World Cup winner hails women’s rugby advances, before leading Kiwis in Tradition HKFC 10s
Anna Richards won Hong Kong Sevens with New Zealand in 2000 when women’s event was played separately from men’s
Exactly 25 years to the day after she won a stand-alone Hong Kong Sevens tournament with New Zealand, Anna Richards hailed the growth of women’s rugby since her 2010 retirement.
Four-times World Cup winner Richards, who coached Hong Kong’s women’s sevens team for four years until 2017, is back in the city to lead RKS New Zealand Legends in this week’s Tradition HKFC 10s.
The 10s introduced a women’s competition in 2023, the same year the elite HSBC SVNS Series began staging its men’s and women’s tournaments alongside each other.
“Women’s rugby is growing every year and the media attention it’s garnering is huge,” Richards said. “The media giving us equal footing is really important, it wasn’t the case when I played.
“Women are receiving more TV coverage and sponsorship deals, which is indicative of the level of rugby they are playing … and it’s getting better every year. It’s great to see the girls being paid and on full contracts, and getting the attention they deserve.”
The 10s will take place on Wednesday and Thursday at Hong Kong Football Club. The men’s competition features 12 teams, although not Samoa, who withdrew because of “unforeseen circumstances including player injuries and an inability to secure flights”.