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Tom Bell

Mathew Scott

As much as the inclusion of a fully fledged, elite-level women’s tournament will thrill those playing in this weekend’s Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, it is in the stands that the most meaningful impressions may be made.
Hong Kong co-captain Natasha Olson-Thorne has considered it from both sides of the touchline and said the impact on girls from watching the world’s best women taking centre stage should not be underestimated.
“When you see women playing sport at a high level and see that as an option, you think, ‘I could do that, I could be there on that stage,’” she said. “When I was growing up, I didn’t have that.
“Now, it’s on TV, you’ve got the [HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series], the World Cup. It’s about trying to inspire new generations and hope they’ll pick up a ball and play.”

Hong Kong is staging a leg of the women’s Series for the first time, giving its women a place in the tournament as hosts. They have drawn six-time Series champions New Zealand first on Friday in pool A, which also includes Canada and Great Britain. It will be a baptism of fire, but squad member Rosie Wright wants nothing less.
“We’ve got nothing to lose,” Wright said. “It’s the first time for us, so it’s just going to be amazing. All the girls are on the same page. We’re not expecting to win many games or even any games, but we’re just going to go out and fight as hard as we can and just play the game that we love.”
6 stars to watch at the Hong Kong Sevens this weekend
As a young girl Wright could be found in the stands at every Sevens possible, cheering on her brother Mark, a stalwart of the men’s set-up. She has since furthered her career in the UK’s Allianz Premiership before returning home during the pandemic.
“When I was around mini-rugby age, it wasn’t even considered possible that women would be out there at Hong Kong Stadium,” she said. “I loved playing. I always played but I always had different sports in the back of my mind, because rugby didn’t really have the options for me back then.
“This wasn’t my dream, but became my dream and now it’s my life.”

The Hong Kong Sevens was an early supporter of the women’s game and made it a fixture of Sevens week from as far back as 1997. In the time since, the game has flourished and in the likes of New Zealand points-machine Tyla Nathan-Wong and Australian sensation Maddison Levi it has unearthed superstars.
For the most part women’s tournaments had been played at So Kon Po, almost in the shadow of Hong Kong Stadium, although the latter staged the women’s finals. Being allotted a leg of the World Series has put the women’s stars on show all weekend.
Sevens head coach Paul John said the elite company Hong Kong will join made it a precious opportunity. “This is why you play, why you train,” he said. “Some of these girls have been part of the programme now for nine, 10 years, so it’s great for them.”
Playing in not only the tournament but the main stadium was “where we want to be”, according to Olson-Thorne.
“We’ve been building towards this since our last tournament here in 2019,” she said. “This Sevens will be a way to see where we are, especially against world-class players. We can learn and grow from there, so we know where we’re starting from before the Asian Games [in September].”

A schedule clash with the World Cup meant there was no women’s competition when the Sevens returned to town post-pandemic. But the Hong Kong squad were in the crowd and they felt the love.
“I was there in November and I heard the roar when the men ran out and I can’t wait to hear Hong Kong cheer for us as well,” Agnes Tse Wing-kiu said. “I really can’t imagine what that feeling will be like.”
Tse gave up her career as a steward with Cathay Pacific in 2019 to become a full-time rugby player but then the pandemic made her wait for her Hong Kong Stadium debut.
“We’re super-excited, and are against the best team in the Series on Friday, so it’s just a good chance for us to challenge ourselves,” she said.
“We want to show something for our fans. We are showing these young girls that there really is a chance with rugby. The game is growing and opportunities are growing.
“Now we get to play at Hong Kong Stadium with the best vibe there is. We can show these young girls how far playing rugby can take you.”


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The Hong Kong women’s side will face the elite World Series teams at the Sevens, having won a place as hosts. Photos: AP

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Hong Kong Football Club has traditionally staged the 10s during Sevens week. Photo: Roy Issa

Former England internationals Rochelle Clark and Nick Easter at Hong Kong Football Club for the 10s. Photo: Handout

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The Hong Kong men’s team for the weekend’s Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Ike Li / Ike Images

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More than 20,000 rugby sevens fans watched three days of action in Hong Kong during last November. Photo: Handout

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Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens

‘When you see women playing sport at a high level … you think, I could do that,’ Hong Kong co-captain Natasha Olson-Thorne says
Teammate Rosie Wright adds: ‘When I was around mini-rugby age, it wasn’t even considered possible that women would be out there at Hong Kong Stadium’


‘When I was around mini-rugby age, it wasn’t even considered possible that women would be out there at Hong Kong Stadium,’ Rosie Wright says.


Hong Kong China Rugby