew we came into the Series as a strong contender. By winning our pool games and winning bronze, we know that we are capable of playing good rugby.”

She added of the team’s goals. “It's our goal to play well consistently and put in good performances, and to see how we can perform even better against stronger teams like Japan and China. 

“We have had players return from injury, which has helped. Players like Julia (Mibuy Mba Oyana), who is young and adds great physicality, but I feel like we also had a good pre-season where we gelled well together as a team. I think we are stronger individually and as a team by knowing each other's strengths, and we keep improving as a group.”

Julia was the team's (and tournament’s) top scorer in Hangzhou after being out for 18 months through injury. The addition of Sabay Lynam means the squad has plenty of firepower.

Chong Ka-Yan added of her teammate Julia, “I am excited to play alongside her again. The team has a lot of threats now, and we can keep defences guessing, so there's added pressure for them to mark us. We have different playing styles, Julia and I, but we talk to each other and share our experiences, which helps.”

Of the tournament this weekend and aiming to reach the SVNS Division 3, she added, “we are focused on this weekend. We have to maintain our position in third at least, so we will take it game by game. We need to focus on the small things to ensure a good path to the semifinal. 

I think it's important to reach the SVNS 3 Series as we will face different teams. It gives us a good opportunity to reach another level and open our eyes to different competition on the global stage.”

This article was posted in collaboration with our good friends at RugbyAsia247 – check them out for all the latest Asia Rugby news!