HONG KONG 7s TEAMS NAMED FOR NATIONAL GAMES AT KAI TAK

The Hong Kong 7s squads for the Rugby Sevens competition at the 15th National Games of the People’s Republic of China - taking place this Wednesday to Friday - have been confirmed.

Men’s and women’s 7s coaches Jevon Groves and Andy Vilk respectively have been able to select strong and experienced squads to fly the Hong Kong flag at Kai Tak Stadium.

In the women’s squad, co-captains Natasha Olson-Thorne and Chloe Chan are joined by a host of senior players including Melody Li Nim Yan, Nam Ka Man, Stephanie Chan Chor Ki and Jessica Ho Wai On. The men are equally stacked with veteran players under the co-captaincy of James Christie and Seb Brien. They are joined by try scoring threats Max Denmark, Liam Herbert, Harry Sayers and Fong Kit Fung and a core of squad veterans in Mike Coverdale, Cado Lee Ka To and Alessandro Nardoni. 

Both coaches are confident that their squads are well prepared after playing in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series tournaments, and training camps with provincial competition in the lead-up to the National Games.

“We’ve had a pretty good build-up with the Asian series events giving us the match preparation we want heading into a major competition like the National Games. I think we’re in a good place to perform. We want the Cado’s [Lee Ka-to], Fong Kit Fung’s and Max’s [Denmark] in the team to inspire the next generation, so for us to have a chance to do that in Kai Tak in front of what should be a wider audience than usual is an incredible opportunity,” said men’s coach Jevon Groves.

Women’s coach Andy Vilk was equally effusive about the platform presented by co-hosting the National Games; “We played at Kai Tak earlier this year and the players loved it, so to have the opportunity to play there twice in one year is amazing for our athletes. But it is also a fantastic opportunity to introduce rugby to the public at a major multi-sport games. The players know we aren’t just representing our team, we’re representing our sport as well, and they are hugely excited about that,” Vilk said.

Hong Kong Men are in Pool A with top seeds Shandong, Tianjin and Inner Mongolia, while Hong Kong Women are grouped in Pool D with Shandong, Sichuan and Shanghai. Jiangsu, Hebei, Anhui and Beijing (Pool C in order of seeding) round out the eight teams in the women’s competition, with Jiangsu, Beijing, Hebei and Chongqing (Pool B by seeding) in the men’s group of eight. Provincial teams had to qualify for the final eight, while Hong Kong qualified as hosts, but are automatic 8th seeds before kick-off. The seeding leaves Hong Kong’s men’s and women’s squads facing opening matches against mainland rugby powerhouse Shandong, home to numerous China national team players.

The unaccustomed seeding isn’t the only change that Hong Kong’s sevens stars have to adjust to: the National Games format calls for nine-minute halves rather than seven, while 13 players can be fielded in each game, with seven substitutions allowed per match - compared to the 12 players and five replacements allowed at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

Fortunately, Hong Kong’s opponents are not unfamiliar as HKCR interaction with provincial rugby has increased markedly in recent years. Hong Kong China Rugby and Chinese Rugby Football Association will recognise this increasing teamwork by ratifying an MOU to jointly develop the game across the nation on the final day of the sevens competition (Friday 14 November). 

“We have been helping each other out quite a bit over the last three or four years, either going into the provinces or meeting in Shenzhen. We do quite a bit together and we have gotten to know the coaches and players really well. The relationship between HKCR and CRFA is important and the interaction is definitely supported and encouraged at the HKSI as well. It’s not only convenient, but also competitive and it has worked out well all around,” said Paul John, Head Coach of the Sevens Programme at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

On Wednesday (12 November) Hong Kong Men will play Shandong at 4:30PM and then Tianjin at 8PM. On Day two they play their final pool match at 4PM against Inner Mongolia. 

“We play Shandong regularly and played Tianjin before the Asian series. We don’t know too much about Inner Mongolia, but imagine that they will be similar to the China sevens style - very physical, quick and with high individual athleticism,” said men’s coach Jevon Groves.

“It will be a different atmosphere for those provinces when they play us in Hong Kong in a National Games. They are going to come at us hard and be very motivated to knock us off. We have to rise to the occasion. It’s a great challenge to be tested at home and hopefully we thrive in that environment. We had around 19 to 20 boys fighting for spots in the team. The internal competition has been strong, and we have been able to pick the best team, one that can make Hong Kong proud,” Groves added.

Hong Kong Women will play Shandong in their opening match on 12 November at 1.30PM and then Sichuan at 5PM; Day 2 sees Hong Kong play Shanghai at 1PM in their final pool match. 

“Jiangsu and Shandong are the top seeds, and you can see it in the way they play. It's a great challenge for us. We respect what they bring, but it comes back to our game and keeping our focus on ourselves. It’s exciting and unique and the pressure is certainly on, so it’s how we harness that.

There are really good teams across all of the provinces in China, and we know what quality they have up there. They are good at moving the ball and putting pressure on the defence with their speed. Nine-minute halves are something we’ve been building towards and incorporating into our training,” Vilk said about the women’s bracket.

Groves is also taking the change in stride: “Tactically, we’ve done a lot of work towards that. I think it’s a treat for us as coaches and fans because we get to watch them play for those extra few minutes.” 

CATHAY/HSBC HONG KONG SEVENS PUBLIC EARLY BIRD SALE ON 11 NOVEMBER

This week’s competition is not the only sevens excitement on the cards as tickets for the 50th anniversary of the world-famous Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens go on sale for members of the public from 11 November. 

An exclusive 24-hour early bird pre-sale for general admission tickets will be offered on 11 November, coinciding with China’s Singles Day celebrations which is also the world’s largest physical and online retail shopping day - which gives an 11% discount on all General Admission tickets.

Single- day ticket purchases will also be available during a 24-hour early bird sale on Klook on 11 November.  

General sales will begin across all platforms on 12 November.

In 2026, a variety of ticket categories and types will be offered including the traditional full event pass that delivers one of the world’s greatest sporting values with three days of rugby action, live music and entertainment, including 72 matches, world-class entertainment acts inside the stadium and a festival line-up of over 20 bands and performance groups in the event’s Fan Village.  

Fans can learn all about the available ticketing options for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens here, and find out more general information on the event at hksevens.com.

Men’s Coaches

Jevon GROVES – Head Coach
Peter JERICEVICH – Coach 
WONG Tsz Kit – S&C Coach
Stephen MUTCH – Head of Athletic Performance
Olivia WITHERS – Physiotherapist
Mark KOMAR – Analyst 
Paul JOHN – Team Manager

Men’s Players (Club)

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

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