HSBC SEVENS CHALLENGER 2025, LEG 1 – WATCH LINKS, RESULTS AND REPORTS

The new-look World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger is upon us!

Hong Kong China Men's and Women's 7 stars are in Cape Town, South Africa with the first leg on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 March. The teams will stay on for leg 2 which takes place six days later (Friday 7 and Saturday 8 March). From here the top 8 men's and women's teams in the standings will head to Krakow, Poland for Leg 3 on 11-12 April. This will in turn decide the top four teams that qualify for the HSBC SVNS Play Off competition in Los Angeles on 3-4 May, where promotion to HSBC SVNS Series for 2026 will be up for grabs.

All games are free to watch on RugbyPass TV (signup required), with the links below.

Squads

Click here to view the men's and women's travelling squads.

Results and Standings

Click to view the latest results and standings.

Watch Live

Click to watch live via RugbyPass TV.

Hong Kong China Matches

Each Pool has three teams, with results for Saturday's first day shown below.

• Hong Kong China Men 19-21 Madagascar 
• Czechia Women 26-19 Hong Kong China 
• South Africa Women 36-0 Hong Kong China 
• Canada Men 21-12 Hong Kong China 

See Day 1 Review Below

Sunday Schedule (Results will be added here)

• Georgia Men 0-29 Hong Kong China (9th Place Semi Final)
• Samoa Women 17-29 Hong Kong China (9th Place Semi Final)
• Tonga Men 19-21 Hong Kong China (9th Place Final)
• Belgium Women 19-12 Hong Kong China (9th Place Final)

DAY 2 REVIEW 

Day 2 results for Hong Kong China Men’s and Women’s at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Cape Town first leg were much improved at Athlone Stadium. This resulted in the men bouncing back with two wins to finish 9th overall and the women narrowly missed out on 9th to finish in tenth place.

Jevon Groves, Hong Kong China Men’s 7s Head Coach said he had been disappointed by the opening days’ performances which had placed the team under pressure to qualify as a top-8 side. He said: “I think in patches we played like what we can do against Canada, but we can't bridge that gap from such a poor performance against Madagascar and then try and play Canada in such a significant game. There were some deep reflections last night from everyone – the coaches and players.”

Women’s Head Coach Andy Vilk said that they had the aim of securing the 9th spot coming into the day but had to face two physical teams. “It wasn't to be today but it still gives us a fighting chance for next week, albeit to now try and do it the hard way. I am immensely proud of the staff and the players who put in a fantastic effort on the field. That is the unpredictable and beautiful nature of sevens.”

Georgia Men 0-29 Hong Kong China (9th Place Semi Final)

Hong Kong China Men looked focused and intent on making amends for the losses on Saturday and knew if they won the game against Georgia, they would face Tonga in the 9th-place final.

The boys showed some good early defence with some of the hits made with real venom and the first few minutes were all played in Georgia’s half. Max Denmark opened the scoring (and his first points of the weekend) after the team worked the ball well to the lead 5-0 and the side soaked up some pressure in defence before Denmark again turned that defence into attack as he busted through a tackle to score a second try and a 10-0 halftime lead.

In the second half, an excellent set play from the scrum and kick-through led to a Liam Herbert converted try and as the contest showed some physical niggle, Jack Coombes was yellow-carded but the side stepped up well with a man down.

Fong Kit Fung made an excellent steal and the side worked a good team try for Harry Sayers to extend the lead 22-0 before he grabbed a brace to end the game and close out a 29-0 win.

Groves said after the win: “This is going to be a tough format for us now, and it's sometimes not about the rugby this weekend - It's about how much character the boys can show. This really shows what these boys are made of and I like the response today but I still think there's more in us.”

Tonga Men 19-21 Hong Kong China (9th Palce Final)

Hong Kong China Men started with some good possession and controlled the tempo but had to work hard to open the score with the expected physical hits coming in – Blake Elliot opened with a converted score to lead 7-0. The team nearly quickly added a second after a kick chase attempt but the ball went dead.

An excellent break by Elliot was just cut down but the team was performing much better and composed and extended the lead with game captain Harry Sayers making it 14-0.

On defence, the rush speed was causing the Tongans problems and excellent interplay saw Harry Sayers add a second try and five for him this weekend for a 21-0 halftime lead.

The second half was less constructive as Tonga first had a fortunate score against the run of play but there were repeated penalties against Hong Kong China, and Tonga scored a second try to make for a nervy end to the game as they were within one converted score of tying it up at 21-14

A dropped ball midfield saw Tonga score in the corner just before the hooter but the conversion was missed from out wide meaning our men did secure 9th overall with a full-time result of 21-19.

It wasn't pretty but the job was done on Sunday and it still gives the boys a real chance in the second leg.

Groves had said during the day: “I think this is going to be very good for us in the long term, coaches and players, just to get that reality check of where we're at in terms of that second tier on the world… As tough as Sevens can be, it can change very quickly. You can have a good day one and then a poor day two – the game is very cutthroat like that. So we're hoping just to deal with what we need to get right and what we can control.”

He added: “Hopefully we can get that nine spot reset and go again for next week because tournaments can change very quickly.”

Harry Sayers, who captained the side in the final game and was the side’s top try scorer in this opening leg added: “Our second tournament really started with the first game today to have any hope of getting in the qualification and we knew we needed two results today. It wasn't pretty but we need to build from this and take it into next weekend.

“We are disappointed as the build-up to this has been as well prepared as we have ever been which makes it worse for us but we will focus this coming week and know what we have to do.”

Samoa Women 17-29 Hong Kong China (9th Place Semi Final)

Hong Kong China Women started the second day against a big physical Samoan side and it was the Pacific Islanders who used their bigger frames to good effect to open the scoring early to lead 5-0. From there the girls stepped up and played some lovely rugby, while throwing their into tackles against their opponents.

Try scoring sensation Chong Ka Yan opened our women's account in the game which was converted by Rosie Wright to lead 7-5. Through some slick hands after some difficult phases under pressure, Hong Kong China extended the lead 12-5 with Sabay Lynam crossing over. She quickly added her second and extended the lead to 17-5 by the halftime hooter as the side put in their best half of the weekend.

Chop tackles were needed as Samoa sent in solo runners hitting the contact hard, but the girls stood firm and Chong Ka Yan ran in a wonder try (her 5th of the 1st leg) through the middle of the field to make it 24-5. From the restart, Sabay Lynam picked up a loose ball from a well-contested restart to secure her hatrick and a 29-5 lead.

There were two late tries by Samoa and a yellow card to our hat trick scorer as the opposition came back and capitalised with the extra player to make it 29-17, but the girls held on for the win and set up a 9th Place Final against Belgium.

Co-Captain Natasha Olson Thorne said that overnight the team had taken a look at their own game, saying: “We just needed to focus on trying to get the basics right, coming back to what we know we do well, and then find confidence and that belief to go out there and perform.”

Of having players return to the squad this weekend, she added: “It's been great to have Rosie and Jess come back from their injuries and they add another element and dimension to our games.”

Belgium Women 19-12 Hong Kong China (9th Place Final)

Of facing Belgium in the 9th Place Final, Olson-Thorne explained before the match that they were also going to be a physical threat like the Samoans in the morning: “They're also a very physical side, so on that front, we just keep it the same, making sure that we make our tackles and support each other but still just play our own game.”

The game itself started with both sides creating chances and showed some excellent hands and a great running line saw Olson-Thorne run in the first try for a 5-0 lead. After some tough defence, the Belgians found a way through the middle and took the lead 7-5 before adding a second converted score with a well-worked switch.

Not to be outdone, an excellent line and cutback on the inside by Sabay Lynam saw her cross over and make it 14-12 at the break.

Belgium moved the ball well to the wide channels and scored first in the second half to lead 19-12. Most of the half saw both sides create half chances and an excellent late tackle dislodged the ball as the Belgian player was about to score. Then the Belgians had to make their last-ditch ankle tap to deny Chong Ka Yan a run-away try – as both sides battled hard to close out the game but it was the Europeans who held on for the win.

Vilk said that he was happy with how the team kept the ball alive and attacked the right areas saying momentum is key and they will need to build towards that next weekend. Of some of the standout players, Sabay Lynam topped the try charts this weekend and he said of her: “She has been with us for a good long block and been training well and we can see that coming out with her performances.”

He also mentioned the debut of Pun Wai Yan, saying: “She has applied herself so well and is a real strong character and does the basics well but off the field has a real aura around her and it's a real asset to have her with the team.”

Of Hong Kong China’s top 8 aspirations across these two legs in Cape Town, co-captain Natasha Olson-Thorne said: “We're still driving for that top eight spot and we have to keep fighting and keep going and believing- bringing it back to basics of being quick, tackling, passing – we have everything to play for.”

DAY 1 REVIEW 

It was a tough opening day for Hong Kong China Men’s and Women’s 7s at the HSBC Sevens Challenger first leg in Cape Town, played in windy but sunny conditions at Athlone Stadium. Neither side registered a win but with the format across the two legs, every game will be vital on the second day as the squads will take their learnings into Sunday.

Head Coach of the Hong Kong China 7s Programme, Paul John, said: “We have to respond well and pick ourselves up and show some resilience tomorrow. We have to finish as close to the top 8 as we can to give ourselves a chance next week in the second leg.”

Hong Kong China Men 19-21 Madagascar

Hong Kong China Men got the tournament underway in Pool D against a Madagascar side. Before the weekend, Men’s Coach Peter Jericevich said: "Every game counts and it's about those two pool games first, and if we perform well in those games, then we'll see where we're at but we just focus on the games ahead and then we'll see what faces us later in the tournament.....Madagascar is a bit of an unknown outfit.”

The side had made some late changes to the squad forced by injuries, notably captain James Christie was ruled out this weekend and Cado Lee took over the armband.

Hong Kong China started well with two opening tries to Jack Combes and Liam Herbert – both converted by Bryn Phillips. But the half swung back into the African side’s favour towards the end with Madagascar scoring twice to level things 14-all at the halftime break, the second try scored after the hooter.

The second half started well as the coaches gave their instructions and the team showed some good patient phase play to march upfield, before an extra roll on the ground cost them possession. Bryn Phillips eventually broke the deadlock with a well-worked try, spotting the gap, to lead 19-14.

A yellow card for Matteo Avitabile in the 11th minute made for a tense end to the game. A well-intended kick chase from Hong Kong China saw Max Denmark narrowly lose out in an attempt to reclaim the ball, and the opposition turned defence into attack to take the lead for the first time 21-19.

Our men had one late chance to try and turn it around but a dropped ball after the hooter meant it was an opening match loss.

With the other pool side Canada beating Madagascar 38-0 a few hours later, a final-game win was essential to have a chance of a top-8 finish in the opening leg.

Canada Men 21-12 Hong Kong China

In a must-win game for Hong Kong China to finish the weekend higher than 9th, but it was Canada who opened the scoring 7-0 in the second minute and much of the opening half was played in the Hong Kong China territory as they were forced to defend. 

Canada had won all their games to qualify for the Challenger and all four games at the invitational in Vancouver last weekend. They added a second score late in the half to lead 14-0.

Hong Kong China broke through the midfield which nearly led to a score but Canada had the pace to stop the attack as the halftime whistle blew. 

Our men struggled with the restarts but were creating more in attack in the half. A Canada yellow card was followed by a score and it was captain Cado Lee who made it 14-7.

From the restart Canada gathered a fortuitous bounce of the ball to run in a try from the halfway and re-establish a 14-point gap. 

Harry Sayers busted over for a late score taking us to 21-12, but time was running out. Hong Kong China won a massive turnover but the following kick pass trickled over the touch as the final hooter blew.

Paul John, said at the end of the day: “We are obviously disappointed with our performances and results today. We were better in the second game, however, we put ourselves in a tough situation due to our performance In that opening loss.”

The men will play in the 9-12 place bracket on Sunday and face Georgia in the 9th place semifinal.

Czechia Women 26-19 Hong Kong China 

Hong Kong China Women were in Pool A with Czechia and South Africa and played the Europeans first. The side saw the return of Chloe Chan and Rosie Wright from injuries this weekend, but were quickly chasing the game after Czechia scored first.

The Hong Kong China Women struck back through a Chong Ka Yan brace to lead 14-7, with Rosie Wright calmly slotting both conversions, before Czechia scored after hooter to narrowly lead 14-12 at the break.

Czechia opened the second half and extended the lead to 19-14. It was a very tight half with only a few chances and Hong Kong China had to defend for large parts. At one point they created a nice overlap, but the pass went agonisingly forward.

Czechia scored under the posts after keeping possession for a few phases to lead 26-14 and great interplay at the end saw Chong Ka Yan complete a hattrick, but time ran out and it was a 26-19 loss to start the day.

Try-scorer Chong Ka Yan said: “I feel like we played our game well in patches and our offloading game was good and in some periods we defended well. But we needed to apply more pressure and push up on them.

“Coming into this we have prepared well and we have some good quality players coming back from injury, but we also lost some players in the lead-up. The squad's ability and competitiveness are high and our abilities are good as a team so we are looking forward to the challenges ahead."

South Africa Women 36-0 Hong Kong China

Chong Ka Yan had said before the South African game, “We need to really focus on ourselves and recover well to take on this good South Africa side. We know they have good individuals and are a physical side, and we need to ensure we chop tackle and make sure we make our one-on-one tackles and play to our strengths.”

Ultimately the South Africans were just too strong physically and had real speed which did the damage as they scored early tries in the game to open up a 24-0 lead at halftime.

South Africa moved the ball really well to the edges and the hosts extended the lead with a brace of tries in the second half. 

Hong Kong China did create chances too but the South Africans, who are looking to bounce straight back up to the HSBC SVNS Series, were too good and won 36-0.

Hong Kong China Women’s 7s Head Coach Andy Vilk said at the end of the opening day: “We knew due to the format we had to start well but we had two tough opponents. Czechia, fair play to them played a good game, as did South Africa who were very impressive out there.

“In that opening game, I felt we started well and the girls did some fantastic things and we played how we wanted to at times. South Africa had some very good runners and showed they are a good side. Defensively we were very courageous.”

On taking lessons into Sunday, he added: “I felt like our girls have laid down a marker today and we can build on that for tomorrow. It's that classic Sevens rugby cliche where we have a second day to try and put things right and bounce back. 

"Every team in that bottom four is going to try hard to finish as high as possible as it keeps you in the running for the final leg in Krakow.”

The women will play in the 9-12 place bracket on Sunday and face Samoa in the 9th place semifinal.

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