Hong Kong China Rugby confirmed their full women’s XV squad to train and travel to Dubai for the upcoming WXV3 2024 tournament which runs from 27th September – 12th October at the The Sevens Stadium.
Feature Photo Credit: HKCR
The squad includes some experienced players and many were involved in the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship this year in which they finished second to qualify for WXV for the first time. The captain has not yet been confirmed.
There is also a change in management as Royce Chan moves into the new role as Programme Lead, which means the Men’s XV Head Coach (he will remain in that role too), Andrew Douglas, takes over as Head Coach for the Women’s team in Dubai.
The HKCR said, “Training is in full swing, with the team immersed in camps and training sessions to build upon an already solid foundation. The squad is gaining in experience, with only three potential debutants in the group. Hong Kong Football Club back Lucia Bolton returns from a stint in New Zealand targeting her first cap for Hong Kong China, while 7s academy star Haruka Uematsu and Kowloon forward Morena Grierson are in line to debut for XVs as well.”
Attack and backs coach Sam Beard said of the selection, “Our backline is dangerous with a good mixture of experience and x-factor. Through our training with the Brumbies Women and the recent ARC campaign, the team has spent a lot of time together and we are starting to see the benefits of that. We have a huge opportunity up for grabs at the WXV and it’s going to be exciting to see what this group can achieve.”
Forwards coach Lewis Wilson, who recently was involved in coaching Hong Kong China at the U20s Trophy in Scotland, added, “The forwards are looking good – a great blend of youth and experience, with a couple of new faces putting their hands up for this campaign. The group have come together really well and are working hard. We know we have a big challenge ahead of us, but the girls are hungry for a result and determined to show what Hong Kong has to offer on the world stage.”
Sunny Lee from HKCR was also selected as Assistant Referee for WXV 3 for the second time. The match officials for all of the WXV matches in 2024 can be seen here.
RWC 2025 Qualification Pathway
The WXV3 2024 is the final chance for some teams to secure qualification for Rugby World Cup 2025 in England. Hong Kong China has only qualified once – in 2017. The top two teams from WXV3 2024 (excluding Fiji) could qualify for RWC 2025.
Pool A
- Spain
- Hong Kong China
- Samoa
Pool B
- Fiji
- Netherlands
- Madagascar
Societe Generale Valley hooker Tanya Dhar said of the opportunities in WXV 3 2024, “Training has been challenging, we’ve been working hard to get ourselves conditioned and ready for the physicality we’ll face at the WXV. I am really excited to play there because this gives us the opportunity to qualify for a Rugby World Cup again. It would be so special to achieve that for our home and hopefully inspire more girls to take up rugby in Hong Kong.”
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Hong Kong China WXV3 2024 Fixtures
All matches will be played at The Sevens Stadium, Pitch 2, Dubai.
- Saturday 28 September, 18:00 local – Fiji vs Hong Kong China
- Friday 4 October, 19:00 local – Madagascar vs Hong Kong China
- Saturday 12 October, 18:00 local – Netherlands vs Hong Kong China
Hong Kong China WXV 3 2024 Full Squad
- Front Row: LAU Nga Wun, TSANG Hoi Laam, Megan RICHARDSON, Kea HEREWINI, LEE Ka Shun, Tanya DHAR, GOT Yuei-Tein Fion, LEUNG Choi See;
- Second Row: Chloe BALTAZAR, Morena GRIERSON*, Roshini TURNER, CHOW Mei Nam;
- Back Row: CHAN Tsz Ching, Micyala BALTAZAR, PUN Wai Yan, Shanna FORREST, SO Karen Hoi Ting;
- Scrum-halves: AU King To, HO Jessica Wai On, WAN Tsz Yau; Fly-halves: Georgia RIVERS, FUNG Hoi Ching;
- Centres: QIAN Jiayu, Natasha OLSON-THORNE, Gabriella RIVERS, Lucia BOLTON*;
- Outside Backs: CHONG Ka Yan, Zoe SMITH, Sabay LYNAM, UEMATSU Haruka*
*Potential Debut
Team Management – HKCR Women’s XV WXV 3 2024
- Royce CHAN – Programme Lead
- Andrew DOUGLAS – Head Coach
- Samuel BEARD – Assistant Coach
- Lewis WILSON – Assistant Coach
- Ian BONNET – S&C Coach
- Peter NUGENT – S&C Coach
- Sophie RAINE – Physiotherapist
- Jonny MOSES – Physiotherapist
- Jake MARTIN – Analyst
- Dora KWOK – Team Manager
How To Watch WXV 2024
All Hong Kong China matches will be available to view on RugbyPass TV, pending final confirmation from World Rugby.
All WXV3 fixtures are free for fans to attend in person – there is no need to prepurchase a ticket.
World Rugby Eligibility Changes 2024
It should also be noted that World Rugby changed its 8.1 (c) which related to national eligibility on residency grounds and came into effect from 1 August 2024.
- Previously this stated that a player could only change their national eligibility through residency after “the player has been registered exclusively with a union or rugby body in the country for sixty months (5 years) immediately preceding the time of playing.”
- Now with the adjustment – any player with a “genuine, close, credible and established link to a union” is not required to complete 60 months (five years) of unbroken residency in the relevant country.
2024 Rugby Tournament News
- WXV 2024 Details Confirmed – WXV 3 Heads Back To Dubai.
- Pools & Schedule Confirmed For WXV 2024.
- Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 Explained.
- Fans Guide To HSBC SVNS Series 2024-2025.
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