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Asian Rugby Sevens champs Hong Kong to compete in Singapore Sevens

SINGAPORE - Not one but two countries - Japan and Hong Kong - will be flying Asia’s flag at the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens which will be held at the National Stadium from April 15-16.

The Hong Kong Sevens team won the Asia Rugby Sevens title last year, which earned them a wildcard for the Singapore Sevens. Photo: Hong Kong Sevens Facebook page

The Hong Kong Sevens team won the Asia Rugby Sevens title last year, which earned them a wildcard for the Singapore Sevens. Photo: Hong Kong Sevens Facebook page

SINGAPORE - Not one but two countries - Japan and Hong Kong - will be flying Asia’s flag at the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens which will be held at the National Stadium from April 15-16.

Hong Kong earned a wildcard to compete in the 16-team Singapore Sevens after finishing on top of the 2016 Asia Rugby Sevens Series.

Hong Kong - which narrowly missed out on qualifying for last August’s Rio Olympics, after it lost to Japan in the Asia Rugby Olympics Sevens qualifiers, and also fell short in the final repechage event in Monaco - clinched the Asia Sevens title after winning three tournaments in Hong Kong, Seoul and Colombo.

Hong Kong sevens coach Jevon Groves, who was in the Wales 7s squad that played in Singapore last April, said his team will be out to give a good account of itself at the Hong Kong Sevens (April 7-9) and the Singapore Sevens.

“The Hong Kong team has bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on the Olympics and performed really well in the Asia Rugby Sevens series, winning all three tournaments,” said Groves.

“It was my first major tournament as part of the coaching team and I am glad we won the overall series. Hong Kong has had a few disappointments against Japan in recent finals but we have learnt a lot from those games.

“We are in a better place now and demonstrated during the Asia Rugby Sevens Series that we can handle pressure.”

Equally excited about the participation of Hong Kong in the 2017 HSBC Singapore Sevens is World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont.

“There’s no doubt that Japan is the leading rugby nation in Asia at the moment but it’s great to see the likes of Hong Kong and other nations working hard to close that gap,” he said.

“That all bodes well as we look forward to Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, the first time the tournament will be held in Asia.”

To prepare for the Hong Kong and Singapore Sevens, the Hong Kong team are currently undergoing an intensive training camp in Fiji, home of the World Sevens Series and Olympic champions.

For ticketing details for this year’s Singapore Sevens, go to www.singapore7s.sg

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