Asian Teams Stumble – Organisers Drop The Ball On Opening Day of Challenger 7s 2023

All five Asian teams are underway at the HSBC World Rugby Challenger Series 7s 2023 competition on a wet opening day in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The teams had mixed results, with the China Women and Hong Kong China Men were the best of the bunch and undefeated after two rounds of pool play.

The Rugby – Day#1 Challenger Series 7s 2023

Mens Rugby Sevens

Hong Kong China men started strongly with a good win over Papua New Guinea in Pool B and then followed it up with a tight win over Italy. The wet and rainy conditions were a challenge for all 24 teams in Stellenbosch but HK China overcame an unknown quantity in PNG, with a solid 26-5 victory.

Italy had lost to Chile earlier in the day 17-12, and Hong Kong was quick to put them to the sword in the first half, with tries from Hugo S, and a brace from Seb Brien to push Hong Kong ahead 17-5 at the half after a late score from Italy.

However, the way the side let Italy come back into the game will be of concern, with the Italian’s physicality and power showing and they raced back to tie the scores at 17-17.  A spectacular solo try from Alessandro Nardoni, who dragged defenders from 40 meters away managed to power over for the match-winner and a score of 22-17. The fightback is something that will have pleased the coaches.

Photo Credit: HKRU – Seb Brien attacks in the rain vs PNG at Challenger Series 23 Day 1

Hong Kong men’s sevens coach Jevon Groves said of the try “He had just come on and made an impact. There was some really good footwork and strength and it was an excellent finish, an excellent try – that’s what he does, but mostly his leadership has come on so much as well in these few months and I think he showed that in that moment.”

Hong Kong is at the top of Pool B and still face Chile on Friday although they have done enough to qualify for the quarterfinals (QF). The coach added “Our performance was still not where wanted it to be today. Conditions are pretty difficult with the rains and some really heavy footing, and I think it may come down to who can adapt best to those conditions tomorrow. I think we are all a bit disappointed in our defensive performance today. We probably lacked a bit of aggression. We know we have it in us and we are definitely going to need that to be improved going into tomorrow,” Groves said.

The South Korean men struggled – with a new coach in charge following the surprise move that long-time Head Coach Charlie Louw has not extended his contract leaving the Union without a 7s or XVs Men’s Head Coach. The team fell in both group C matches (5-17 to and 12-19 to Jamaica). Their final match is against Uganda who tops Pool C and with an outside chance of still trying to make the QF if they win – depending on how the results play out.

The overall winners of the two-leg men’s Challenger Series will advance to a four-team play-off in May to determine the team elevated to the World Series.

Photo Credit: World Rugby

Women Rugby Sevens

(We apologise as the technical issues from the organsiers meant we could not watch many of the matches).

The day started for the Asian ladies with a keen matchup between China and Thailand who had some close games throughout the Asia Rugby Sevens Series in 2022. The Chinese women are seen as one of the favourites for the tournament and ran out 12-0 winners of the Thais but there were certainly chances that the SEA team left behind in the second half.

The Hong Kong China women dropped their opener to Colombia 17-12 after leading 12-0 midway through the opening half which would have stung. After an excellent start with tries from Maggie Auyeung Sin-yi and Rosie Wright the team were doing well and 12-0 up. Colombia scores late in the half to make it 12-5.  Colombia managed a length of the field try in the second half to make 12-all and late in the match, a Hong Kong mistake behind their own 22-metres went astray and Colombia scored the winner 17-12.

Photo Credit: World Rugby – China women beat Thailand on the opening day of the Challenger Series 2023

The HK Ladies lost to the European Champions Poland in the second match – losing the physical battle and combined with it being heavy underfoot, the ground was better for physical sides and HK could not use their pace. The final score was a 31-0 loss and Hong Kong, China will play the bottom seeds in Paraguay on Friday but it is the HK China ladies who occupy the bottom of Pool A.

The China ladies went 2 from 2 with a hammering of PNG in their second match which seats them at the top of Pool C and their remaining match is against a tough Belgian side who dispatched Thailand in their second game 19-0.

Thailand are third in the Pool and could still qualify too (as could most teams due to the 12-team format) but a win for the Thais over PNG should see them reach the QF, whereas China should have done enough already but a win over a good Belgian team would be fantastic encouragement for the tournaments.

The organiser’s (SARU and World Rugby) silence has been deafening at how poorly they organised the opening day and the disrespect shown to the 24 teams, their Unions and the fans.

Challenger Series 2023 #Round 1 Results & Fixtures – Asian Teams

All Fixtures can be seen here.

• Pool C – China 12-0 Thailand (14:22) Women
• Pool C – South Korea 12-19 Jamaica (15:06) Men
• Pool B – Hong Kong China 26-5 PNG (15:06) Men
• Pool A – Hong Kong China 12-15 Colombia (16:22) Women
• Pool C – Thailand 0-19 Belgium (17:16) Women
• Pool C – China 46-0 PNG (17:38) Women
• Pool C – South Korea 5-17 Brazil (18:10) Men
• Pool B – Hong Kong China 22-17 Italy (18:10) Men
• Pool A – Hong Kong China 0-31 Poland (19:46) Women

Friday 21st April 2023 (Indochina Times GMT+7)

• Pool C – Thailand 48-7 PNG (14:00) Women
• Pool C – China 33-0 Belgium (14:22) Women
• Pool A – Hong Kong China 17-12 Paraguay (14:22) Women
• Pool C – South Korea 0-40 Uganda (15:38) Men
• Pool B – Hong Kong China 7-14 Chile (16:10) Men

Playoffs

Women

• Quarterfinals – South Africa 29-12 Thailand
• Quarterfinals – China 32-0 Colombia
• 9-12th place – Hong Kong China 44-7 PNG

Men

• Quarterfinals – Hong Kong China 35-7 Brazil
• 9-12th place – South Korea 22-26 PNG

Livefeed Streams:

• Link for Field A
• Link for Field B

Challenger Sevens Rugby 2023 News

• Hong Kong China Men 7s Team Aim To Break Sevens Challenger Series Hoodoo.
• Full Guide to World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2023.
• Hong Kong China Women Set for HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2023