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Paul McNamara

Paul John, the head of Hong Kong sevens rugby, acknowledged the city’s flagship men’s team had damaged their HSBC SVNS Series qualification hopes following a shattering Challenger Series defeat by unfancied Madagascar on Saturday.
Hong Kong were beaten 21-19 by the newly promoted East Africans in Cape Town, before a 21-12 loss to Canada condemned them to bottom spot in their pool.
On Sunday, they beat Georgia 29-0, then resisted a second-half fightback from Tonga to win 21-19 and secure ninth spot.
Only the top four after the three legs of the global second-tier series will qualify for May’s play-offs in Los Angeles to decide who will be promoted to the elite-level world series.


Unthinkably, Hong Kong are now in a fight for their Challenger Series lives, with only the top eight from 12 teams after next week’s second leg, also in Cape Town, reaching the third leg, in Krakow in April.
“We are disappointed with our performances and results,” John said. “We were better in the second game. However, we put ourselves in a tough situation [because of] our performance in that opening loss.”
Before the tournament, coach Peter Jericevich had called Madagascar “a bit of an unknown outfit”.
Hong Kong know all about the competition new boys now after a chastening closing three minutes, when they lost Matteo Avitabile to a yellow card before Mamy Herilala Ranaivoarison decisively converted Rado Randrianalisoa’s try after a 70-metre dash to the line.
Captained by Cado Lee Ka-to in the absence of injured James Christie, Hong Kong had stormed 14-0 ahead inside four minutes, through converted tries for Jack Combes and Liam Herbert.
Madagascar levelled after Salotra Lucas Rakotomalala and Jean Yves Randriamalala crossed either side of half-time.
Bryn Phillips’ ninth-minute score appeared to have got Hong Kong out of jail, but the sin-bin punishment for Avitabile opened the door for Madagascar, and Randrianalisoa and Ranaivoarison combined to crash right through it.
Canada thumped Madagascar 36-0, then kept Hong Kong at arm’s length following Elias Hancock’s converted first-half double.
With Canada down to six men, after a yellow card for Alex Russell, Lee went over for a try that was converted by Phillips. Kalin Sager became the second Canada player to see yellow, but the North Americans made light of the one-man disadvantage when Thomas Isherwood converted his own try to extend their lead to 21-7, and ensure Harry Sayers’ late score counted for nothing.
“We have to respond, pick ourselves up and show some resilience,” John said.
Hong Kong’s women were also left to battle for ninth, after losing pool matches to Czech Republic and South Africa on Saturday. They reached the ninth-placed final when Sabay Lynam’s hat-trick helped secure a 29-17 victory over Samoa on Sunday.
Head coach Andy Vilk’s team led 14-7 against the Czechs, after a pair of Chong Ka-yan tries, but the Europeans responded with three quick-fire tries, before Chong completed her hat-trick to narrow the final scoreline to 26-19.

“We played our game well in patches, our offloading game was good and in some periods we defended well, but we needed to apply more pressure and push up on them,” Chong said.
Hong Kong could not live with the power of South Africa on their return to this level following world series relegation, with a 36-0 rout followed by a 26-0 defeat of Czech Republic.
“In that opening game, I felt we started well and the girls did some fantastic things – we played how we wanted to at times,” Vilk said. “South Africa had some very good runners and showed they are a good side. Defensively we were very courageous.”


Hong Kong rugby sevens boss questions team’s work ethic after Challenger Series blowout

HSBC SVNS Series: Hong Kong men out of qualification running after Cape Town flop

HSBC SVNS Series: Hong Kong men have ‘much more to show’ in critical Cape Town qualifiers

HSBC SVNS Series: Hong Kong’s terrible start to qualifier a ‘reality check’, says coach

Hong Kong China Rugby

HSBC SVNS Series: Hong Kong hopes hit by shattering Madagascar defeat in Cape Town

Max Denmark tries to make progress during Hong Kong’s loss to Madagascar. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong’s Blake Elliot tries to shrug off Madagascar’s Mamy Herilala Ranaivoarison. Photo: Reuters 

From Hong Kong to refereeing Antoine Dupont: why rugby official credits city for success

Referee Karl Dickson (right) keeps a close eye on France’s Antoine Dupont as he scores a try against Italy in Rome last Sunday. Photo: AFP

Former Harlequins scrum half Karl Dickson, now working as a referee, during a visit to Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP

Karl Dickson awards a try for Italy’s Tommaso Menoncello against France last weekend. Photo: EPA-EFE

Hong Kong FA Cup: Kitchee boss furious after Chan hat-trick seals Tai Po comeback

Sherzod Temirov (centre) leaps above Tai Po defender Gabriel Cividini. Photo: Kitchee SC

Kitchee forward Juninho delivers a cross during his side’s 3-2 FA Cup loss to Tai Po. Photo: Kitchee SC

Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens

Hong Kong Rugby Union

City’s men’s team sink to shock loss, before Canada defeat leaves them bottom of pool and battling to limit damage


City’s men’s team sink to shock loss, before Canada defeat leaves them bottom of pool and battling to limit damage.


Hong Kong Sports Institute