Hong Kong rugby sevens teams named for National Games, asked to inspire a generation
Selected players announced as the city’s teams prepare to begin the sevens tournament at Kai Tak Stadium on Wednesday
Head coach Jevon Groves has called on his senior stars to “inspire the next generation”, after Hong Kong declared their hand for the National Games rugby sevens at Kai Tak Stadium this week.
A formidable-looking 13-strong men’s squad will be spearheaded by James Christie and Seb Brien, the co-captains, wing wizard Max Denmark and evergreen Cado Lee Ka-to.
And ahead of what could prove a last sevens hoorah for some key figures, given the city’s 15s team’s qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Groves said his team, who swept through the recent two-leg Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series undefeated, were “in a good place to perform”.
“We want the likes of Cado, Fong Kit-fung and Max to inspire the next generation … to have a chance to do that in Kai Tak in front of what should be a wider audience than usual is an incredible opportunity,” Groves said.
Hong Kong, peculiarly seeded eighth, are in a pool with Shandong, Tianjin and Inner Mongolia.
“They are going to come at us hard and be very motivated to knock us off,” Groves said.