Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 & Melrose Claymores Get Off To A Raucous Start

A busy and chaotic (in the best possible rugby way) welcomed the opening day of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024, with some upsets in the SVNS Series, while Hong Kong China women outfought China in the Melrose Claymores backed by a noisy crowd at the Hong Kong Stadium.

During the day on Friday, April 5th 2024, there was a steady stream of fans that made their way into the officially sold-out tournament, and by the time the home teams took to the hallowed turf and the official opening ceremony entertained the audience with a stellar and varied lineup, the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 crowd had found their singing voices.

The opening day is seldom the busiest (Friday’s gate was clocked at just over 30,000), which means the weekend is now even more greatly anticipated as 40,000 should be en masse belting out the hits on Saturday.

Two rounds of pool matches were completed as the sixth event of HSBC SVNS 2024 – the top five women’s teams (Australia, New Zealand, France, USA and Canada) each claimed a pair of wins to secure their spots in Saturday’s quarter-finals with a game to spare.

Japan Sakura opened their account with two losses, falling to Canada (5-24) and the USA (12-17), which means their final pool match early on Saturday is a must-win affair for the Japanese women to try and squeeze their way into the Cup quarterfinals and earn valuable SVNS Series points.

Photo Credit: HKCR – Japan Sakura 7s lost both games on Friday at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024

They are in the bottom four currently with sides like South Africa, and although the SA women battled hard, they lost both games too – but if you are watching them – keep an eye on the incredible work rate of Nadine Roos at #9.

The Australian women were pushed all the way but finally overcame the Fiji women 19-12, with the Pacific island team loudly supported by the usually large travelling contingent and the Australian women made it 2/2 wins by beating Ireland in Pool B.

Defending champions in Hong Kong, the New Zealand women, also came out of Friday unscathed with two wins over GB and Brazil in Pool A, which matched the results of France. The two top-of-the-table sides clash on Saturday.

On the men’s side, France, New Zealand, the USA and South Africa all are into the men’s quarter-finals with perfect records.

Samoa and Argentina more surprisingly also lost both opening pool games, while the current series leaders also lost Marcos Maneta to injury within the opening minutes of their campaign in Hong Kong (he might be back over the weekend).

With USA, Argentina, GB and NZ all in Pool B, and with NZ and USA undefeated but still to play on Saturday, Argentina need a big result against GB on Saturday too. Perry Baker picked up a brace of tries in the Argentina win, the second was an audacious intercept to seal the game.

Two teams who had seen coaching changes on the men’s side, South Africa and Fiji, had contrasting days.

The Blitzboke won both matches in Pool C but had to fight hard to see off Ireland after a Justin Geduld red card, and then later on to beat Spain who had already beaten Samoa. It means the group is wide open for who will qualify.

Fiji lost to Australia but beat Canada convincingly in Pool A. Michael Hooper made his debut (wearing the number 77 shirt) with just over two minutes left versus Fiji and his side leading 12-0, at the end of the game, made a trademark Hooper steal at a ruck to seal the win.

Hooper said: “My nerves started going up and up and up. We get two tries up but I know that Fiji can score two tries in about two seconds. So to come on in the dying minutes there was pretty nervy. I came on, Nick Malouf was great, guided me around. I just made my tackles, I made a few of those over my career so just stick to the script. I think that game suited me there.”

Photo Credit” Mike Lee / World Rugby – Michael Hooper made his debut (wearing the number 77 shirt)

The former Wallaby captain added, “It wasn’t too expansive, and it wasn’t just (defending) in the open field which I’m really learning and seeing it’s a different art in sevens. That game was a lot of rough and tumble in the middle of the field. Pleased that it kept it to that for the first hit out,” added the 125-capped Wallaby.

Hooper added of the atmosphere, “[The experience] was completely unique and I’m loving that atmosphere. I hear it’s only going up from here.”

France took on Australia as the final match on Friday with the French beating the Australians 19-14 to leave yet another pool wide open for Cup qualification.

All of the fixtures and results can be seen here.

Melrose Claymores Makes Its Debut

Photo Credit: HKCR – Melrose Claymores Makes Its Debut – Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024

The launch of the Melrose Claymores started with a series of memorable moments within moments. The beautiful precession of a sole bagpiper leading the handing over of the actual claymores to outgoing HKCR CEO Robbie McRobbie was followed by the Hong Kong China Women’s captain Natasha Olson-Thorne being honoured for her 50th tournament appearance – both to loud cheers from the partisan crowd.

The thunderous noise and chants of “Hong Kong” to support the home teams against rivals China were almost pure theatre and we were all for the atmosphere. The much fancied Chinese have not lost to HKCR for some time, but most of their team had also just played two days of rugby at the HKFC 10s.

HKCR women scored first and then quickly added a second try from the restart to absolute bedlam and noise from the Hong Kong Stadium but China struck back at halftime for the hosts to lead 14-5. Almost as if it was scripted, Natahsha Olson-Thorne went on one of her trademark bustling runs and handed off the Chinese player on the outside, and to her surprise, coasted in for the score and extended what was an unassailable lead of 19-5.

Despite the resilient Chinese women adding a late score to make it 19-12 – when the final whistle went and HKCR won, the stadium erupted.

Olson-Thorne spoke to Rugby Asia 247 after the win and when we asked if she knew the two teams would let her run onto the field on her own in recognition of her 50th cap to a huge ovation from the crowd,  she said; “I had an inkling but when I ran out and turned back, I thought oh wow ok. I carried on and thought to myself – ah thanks guys. The crowd was amazing, yesterday the girls surprised me and it has just been positive energy and lots of support – it’s an amazing memory.”

On the rugby, we asked how much belief there was in the squad they could beat China, who by all accounts were the favourites. “We went into the game knowing how they play and their skillset but we just had to focus on ourselves and and what we can do well. And we did that but also said have a go – have fun – and what a special place to do it.”

On ‘that try” which we sure will be replayed several times, the HKCR Women’s captain said; “It was a special moment, it really was. Once I fended her off, I was really thinking – am I going to get there (to the try line)? I am so used to taking up the carries and offloading to my teammates to score, but then I thought, like, Ive got this!”

Photo Credit: HKCR – Natasha Olson-Thorne – Hong Kong China Rugby Women 7s Captain

We have never seen so much media at the post-game interviews, it was heaving while in the stadium the entertainment was getting the official opening ceremony underway with emotions etched on HKCR players and staff.

Local singing star Celine Tam,  all-female Cantopop stars Lolly Talk, and former England international and British & Irish Lions star-turned-DJ James Haskell all were involved in entertaining the crowd.

Hong Kong China Men overcame China Men 19-17 when play resumed, in a game in which the Chinese men really lifted themselves. The HKCR men, who have had the better over the rivals in recent years, found a way to win and were buoyed by the home support. The noise, the noise, the noise in the stadium – it was unreal during the Melrose Claymore matches.

It was China who had scored first, hoping to spoil the party but HKCR struck back twice, and the yellow card to the Chinese player for a deliberate knock down didn’t help.

HKCR leading 12-7 at the break, scored first in the second half but it was China who came out stronger and pulled two tries to close the gap to 19-17 with time running out. A steal at the death nailed it for the home side and the ball was kicked out to secure their first win of this new tournament. 

Photo Credit: HKCR – HKCR beat China men – Melrose Claymores – Friday 5th April 2024

Day 1 Mentions –  Cathay / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024

• Michaela Blyde NZ Women – 50 tournaments 
• Henry Hutchinson Australia Men – 50 tournaments 
• Kevon Williams USA Men – 100 Tries
• Natasha Olson-Thorne HKCR Women – 50 tournament

Cathay / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 News

• Natasha Olson-Thorne On HKCR Women’s Sevens Goals And Reaching 50 Caps.
• Chinese Women’s Teams Dominate And RKS Shogun RFC Men Clinch A Nailbiter At 2024 Tradition HKFC 10s.
• Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Week – Ultimate Fan Guide.
• Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Captains Salute Hong Kong Stadium.