Asian Sides Struggle In HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2025 Leg 1 Opening Day

It was a tough opening Saturday of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2025 Leg 1 at Athlone Stadium as both Hong Kong China sides failed to win a game, both the Japanese men and Thailand women won one and lost one.

Feature Photo Credit – World Rugby – Thailand Women

The men’s event saw Germany, Chile, Samoa and Canada, claim two wins each to ensure their safe passage to the semi-finals, while in the women’s tournament, South Africa, Argentina, Colombia and Kenya,  all finished top of their logs on day one with a pair of victories to secure spots for Sunday’s semi-finals.

Hong Kong China Men and Women – HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2025 Leg 1 Opening Day

HKCR Programme Lead for 7s, Paul John said at the end of the disappointing day, “We have to respond well and pick ourselves up and show some resilience tomorrow.  We have to finish as close to the top 8 as we can to give ourselves a chance next week in the second leg.”

The HKCR men started the day with a shock loss 19-21 to Madagascar and after the Canadians had comfortably beaten the African side, the HKCR men knew it was a must-win game to beat the side looking to head straight back up to the HSBC SVNS Series

Canada had won all their games to qualify for the Challenger and all four games at the invitational in Vancouver last weekend but this was a much tighter game. Canada had led 14-0 but the men fought back well and narrowed the lead. Even two yellow cards for the Canadians weren’t enough, and HKCR eventually lost the match 12-21. They will play Georgia in the 9th-place semifinal on Sunday.

Photo Credit – World Rugby

For the HKCR women, the squad saw the return of both Chloe Chan and Rosie Wright from injuries. The side faced Czechia in their opener and the Europeans kept their noses ahead all game, but there were small margins of error that separated the sides. Even a Chong Ka Yan hatrick of tries couldn’t prevent a 19-26 loss.

In their second game against the fancied home side, Chong Ka Yan had told us they would need to be sharp in defence, while Springbok Women’s Sevens captain Mathrin Simmers said before facing HKCR, “We are expecting the opening game against Hong Kong China to be fast and expansive as they like to move the ball around. Our defence will have to be on par, but the crucial part will be our synergy on attack.”

Photo Credit – World Rugby – HKCR Chong Ka Yan

The South African side had too much pace and power and cruised to a 22-0 lead at the break. HKCR again created chances but the South Africans who dropped down from the SVNS after losing to China last season went on to win 36-0.

HKCR Women’s 7s Head Coach Andy Vilk said that sevens rugby means the second day is there for redemption and “put things right and bounce back.” The HKCR women will face Samoa in the 9th-place semifinal.

You can read the full HKCR Review in our collaboration piece online.

Japan Men – Day 1

Japan conceded first in their opener against Georgia and was trailing 0-12 but a score from Takemichi Nakano made it 7-12 and after the hooter with the Europeans on a yellow card, Ryodai Shirakuni added a second for the Japanese to lead at the break 14-12.

Shotaro Tsuoka extended the lead in the second half but Georgia came back to make it 21-19 – a nervy final few minutes after the hooter but Japan held on for a crucial win.

Head Coach Phil Greening told us “The first game is always difficult due to the anxiety and the shock to the bodies – so it was nervy. We have got to get better at getting rid of that before we kick off. We didn’t quite perform and show what I wanted but they showed great character to stay in the fight in what was a real arm wrestle and it means we are in a good spot to build on from here.”

Photo Credit – World Rugby

The side faced the Germans in the second game and Greening told us before they played; “They will be very physical and they can play well under this Spanish coach who has got them moving the ball very quickly now. They are a different challenge defensively but we need to concentrate on what we can do ourselves and control what we can. 

The Germans scored first but it was against the run of play and Japan then struck back to make it 5-7 through Kota Nakama. From there, in a physical game, the Germans added more tries to lead 21-7 at the break. In the second half aw Germany extended the lead before Japan got one back for a final score of 14-26 to the Europeans who moved to the Cup semifinals.

Of his ambitions for the side, Greening added: “I want the boys to be free and express themselves as I know when they do that, they are talented players. This is the first Series event for all but one player and we have some young guys here which is a sign of our development. But that no excuse not to perform and we still want to win everything and is a brutal competition format and we are looking forward to it.”

Japan will face Madagascar in the 5th place semifinal and the Japanese will know what to expect – regardless they will finish in the top 8.

Thailand Women –  Day 1

The pick of the Asian sides was the Thailand women.

Thailand started the day very well with a convincing 7-try 41-0 win over Mexico. Captian Wannaree Meechok scored the first two tries, before a third through Thanaporn Huankid to make it 17-0 at halftime.

Further scores from Passon Jaengjob, Darin Jantamala and Jirawan Chutrakun with a brace meant it was a convincing start for the Thais with returning Head Coach Tanyavit Kuasint.

Thai player Thanaporn Huankid told us “We are so excited to be here and we were so well prepared for this. We told ourselves to communicate well, keep our structure and to keep calm and play relaxed. We can improve supporting each other better and we will need to do that against Argentina.”

Photo Credit – World Rugby – Thailand Captian Wannaree Meechok

We have loved our time in South Africa so far – it’s been so nice and we have had this amazing weather so far.”

Thai Women’s 7s  High-performance Manager Hitoshi Ipoonsugi told us: “To win feels good but they have been working hard and it’s been helpful to have arrived early in South Africa to prepare early. I have been working with the side for 7 months now and have been working hard on the conditioning and getting their speeds up – so we are really happy.”

Before the team faced one of the favourites in the competition, Argentina (who had beaten Mexico 60-0), he added; “For the Argentina game, we know it will be a tougher match. Im confident we can get a top 8 finish in these two legs and we would like to get to LA at the end of the season.”

Argentina opened the lead 5-0 but it was a very combative and close game. The Thais had chances in attack but Argentina turned defence to attack and ran in a 60 m try to extend the lead to 12-0. Thailand responded with an excellent try to Jirawan Chutrakun with the ankle-breaking step to close it to 12-7 at halftime.

Thailand threw the ball around with real purpose but eventually one went loose and the Argentineans capitalised again from being under pressure to lead 17-7.  A late yellow card to Thailand killed the contest and Argentina ran out 22-7 winners.

Head Coach Tanyavit Kuasint told us at the close of play: “We are happy as the players can only improve their skills and experience by being on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger. We need to take this step-by-step aim for a top 8 finish over these two legs.

I am happy with the players’ performances and they showed real fight – we have no regrets. At the end of the day, rugby is just a sport.”

Thailand will play Uganda in the 5th-place semifinal on Sunday.

All of the results and fixtures can be seen here.

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