2025 Tradition HKFC 10s Confirms RKS New Zealand Legends Women’s Team Entry

rugbyasia247 Posted On January 9, 2025

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RKS New Zealand Legends Women’s team confirmed at 2025 Tradition HKFC 10s with World Cup winner Anna Richards as a coach

The RKS New Zealand Legends Women’s team have been confirmed for the 2025 Tradition HKFC 10s with Rugby World Cup winner Anna Richards announced as a coach for the side set to compete at the tournament taking place from Wednesday 26th to Thursday 27th March at the HKFC.

The Tradition HKFC 10s is annually held on the Wednesday and Thursday before the world-famous Hong Kong Sevens and is sanctioned by Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR).

The organisers previously confirmed that the 2025 Men’s Competition will showcase a highly competitive field of 12 teams, and the Women’s Competition will feature 8 sides. They now have announced those women’s teams will feature sides representing clubs from Australia, China, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Japan and New Zealand.

Former Valley RFC and Hong Kong China national representative team coach, Deano Herewin confirmed that the women’s RKS New Zealand Legends team is the first women’s side to be announced for the Tradition HKFC Rugby 10s Tournament in 2025.

Herewin also announced the exciting news that Anna Richards – who won the Women’s Rugby World Cup for New Zealand four times (winning in 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010) – will be one of the team’s coaches.

Herewin said, “We’re still finalising our squad of players, but I am excited to confirm that I have Anna Richards alongside me on the coaching team. Anna’s experience will help coach our players to where we need to be, to win a competition at this level”.

Photo Credit – World Rugby – Anna Richards is a 4-time RWC winner

Anna Richards has been inducted into World Rugby’s Hall of Fame, and as a player, also represented New Zealand at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2000 and 2001, she also represented New Zealand in touch rugby.

As a coach, Richards was in charge of the Hong Kong China Women’s 7s team from 2013 to 2017, and she has also previously coached the Women’s Barbarians to their first test victory.

Richards said from her home in Auckland, New Zealand, “I am really excited to be part of this team. The HKFC 10s has developed into a fantastic showpiece for women’s rugby, and it’s great to be involved in the tournament. We’ve seen players at this year’s Hong Kong 10s moving up to represent New Zealand on the World Sevens Series, so we know what kind of team we need to bring to challenge for some silverware”.

The Pig Athletic Club from Australia, who reached the Cup Final at the 2024 tournament, are confirmed in the Men’s tournament in 2025 as are French top 14 side Union Bordeaux Bègles.