PUBLISHED ON 18 OCT 2025
Hong Kong China Men won the second leg of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series which, coupled with an impressive win in Leg 1 in Hangzhou, secured the overall Series win. This means the boys have qualified for World Rugby's SVNS Series Division 3, which is expected to be played in January. This will in turn present the chance to progress into Division 2 in February and March.
Hong Kong China Women finished in fourth place, after a nail-biting 3rd Place Final with Thailand that went to Golden Point. The girls narrowly missed out on a place at SVNS Division 3 to Thailand, with the two sides level on points in the series (Hong Kong China came 3rd in Hangzhou with Thailand in 4th). Thailand however progressed thanks to a slightly better points differential across the two legs (Series winners Japan and Series runners-up China are both already qualified for Division 1 and 2 respectively).
Results, match reports and reaction from the Racecourse Ground in Columbo, Sri Lanka, are shown below.
RESULTS - DAY ONE
Pool Match 1
- Hong Kong China Women 22-0 Singapore
- Hong Kong China Men 33-12 Philippines
Pool Match 2
- Hong Kong China Women 31-0 Sri Lanka
- Hong Kong China Men 50-0 Korea
Pool Match 3
- Hong Kong China Women 5-12 Thailand
- Hong Kong China Men 38-10 Malaysia
RESULTS - DAY TWO
- Japan 31-0 Hong Kong China Women (Semi-Final)
- Hong Kong China Men 29-12 China (Semi-Final)
- Hong Kong China Women 5-10 Thailand (3rd Place Final)
- Hong Kong China Men 12-7 Japan (Cup Final)
Fans can watch all the action back (via Asia Rugby Live) and check out the full results (via Asia Rugby website).
REPORTS
DAY TWO: MEN'S
Semi-Final: Hong Kong China Men 29-12 China
Hong Kong China Men were forced to defend early against the Chinese, who were well beaten by Sri Lanka in their final pool game, but reached the Semi-Final as the best runner-up. Bryn Phillips put in one of several crucial tackles on his own line to prevent the opposition from scoring early on.
After soaking up the pressure, Hong Kong China did well to release Fong Kit Fung on the left to score first, with the conversion hitting the crossbar. He was put over for his second try on the opposite wing after good play by Phillips for a 10-0 lead. China closed that gap to 10-7 on the half-time hooter.
A sublime pass unleashed Max Denmark for a great try, which was followed by a try from the restart by Liam Herbert to race out to a 22-7 lead. Herbert went from scorer to supplier to set up Sebastian Brien for the 5th try. China did score the final try of the game, but the boys came out on top 29-12 thanks to their much-improved second half.
Hong Kong China Men will face Japan in the final, with a win guaranteeing the Asia Series title and a spot in the World Rugby SVNS Division 3 in January.
Cup Final: Hong Kong China Men vs Japan
Hong Kong China Men came into the game with a far superior points difference to Japan across the two legs and only a heavy loss would prevent the Asia Rugby Sevens Series win and qualification to SVNS Division 3 in January, but the boys knew it was a game they should target with a victory against a rival they know well.
It was the second night in a row with very wet conditions at the Racecourse Ground, and we kicked off to a slow start with the game played under challenging conditions. Harry Sayers, donning a scrumcap, touched down for the initial points after the team showed great handling skills. It was well converted for a 7-0 lead and that's how it stayed until half time.
It was a cagey, tense and tactical second half but the boys put in a serious defensive shift to hold Japan out as they probed for an equaliser. A great lineout steal off Japan pinned them back as the clock was winding down and we were knocking on the tryline for a second score which could seal the win. But Japan scored from defending their own try line and even the smarts of Harry Sayers to ensure the score was out wide for a tough kick with less than a minute to go, the Japanese kicker nailed it to make it 7-7.
With the clock on zero, a double kick through of the ball left it bounced and submerged in the Japan try area - James Christie dived for the touch on the ball but was just beaten by the Japan defender and the final whistle as we headed into the second sudden death match for the night.
From the restart Sayers took the ball up twice well and they moved the pill wide as Max Denmark got outside of his man to score the winning try, a 12-7 win to seal Leg 2, the overall Asia Rugby Sevens Series and the qualification spot for SVNS Division 3.
DAY ONE: MEN'S
Hong Kong China Men won all three pool games to progress to the Cup Semi-Final on Sunday chasing a place at HSBC SVNS Series Division 3. The team's Semi-Final opponents on Sunday would be determined by the end of the group stage, which overran into Sunday morning due to a weather suspension late on Saturday night in Colombo.
Reaction - Head Coach Jevon Groves:
“On reflection, we are happy with the wins today. That first game was challenging and going down early to a score, but the boys showed their resilience, and we actually scored some really good tries.
"In that game against Korea, we wanted to get our defence right, make our tackles, and contest possession, which I thought we did much better. We were pleased with the result as we addressed and fixed those areas we wanted to.
Ahead of the final pool match against Malaysia he had commented: "I would like us to still improve on the kick-off and regain possession, as that's an area we value where we do well if we have the ball. I would also like us to increase the level of intensity in the final game which I think we saw signs of against Korea, and try to put in a complete performance.”
Reaction - Max Denmark (returning from an injury that kept him out of Leg 1):
“It feels amazing to be back on the pitch with the team again. Getting back into 7s is always tough, but I'm really enjoying the challenge.”
Ahead of the final pool match against Malaysia he said: "I think when we move into space, we look at our best, and let the ball do the work. Our defence has been great so far, we had the real dogfight mentality to never let a point go.”
Match 1: Hong Kong China Men 33-12 Philippines
Hong Kong China Men did not start as expected, as the Philippines opened the scoring to lead 7-0. The team had to dig deep, and it was Julien Bourron who levelled it up with Callum McCullough getting the boys ahead 14-7 at the break in a tough contest in the opening half.
The boys didn't deal with the kick-off at times, and the Philippines scored from the restart within 30 seconds, with Hong Kong China leading by two points after the missed conversion. Once again, Bourron dotted down under the posts for the full seven points as the game ebbed and flowed.
Bryn Philipps made it a more comfortable lead, and he slotted his own try for a 28-12 scoreline. There was a late yellow card for Juan Esono Mba Oyana, but Liam Herbert scored the side’s 5th try with great interplay from the boys, and they closed it out 33-12 to start proceedings with a victory in Colombo.
Match 2: Hong Kong China Men 50-0 Korea
An early set piece move saw Jack Combes play off the back of the scrum and release Liam Herbert for his second try of the day. Juan Esono Mba Oyana showed great feet to double the lead to 14-0 before Max Denmark secured his first try of the series on his return from injury, powering over on the wing. The side was in control with the 19-0 half lead and looked well on their way to securing their second win of the day.
Herbert scored another good solo try to kickstart the second half but Denmark was determined to match him and secured his second, as the two players who started their stints for the Hong Kong China 7s team at the same time, gave the men a comfortable 31-0 cushion.
Sebastian Brien set up the 5th try as Harry Sayers strolled over and Fong Kit Fung showed his power with ball in hand to take defenders with him over for a try. Sayers completed his double as the kick from Matthew Rickard brought up 50 points on the final whistle.
Hong Kong China Men 38-10 Malaysia
Max Denmark opened the scoring with an unconverted try early as the rain was coming down heavily for the final games in Colombo. Co-captain James Christie added a second as the team showed some good composure and slick hands.
Alessandro Nardoni finished off another good team move to extend the lead to 17-0. Liam Herbert saved a try and then helped Matthew Rickard to score the teams fourth before he picked up the side’s fifth try, which meant he scored in all three pool games. Hong Kong China Men led 31-0 at the half.
Malaysia did breach Hong Kong China's defence at the start of the second period before Bryn Phillips, with some good interplay with Seb Brien, restored the 30 point+ lead. However Malaysia scored a second soon after and were much improved in the half as the boys struggled to break them down further.
DAY TWO: WOMEN'S
Semi-Final: Japan 31-0 Hong Kong China Women
The two teams met in the Cup Semi-Final in the first Leg, which the Japanese won on the way to winning the Cup Final. Hong Kong China Women kicked off and put good pressure on the Sakura 7s to steal the ball back, but both teams fiercely contested the rucks as the possession changed hands from forced knock-ons.
Japan broke the deadlock running in a long-range try from a scrum in their own 22m to lead, and soon after added a second again from a set piece. A third on the hooter meant the girls trailed 19-0 at halftime.
Shanna Forrest spoke last night of how clinical the Japanese are, and they have been in great form throughout the tournament, racking up 185 points on the opening day without conceding. The girls kept them to their lowest winning margin yet, 0-31, in a tough game against a team which finished 7th in the World Rugby SVNS Series last season.
Hong Kong China Women will now face Thailand for the 3rd-Place Final, with the winners reaching the World Rugby SVNS Division 3 in January.
3rd Place Final: Hong Kong China Women 5-10 Thailand (After Golden Point)
After losing 5-17 in the pool stage, and with two wins over Thailand in the first leg, the calculations were set for tan epic showdown. A win would secure third spot in Asia and qualify Hong Kong China Women for the SVNS Division 3 Series, but a loss would put Thailand through (on account of a matched head-to-head record and a stronger point differential across the two legs).
The girls kicked off and the Thais dropped the ball in wet conditions for an early attacking opportunity with a midfield scrum. The return of the powerful Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana gave them different options in attack but all seven players who started showed good composure and ball retention against a tough defense but were unable to put points on the board in the opening minutes.
Much like the pool match though, it was Thailand that scored first to lead 5-0 against the run of play. The girls were forced to defend the latter stages of the half and found it tough to unlock the excellent Thai defensive line and small unforced errors kept us scoreless by halftime.
The second half started in similar fashion and it was our girls who had to dig deep in defence to not concede a second score while stuck in their own half. Excellent defensive pressure forced Thailand back 40 meters and they knocked it on from a massive Sabay Lynam tackle with just over a minute remaining. Oyana scored wide on the left from a good move off the scrum to tie it up 5-5 with 30 seconds on the clock. There was still time for more drama, after a wayward pass from the opposition nearly gave Hong Kong China a chance to steal it at the end but the final whistle blew and it was sudden death.
In the early stages of Golden Point a tackle deemed high by the TMO saw Gabriella Rivers receive a yellow card., from the resulting penalty Thailand used the extra player well to score in the corner and win 10-5. It was an excellent team effort all weekend and really was the smallest of margins that separated the two sides, and allowed Thailand to secure 3rd place on the Series and qualify for SVNS Division 3.
DAY ONE: WOMEN'S REACTION
Hong Kong China Women won the opening two pool games before losing a close encounter with Thailand, but the results and the girls positive points differential means the team still progressed to the Cup Semi-Final on Sunday with a place at HSBC SVNS Series Division 3 still up for grabs. In the Semi-Final the girls will face a dangerous Japanese side who won when the teams faced off in the Semi-Final of Leg 1 in Hangzhou.
Head Coach Andy Vilk:
"We needed to build momentum heading into the last game, and the team responded well to the intensity Thailand brought. Credit to Thailand, they played their game effectively. While we didn’t get the result we wanted, we’re through to the Semi-Finals and remain firmly in the hunt for SVNS3 qualification.
“We created plenty of opportunities today and could have been more clinical in attack. Accuracy in the contact area will be key on finals day, and we’re ready to embrace that challenge.”
Shanna Forrest:
Speaking after the final pool match against Thailand: “We said we wanted to build on from our first two pool games, and I feel like we did just that by being decisive and backing each other up on the pitch which led to opportunities in attack. It’s all down to the critical moments that we need to retain possession and we knew Thailand would be a huge test for us, so just managing those better for our next games is crucial.”
Looking ahead to the Semi-Final matchup which is confirmed to be against Japan: “Japan are super clinical, but if we just stick to our basics and focus on our game plan, getting the ball to our threats on the edge we can definitely find success.”
On the recovery planned after a long day of pool matches and late finish: "The main thing for us is to refuel and just try to switch off mentally after today, this will mean that we can hit the ground running tomorrow."
Match 1: Hong Kong China Women 22-0 Singapore
Thailand's women started strongly in their opening match in the same pool beating Sri Lanka 43-0, and with a big showdown between the two sides coming at the end of the day, Hong Kong China Women were looking to rack up points early too.
Co-captain Chloe Chan went over within 30 seconds as the girls showed their intent to lead 7-0. There was a yellow card early for #3 Maggie Sin Yi Au Yeung after the Singapore player dropped as the tackle came in, but the team closed up and defended well while they were a player down.
After a tough, energy-sapping few minutes in which Hong Kong China did well not to concede any points, they also kept the pressure on Singapore. The other co-captain, Natasha Olson-Thorne, added a second try for a 12-0 lead at the break.
Chan got her double with an excellent solo finish, showing strength and speed, to get the second half underway as they started well again. Shanna Forrest added the team's fourth try as the girls did well to keep the opposition out through the match.
They might have liked more points on the board, but it was a good 22-0 win to start the day.
Match 2: Hong Kong China Women 31-0 Sri Lanka
The home side was humbled by Thailand 43-0 in their pool opener, and Hong Kong China Women knew a win, but also points differential, was also going to be potentially crucial.
The kick-off from Hong Kong China was short and gave the Sri Lankans a chance to attack, but some loose passes and defensive pressure allowed our Leg 1 top scorer, Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana, to get her first try in Colombo and then a second as we led 12-0 early on.
The girls forced errors from their opponents, and Chong Ka Yan added the team’s third and Gabriella Rivers a fourth before the break (26-0), as they were clinical in turning over possession and scoring points.
It remained scoreless for most of the second period, with the game played in the Sri Lankan half. Jessica Eden finally crossed over for the side’s 5th try and another clean-sheet win, 31-0.
The final game is against rivals Thailand, with the winner topping the pool and the loser having to see if they qualify for the Cup Semi-Final as the best runner-up.
Match 3: Hong Kong China Women 5-12 Thailand
With the evening seeing rain at the venue, the wet ball was going to potentially cause both teams who like to pass the ball around, some problems.
Hong Kong China Women did really well for the most part with handling the ball in slippery conditions and at the breakdown where they had the upper hand. Chong Ka Yan had a try scoring opportunity checked by the TMO but it wasn't awarded and the girls were denied scoring a couple of times as the match was played in the Thailand 22m area. The Thais then struck first late in the half to lead 5-0 at the break.
Thailand kicked long at the restart but the girls did really well to shift the ball and Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana broke free on the wing to run it in from 90 meters out to level the scores, pulling up injured as she crossed the line and leaving the field thereafter. Thailand then were next to score to regain the lead and Sabay Lynam made a fantastic try saving tackle to keep them in the match. However, Thailand struck again late in the game to win 17-5.
The result and positive points differential ensured Hong Kong Women do progress to the Cup Semi-Finals as best runner-up and will face Japan on Sunday.
This article was posted in collaboration with our good friends at RugbyAsia247 – check them out for all the latest Asia Rugby news!
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