Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025 Prepares For Finals Day at Kai Tak Stadium

rugbyasia247 Posted On March 30, 2025

22 Views

Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025 Prepares For Finals Day at Kai Tak Stadium

The second day of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025 was played to a raucous crowd at the Kai Tak Stadium, and although not everything was smooth sailing on and off the pitch, it was a successful day with semi-final line-up confirmed for the HSBC SVNS and the HKCR men and women confirmed their places in the Melrose Claymores final on Sunday 30th March 2025.

HSBC SVNS Series 2025 – Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Day#2

In the HSBC SVNS, the Women’s semi-finals will be Australia v France and Canada v New Zealand, while for the men’s semi-finals, the final four will be Argentina v Australia and Fiji v France.

Reigning women’s SVNS Champions Australia set up a semi-final against France, while Canada will take on New Zealand in a repeat of the 2024 Olympic final as the big guns progressed from the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Canada captain Olivia Apps said: “We haven’t won too many cup finals. It would mean everything to make history with this group.”

In the men’s competition, SVNS leaders Argentina will play Australia while Hong Kong favourites Fiji face Olympic champions France in Sunday’s semi-finals.

Michaela Brake (nee Blyde) scored two tries to go ahead of Canada’s Ghislaine Landry in the all-time points-scoring list. Now on 1,359 points, she has her former NZ 7s compatriot Tyla King in her sights and said: “It is one of my goals to be ahead of Tyla. I love her to bits but I’m so competitive.”

New Zealand captain and double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Hirini also scored her 100th try against Brazil.

Australia beat GB 34-5 in their semi-final thanks to a hat-trick of tries from captain Henry Paterson. He said: “We have the confidence in the belief that we can beat anyone. I think that’s what we’re trying to drill into these young boys that when we are playing our best footy, we are world-class and we’re a top two, top four team – we should be playing in those last games on Sunday.”

China got their first win of the weekend at Hong Kong Sevens but made hard work of it against GB – running out 24-19 winners in extra time in the 9th place SF. They face Spain for 9th place on Sunday at 11:32 (HK time).

Japan Sakura 7s narrowly lost to Australia in their final pool game to sneak into the Cup quarterfinals but were well beaten by France. They play Spain for 7th place on Sunday.

All of the results and fixtures can be seen online here.

Melrose Claymores 2025 – Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Day#2

Hong Kong China Rugby men secured their place in the Melrose Claymores final by beating a young Japanese side 43-21 with Alessandro Nardoni the Player Of the Match. They will play China in the final on Sunday.

Max Denmark scored one of the tries and told us “It’s been amazing for some of our new players to be getting on the scoresheet and making their HK7s debuts with their friends and families in the stands – it really is the best feeling ever.

Playing in Hong Kong is always special and in a new stadium, it’s the same environment and it’s replicated what we had really well here at Kai Tak Stadium.”

Melrose Claymores 2025 - Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens - HKCR vs Japan Men

Photo Credit – HKCR – the men beat Japan to reach the final for the second year running in the Melrose Claymores.

Rory Cox who made his debut for the team this weekend also scored his first try vs Japan and said “I am over the moon with that and scoring a try – it’s absolutely bouncing in this stadium. Growing up I have been in those stands and the South Stand and it’s awesome to make my debut here.”

The HKCR Women beat Thailand 47-0 to earn their place in the final later on Sunday (which will be against Kazakhstan). Player of the match Sabay Lynam continued her scoring form from the recent Challenger Series with two tries and at least one assist in the victory, with a brace of tries also from Steph Chan and Rosanna Wright, while co-captain Natasha Olson-Thorne added her third of the weekend.

Sabay Lynam told us: “It’s amazing and it’s such a good experience as it is the first Hong Kong Sevens for a lot of us and it is mine too. It is such a thrilling feeling hearing this crowd shouting our names and supporting us and seeing the Hong Kong China flags out there too. For the crowd, please keep cheering us on tomorrow as we can definitely hear you and it’s giving us a massive confidence boost out there.”

Melrose Claymores 2025 - Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Opening Day - HKCR Women vs Thailand

Photo Credit – HKCR – Sabay Lynam scoring against Thailand in the Melrose Claymores at Kai Tak Stadium.

Olson-Thorne was excited with how the team performed and said: “Im so proud as we had a plan for what we wanted to do but to play like that was amazing in front of this great crowd. It’s so great to show the fans what we can do and how well we can play and give them something to aspire to and to be able to enjoy this environment.”

Schedule – Sunday 30th March 2025

This is what DAY 3 – Sunday 30 March of the Hong Kong Sevens looks like if you’re following the Asian sides in action and entertainment.

Melrose Claymores

Kazakhstan 31-0 Thailand Women 10:00

Japan 7-19 China Men 10.23

HSBC SVNS

China vs Spain for 9th Place Final 11:32

Japan vs Brazil 7th Place Final 12:28

Melrose Claymores – Finals

Women’s Final – HKCR vs TBC 15.47

(See the info for the Cathay Fly Past below – this is due to take place between the Melrose Claymore Finals)

Men’s Final – HKCR vs TBC 16.16

Entertainment

Cathay A350 Fly Past – Flight CX8100 is scheduled to take off at around 4 pm local time and will fly past Central, Wan Chai, North Point and then Kai Tak Stadium, depending on the weather conditions on the day.

Kaiser Chiefs – 4:43PM