HSBC SEVENS CHALLENGER – LEG 2 PREVIEW

Following last weekend’s first leg, the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2025 Leg 2 returns to the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town this Friday and Saturday (7-8 March). All 24 sides are still in with a chance to secure a top-8 spot overall and in doing so qualify for the Leg 3 in Krakow in April. 

The Hong Kong China teams know the task at hand and, with the pools now drawn, the teams they need to beat to give themselves the best possible chance (click here to read the full preview for Leg 2).

Hong Kong China Men’s 7s

Pool Matchups: Chile and Japan

Our men are in Pool A with the Leg 1 champions, Chile, as well as the other Asian contenders, Japan, who the boys will face first on Friday. Following a 9th-place finish in the first leg, both pool games will be treated like a final.

Jevon Groves, Hong Kong China Men’s 7s Head Coach, said of the pool and what he is expecting from the team in the second leg, “For us, it's about getting our own game right as we underperformed last weekend, so the focus is on what we can control and what we can get right.

“We know Japan quite well and have played them over the past few tournaments but we've also played Chile quite a lot including in the last Challenger Series, so the total focus is on ourselves as we were not firing last weekend.”

Harry Sayers had said last weekend that mentally for the team, the second leg started last Sunday when they won both games. “It's been about building the group's confidence back up and now we build and build and build as we know it's a massive task ahead this weekend in the second leg.”

Of what he feels the strengths of the squad are, the side’s top try scorer in the first leg, explained, “We've got some unbelievable connectors in our midfield who can put the faster guys away and we need our game breakers to be on top – we’re really strong when we're on top of teams and get in behind the opposition so I'm expecting a few big games from our game-breakers this weekend to get us back on that front foot.”

James Christie, who was due to captain the side before being ruled out due to injury but is expected to play the second leg, admitted it had been a tough week.

“We were low after the weekend and it's been tough learnings but you learn more from the losses than the wins. We're looking forward to that first game against Japan as it all rides on that. 

“For me, it was tough watching from the sidelines and I'm raring to go and am keen to help as much as I can – we need to keep moving forward as it was emotional last week.”

Fong Kit Fung was an unsung player in the first round but made positive impacts when he carried. He said that the team “needs to be more aggressive this weekend and have greater belief in ourselves that we can get the results, as we know we need to aim to win every game. We can do that by staying connected as a team.”

He said he is confident the side can pull off what is needed for the second leg, “I'm always confident and I believe 100% that we can beat every team here this weekend, and we have all the confidence in my teammates, our structure, and our game plan. We are a close-knit team and every player and member of staff makes us strong as a unit.”

Of the lessons learned and confidence heading into the second leg, Groves explained, “We have shown before we can bounce back and it's not the best circumstances but a reality check isn't the worst thing to get these guys focussed.

“We've had the tough conversations and done the reviews so I think we've drawn a line under that now. What I'm most pleased with is the boys have taken it on the chin and they are a hard-working bunch and fully focused on the task at hand.”

Hong Kong China Women’s 7s

Pool Matchups: Argentina and Czechia

Our women finished in 10th place in the opening leg and have been drawn in Pool B with leg 1 runners-up Argentina and 7th placed Czechia.

Hong Kong China Women’s 7s Head Coach Andy Vilk said of the preparation for the second leg that the focus was on getting the team feeling fresh as “the first leg brought all that energy and excitement after four months of preparation since playing the last tournament.”

“This week has all been about how we can get the players to be as fresh a place as possible in body and in mind. It's a long trip away which brings good opportunities to bring the squad together but we need to make sure we are focussed on this weekend.”

Coach Robbie Fergusson, who retired as a player from the SVNS GB team last year, said that he had been impressed by the girls so far:

“They have a great connection as a group and on the weekend they played for each other well – they love playing games together and playing cards and doing things together off the pitch, so it was pleasing to see that come to fruition on the pitch at times as well. That unity has impressed me the most and just how tight they are as a group – I hope it will show in the results this coming weekend.”

Vilk said of the pool and opposition in the second leg, “We know it's going to be two tough and physical games coming up. We played Argentina in the Challenger in Dubai last year and they brought the physicality and have good rugby players and threats across the park. It's about us focussing on us and our game and making sure we play to our strengths.”

Co-captain Chloe Chan said, “We know Argentina is a good side and a team with some big girls and ball carriers so we have to use our strengths and speed to try and get outside of them and not play their contact game. With Czechia, they also like the physical game and we need to make sure we do our basics well, move the ball and get outside of them.”

Last weekend in the pool stage, Czechia narrowly edged out our women 26-19 in a narrow loss.

Sabay Lynam was one of the side’s top performers in that first leg and she is keen to have another crack. “I am really excited to play Czechia again as it's not often you have a chance to have another go at a team you have just played, especially when it was so close last time. We are taking it one game at a time and we know they will be physical but we played South Africa last weekend and are also physical and one of the best teams in the competition so we got a feel of that and are well prepared.”

Chloe Chan, as co-captain for these two legs, said she was very proud to be leading the side in South Africa. “I have been with the team for about five years now and to be leading the group is a real privilege. I love all of these girls – they back me up and make sure we are all equal and I know we can play really well together. 

“Coming here we have this common goal of trying to make the top 8. We didn't quite make it last weekend but we are super excited and hungry to try and achieve that this weekend.”

Pun Wai Yan, who captained Hong Kong China 15s last season, made her debut for the women’s 7s side last weekend. She said of the squad and environment, “We have a good bond as a team and we find good ways to express ourselves and to de-stress from the tournaments during the week which is important and it brings a lot of energy for us to the training.”

Fergusson said that he agreed the team’s strength heading into this crucial second round is their collective bond. “We are a group that needs to work together as a whole, whereas I think some teams rely on a couple of powerful individuals, and we do have some great individuals, but the power of the squad is in our collectiveness and that's how we play and I think the girls understand that. If we trust in the system and play as a collective, that will be our strength.”

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