Hong Kong sevens balancing act in South Korea with Asian Games, Olympics looming

Hong Kong’s rugby sevens teams have balanced the pursuit of success at this weekend’s Asian Sevens Series tournament in South Korea with the need to prepare for two of the sport’s major events.

Jevon Groves’ men’s team aim to defend their Asian Games crown next month, then go to Japan for the Olympic Games qualifying tournament in November, with the women’s team, newly under the charge of former England sevens captain Andy Vilk, following an identical schedule.

Head coaches Groves and Vilk’s 12-strong squads for the ASS event feature only Hong Kong passport holders, due to their eligibility for the continental and Olympic competitions.

But Paul John, Hong Kong’s head coach and head of the elite sevens athlete programme at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), insisted basing selections around future assignments did not detract from strong performances in Incheon.

An overall top-two finish across the two-leg ASS earns qualification for the 2024 Challenger Series competition, with its path to the premier World Sevens Series. Additionally, the Hong Kong rugby sevens programme’s funding is partially tied to ASS performances.

“Preparing for the Asian Games is difficult and we ultimately decided it would help the process to have only passport holders in the first leg of the ASS,” John told the Post.

“We have more players available for the Games than back in 2018, a lot of boys changed passports, which gives us a bigger base to choose from.

Meet Hong Kong’s new women’s rugby sevens coach – and he’s in at the deep end

“But we can’t think in terms of the Asian Games and Olympics as our only objectives, at the expense of everything else … The Asian Games is every four years and is important for the continuation of support from HKSI. But the ASS provides our first opportunity to play competitively, we need to perform well and gain momentum from there.”

Hong Kong’s men were nigh-on untouchable in the 2022 ASS, winning 14 of 15 matches – the other a pool-stage tie with UAE in the final event in Incheon – to triumph in all three events. They are grouped with Japan, China and Singapore on Saturday, with the top two progressing to Sunday’s semi-finals.

The women twice lost bronze-medal matches and recorded one fifth-place finish last year. They need to finish above two of China, Kazakhstan and Singapore in Incheon to reach Sunday’s medal matches.

“Jevon wants the team as strong as possible and performing at its best level, all the time,” John said. “Japan, Korea, UAE and China will be very competitive.

“And the nature of sevens means you can’t take anything for granted, it can spin on one decision or play. We need to be consistent and not disrespect anybody.

“Kazakhstan, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, along with ourselves, are all going for the third and fourth spots. There is everything to gain from our point of view.”

One calendar month separates the Korean event and Hangzhou’s Asian Games. The second leg of the ASS tournament takes place in Bangkok on October 14 and 15, ahead of November’s Olympic qualifiers.

“We want to remain a Tier A sport at HKSI for the men and women,” John added. “That gives us full support, which is phenomenal: we have grants, travel, equipment, and education support.

“It is up to us to try to achieve the results and that begins in Incheon.”