Brian O’Driscoll – We’re Definitely Going In The Right Direction

Another Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 and another wonderful opportunity to pick the brain of HSBC Brand Ambassador and former Ireland and B&I Lions international Brian O’Driscoll. We both sat in admiration of the crowd at the Hong Kong Stadium, the athletes and the atmosphere.

“I’ve been lucky to have been here with HSBC since 2015 and seen so many different versions of the tournament, and I am still learning how to navigate the different aspects of it. But were all having a such good time seeing the party atmosphere, which is what the tournament had until that “C word” (COVID) arrived” said O’Discoll.

We sat down with him in the swanky tempirary HSCB Helix suits that entertain customers and commercial partners, its synonymous with the networking and business mix the week has to offer in Hong Kong.

“The last few years have not been themselves, even the tournament last year was still a shadow of its former self. Whereas it definitely feels like there’s an international feel to this tournament in 2024 – there’s so much hype, there’s a lot of excitement. You’re passing underneath the tunnel, it’s pretty wedged in there, the fancy dresses are out, and talking to people, a lot of people have come for the first time. So I think there is loads to be incredibly positive about, except for the fact that Ireland just got beaten badly in the semifinals,” muttered O’Driscoll.

Sadly both of the teams we support didn’t make the finals in Hong Kong but there were so many positives to focus on in the week.

HSBC SVNS Competitiveness Is Unreal

We did discuss just how competitive the SVNS Series is, more so than ever.

“I think if you look at Fiji and their men’s team have gone 20+ tournaments without a victory, it is actually unheard of. The events also have a different flavour to them now with the women involved, and coming on board here for a second year it feels funny. Like in Dubai, they have had the women for a number of years with vets as well, and there’s a greater feel of kind of togetherness,” O’Driscoll explained.

We have spoken to Brian O’Driscoll previously in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai – he also has his pulse on what is going on through his role with HSBC, doing media work, and his contribution to the International Rugby Players (IRP) board.

On the competitive edge of certain teams and of Ireland, he added, “There are high expectations in certain countries – Australia demands victory, New Zealand demands victory, South Africans demand victory, and Ireland is beginning to learn that, but it’s been a slow burner on that front.

But to see our women with their first tournament in Perth this year, and to beat Australia in a final down there on their on their home soil – that was sweet. So we’re in good shape. If you think about five and a half million people playing fifteens & sevens and competing on three or four fronts – we’re doing pretty well, he said”.

How Difficult Is The Transition To Playing Sevens

On the talk of transitioning to Sevens from Fiteens, O’Driscoll expressed his views on how challenging it is.

“I think the Olympics is the carrot this year obviously. Dupont added huge value and he’s not here this weekend, unfortunately. But Michael Hooper is trying out and he’s trying to make that transition, he had the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup last year (RWC 2023). I think if you watch his performances, he’s probably come off the bench, he’s had some impact, but you can’t automatically flick a switch and just become a sevens player overnight.”

On the impact Dupont made, and we pointed out that he was joining a good team already, O’Driscoll agreed but said: “DuPont is the anomaly here. He’s the freak as it looks as though he has the capacity to just fit in. He has such a huge rugby brain and was able to guide them to victory in LA, or help, maybe not guide, but he was a big cog in that wheel.”

“It’s really interesting to see what will happen over the next couple of events in Singapore, and the final in Madrid. We are all hoping Hooper can get up to speed but I think, and he’d be the first to admit, he has a bit to learn,” O’Driscoll explained.

“You see the calmness of a lot of these Sevens players, there’s that snap on defence and I have seen him this weekend nearly too keen to get into position too early, being overly eager to be able to press and show his engine, but actually, that’s sometimes not the game. You need to learn the system and if you react late, you can find yourself in an uncomfortable spot to make those hits – it is just such a different sport.”

SVNS Athletes Are Special – Brian O’Driscoll

O’Driscoll was full of praise for the players on the SVNS circuit. “You really need to be at the events to really appreciate that & to see them in action. I was watching Ireland yesterday, and none of those are 15 players, even though we’ve had one or two come through from sevens into 15s.  The system that they’re playing, the way they go about things, like a Terry Kennedy – there’s no panic, like even when you’re blowing out your backside.”

O’Driscoll was full of praise for one women’s player in particular, who has been setting the standard for some time – Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who over the weekend in Hong Kong went on to win back-to-back titles. “Her athleticism – she is just a specimen – her skillset, her offloading, she just has that pure ability and a capacity to play, she could have chosen to play Rugby League too but I think she would be good at any sport she tries.”

On tapping into the energy of the crowd and whether it can fuel or distract players, the Irishman said, “You want to tune into it, don’t you? An All Black I played with for one season at Leinster, Brad Thorne, I remember him saying he just always loved big crowds and didn’t care if they were for him or against him, he just wanted to impress them. I just remember thinking ‘Wow, I love that.'”

Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens – HSBC Ambassadors 2024

Asian 7s Market

“As a player, you want to get the opportunity to play in front of the biggest crowds and it’s definitely the biggest one we’ve seen for a number of years here. The chants on Friday night in particular for “Hong Kong China” was epic for both the men’s and women’s matches – it did have that energy back. To develop the game in the Asian region, and to give them badly needed game time on a big stage – I think we’re going in the right direction after the pandemic pause – I think we’re all ready to move forward.”

We also discussed the responsibility of the role models and having players younger generations in different regions can aspire to be like.

“The role model piece is so important for the next generation. You can have all the grassroots initiatives in the world, of which HSBC have a great one with the Try Rugby programme in Hong Kong to be in 50% of Hong Kong schools to teach them rugby, the values, and the skillsets for understanding the game.

You have to give a platform for those young kids to see their heroes, not just the players from Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and the Melrose Claymores is important for the next generation. If you don’t give the players the platform, and the access to go and shine you are reducing your capacity for growth,”

O’Driscoll added of the women’s development in rugby; “When you look at the participation levels in rugby in general and the female game, that’s the greatest growth opportunity. So we’re definitely going in the right direction and continued funding from World Rugby into the female game – there’s definitely more funding going into the sevens and fifteens game, which is very exciting – it is a step forward in the right direction but we are far from done.”

Photo Credit: HKCR – Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024

What One Rule Change Would You Like To See In Sevens Rugby?

In Cape Town we heard a very good question from a young female South African journalist posed to a player which stumped them, so we asked Brian the same thing – If you could make one rule change in Sevens Rugby, what would you would like to see?

After also sitting pondering for a while, he said “I am gonna flip this around – the one thing I think fifteens could learn from sevens, is the speed of TMO decisions in sevens is outstanding – they have a look at the replay quickly and generally make the correct decisions. Very occasionally, you’re gonna get a really tough call, but for me, that’s a real learning lesson for 15s.

We both agreed if we wanted to discuss the law changes in fifteens rugby, that could be another couple of hours of discussion – Sevens rugby has got so much right.

Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024

• HKCR Men’s Head Coach Jevon Groves Reflects On A Succesful Melrose Claymores Debut.
• Sir Gordon Tjietiens On Taking Chinese Women’s Sevens Rugby To The Next Level.
• Christy Cheng – The Development Of Rugby Has Come So Far In Hong Kong.
• Natasha Olson-Thorne On HKCR Women’s Sevens Goals And Reaching 50 Caps.