Hugo Stiles to earn first senior Hong Kong cap at Japan Sevens

Teenager receives call-up for Tokyo tournament where HK are drawn into pool A with Fiji, England and Wales

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Hong Kong were disappointed to be knocked out of the Sevens World Series qualifier by Russia, despite the Bears going on to win promotion to play on next season's global circuit. Photo: KY Cheng/SCMP

Published: 9:30pm, 30 Mar 2015Updated: 10:53pm, 4 Apr 2015

Hong Kong under-20 captain Hugo Stiles will be thrown in at the deep end after being called up for this weekend's Japan Sevens in Tokyo, where coach Gareth Baber's squad have been drawn into pool A with the mighty Fiji.

Stiles is one of three changes made to the 12-man squad who played in the qualifying tournament at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at the weekend – the others being Ben Rimene and Jack Capon. The trio replaces Mark Wright, Rowan Varty and Cado Lee Ka-to.

It’s a belter. We have three tough teams but this is the best thing to happen to the guys as they won’t have time to reflect on what happened last week

Dai Rees on Hong Kong’s pool draw

Jamie Hood and his men will have no time dwell on their disappointment over failing to qualify for the HSBC Sevens World Series after they were invited to take part in the seventh leg of World Rugby's global circuit in Tokyo. And Hong Kong will be up against it, drawn with Hong Kong Sevens champions Fiji, England and Wales in pool A in the preliminary competition.

“It’s a belter. We have three tough teams but this is the best thing to happen to the guys as they won’t have time to reflect on what happened last week and also get a taste of what it feels like to lay week-in, week-out in the World Series,” said Dai Rees, the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union’s head of technical development and performance.

Hugo Stiles will earn his first senior sevens cap for Hong Kong this weekend at the Tokyo Sevens. Photo: HKRFU

“We will be going into this tournament looking at it as the start of our preparations for the Asian Olympic qualifiers in November and in that context I believe coming up against teams like Fiji is a great opportunity.

“It was mental toughness which let us down last weekend, and it will be good playing against the Hong Kong Sevens champions and England, as we will go into these games with no pressure on our shoulders of having to win,” Rees added.

Pint-sized Stiles played a few games for Grand Championship winners Societe General Valley this season and will make his debut in the senior side after being drafted in as a replacement for Varty who broke his thumb in Hong Kong’s qualifier quarter-final match against Russia.