Hong Kong urged to seize Women’s Rugby World Cup chance as Dutch showdown looms in Dubai
They have opportunity to qualify for 2025 tournament in England after scoring six tries to hammer Madagascar
Head coach Andrew Douglas has urged Hong Kong to seize their Women’s Rugby World Cup opportunity, ahead of a potential qualification showdown with the Netherlands next Saturday.
Hong Kong claimed a bonus-point 38-7 victory over Madagascar in their second match at the ongoing WXV3 tournament in Dubai on Friday.
The trouncing of the Africans featured six tries and some fabulous kicking from the recalled Zoe Smith. Douglas praised his players for “bouncing back” from the disappointment of being comfortably beaten by Fiji in their opening game last week, but warned that more improvement would be required to overcome the Dutch.
Hong Kong’s win was their first in WXV3 rugby. The top two teams in the six-nation third tier of the competition, other than the already qualified Fiji, will earn spots in the 2025 World Cup in England.
“It was nice to get five points [four for victory and one bonus point] and get ourselves into a position where we have a chance to go to the next step [of World Cup qualification],” Douglas said.
