PUBLISHED ON 28 OCT 2025
Hong Kong China Men's 7s won their Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2025 second leg in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 18-19 October, and in doing so confirmed their Series win and qualification for the HSBC SVNS Division 3 due to take place in January (expected to be held in Dubai).
Hong Kong China Women's 7s narrowly missed out on qualification to SVNS Division 3 - after losing a hard-fought 3rd place match against Thailand in Golden Point extra time (view all match reports here).
Our men matched last season’s impressive feat of securing the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series without dropping a game.
With the upcoming National Games taking place in Hong Kong (12-14 November), the men's squad and management also set their sights on the global SVNS Series and targeting qualification into Divisions 2 and 1. Both Co-captain James Christie and Max Denmark were part of the Men’s XVs team that won the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship and secured qualification to the Rugby World Cup 2027, and returned to the sevens programme to be a part of the ARESS success.
The second leg’s joint top try-scorer was Max Denmark, who racked up five tries and scored the winning score against Japan in Golden Point extra time in the Cup Final, to secure the 12-7 win in torrential rain.
Denmark missed the first leg through injury of which he said, “I hyperextended my knee, and I couldn't really walk at the time, but it was nothing too serious. I had to do a lot of strength work around my knee. I was comfortable and confident in the team that we sent to win the first leg.
"I'm usually a little bit restless, and I wanted to be part of that team and want to be able to help, but I just had so much faith in the depth that we have now. I was just focusing on myself to come back.”
And what a comeback it was. Denmark continued, “It had been a while since I played sevens, and it was a good reminder of how tough it could be. It was really nice to come back and slot back into the squad and feel comfortable with everyone. I felt like we hadn't lost our touch with each other, and it still felt like we had all that great chemistry. Getting the win that weekend was amazing.”
At the start of the season, another player who had returned from injury, co-captain Seb Brien, commented on how important and proud the team is to be Asian champions.
Denmark agreed, adding, “It's always important to us to prove that we are the best team in Asia, and especially going into a final, going into extra time, and having that dog within that team, that fighting spirit, and to be able to go into extra time, not give up. Even though we knew that we didn't need to win, we wanted to win. And I think that really shows Asia and the rest of the world that we're ready to play.”
The win was one of redemption, too, as the Japanese had pipped our men in Cape Town in the Challenger Series. “I think having a super close game in that high-pressure situation, in the rain, the thunder, the lightning, with people going down with injuries. It was a great show of our resilience,” added Denmark.
Co-captain James Christie was also pleased with the team and the fight that they showed coming into this new Sevens season. "It's always tough on the back of some tough losses last season. We've had a really tough preseason, too, so it's nice to see that pay off on the first two tours of the season.
"Coming into this campaign, we talked to our head of performance and other various staff and wanted to address the fitness, more to have a wider variety and an aerobic part. We worked on that in the preseason, and it showed in those tournaments.”
Last season was the first time Christie led the men, with Seb Brien injured and Max Woodward retiring. “It was pretty difficult for me at times last year to try to get that motivation from the lads. But that huge senior leadership group really helped me push through. Having Seb back this year as co-captain is hugely impactful and brings a huge improvement for the team. He's a great talker, a great motivator as well, and an even better player on the pitch.”
HSBC SVNS Division 3 Locked In
With the new format of the SVNS Series this season, there is no more Challenger Series, which has been replaced by Division 3. It will feature 16 teams in total - 8 men’s and 8 women’s sides who all qualify from the regional tournaments. Only the top two men’s and women’s sides from that one-off tournament in January will then earn promotion to Division 2.
That Division will be played across three legs in 2026 and is made up of 6 men’s and 6 women’s teams - Kenya, Ireland, Uruguay and the USA are already confirmed for Division 2 for the men. The top four men’s and women’s sides at the end of the three-leg series will qualify for the HSBC SVNS World Championship.
James Christie said of the tournament, “I know we love playing in Asia and it's good competition there, but we always strive to get on that World Series. The first step in creating that dream for us is in Dubai in January. This year, hopefully, we'll get into training and get those meters and hours in beforehand.”
The squad has been building fantastic depth, and all of the players will be needed for the busy season. The co-captain added, “Maybe a couple of years ago, you'd be pretty confident about who was getting in our team. I think now the team is more competitive, but not knowing who will miss out is tough on everyone. I used to be that guy who missed out, so I know how that feels.”
Max Denmark has become a core part of the group and a key player for the opposition to watch, no matter where he plays.
“I've been playing sevens for Hong Kong China for just over eight years now, and I know what my job is on the team, and I don't think necessarily it makes me stand out. I think when I stand out is when the team is functioning. In my eyes, everyone on the team is standing out. I enjoy that responsibility because I know if I meet those expectations, then the whole team is functioning.”
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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