Hong Kong Sevens 2023: ‘game-breaking’ young stars excite city’s skipper Max Woodward – now he wants results
- The veteran captain is hoping to build on some impressive home displays at the last Sevens in November, as Hong Kong face France, Great Britain and Uruguay
- ‘Guys have come through and are game-breakers for us,’ Woodward says. ‘The team has a new dynamic to it’
Max Woodward is already a veteran of five Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens – four of them as captain – and he sensed a change in the air when he ran out to play at the tournament last November.
Put part of this down to circumstances beyond anyone’s control as the local pandemic restrictions ensured that there were few spectators from outside the city to be found at Hong Kong Stadium. And put part of it down to the squad surrounding him.
“November was quite an emotional tournament,” Woodward said. “It blew me away seeing that entirely home crowd. I’ve never seen so many Hong Kong jerseys around, I’ve never seen so many local kids cheering Hong Kong, and that was very, very special.
“As a sevens player in Hong Kong, some of us were once those kids, who had grown up watching it, and some new members of our squad were finally playing in it and it really met their expectations.
“We’re excited now about what’s ahead, and hopefully we’ll experience that feeling again.”
