Hong Kong China Rugby Sevens Confirm Squads For Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Melrose Claymores 2025

Hong Kong China Women’s Head Coach Andy Vilk said of the competition, “It’s nice to be able to rekindle the Asian rivalries inside the new stadium. We play these two in the Asian Series regularly and they are two strong and skilful teams. We know it will be very competitive.

Last year was an incredible buzz in the stadium. We beat China on Friday night and it still sends tingles down my spine. The crowd is a help, but it can also be intimidating with 50,000 people. That excitement around the stadium will help focus our mindset coming into this; it’s an honour to be able to go into the new stadium as a player or coach of the Hong Kong China women’s sevens team,” said Vilk.

The HKCR women’s squad selected for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025 are co-captains Natasha Olson-Thorne (55 tournaments) and Chloe Chan (21), Au Yeung Sin Yi (29), Jamie Bourk (2), Stephanie Chan Chor Ki (26), Chong Ka-yan (35), Jess Eden (10), Shanna Forrest (12), Jessica Ho Wai On (25), Sabay Lynam (8), Nam Ka Man (43), Pun Wai Yan (2) and Rosanna Wright (6).

Women’s sevens co-captain Natasha Olson-Thorne (55 tournaments) is just one of two Hong Kong China players with over 50 appearances.

Hong Kong China Rugby Men’s Squad – Melrose Claymores 2025

Selection was difficult and competitive said Jevon Groves, Hong Kong China Men’s Head Coach. “We are picking the 13 very best players. There was really good competition for all of the places. Whether a senior or a younger player, everyone had the opportunity to make the final squad. It is a huge motivating factor for the boys to represent Hong Kong China in Hong Kong, in front of their friends and families, and there is expectation with that as well. That expectation drives us.”

He said of the threats of Japan and China – the Japanese recently beat them in Cape Town, “Japan are quick, and when they come out against us, they come out firing. China is really improving and will be very physical, so we have to get how we want to play right and put in those individual performances we owe ourselves for the months of preparation,” Groves added. 

The HKCR men’s team will be led by captain James Christie (20 caps) and includes senior players Cado Lee Ka To (61), Michael Coverdale (52), Max Denmark (36), Liam Herbert (33), Alessandro Nardoni (24), Harry Sayers (20) and Bryn Phillips (13), while youngsters Jack Combes (5), Matteo Avitabile (2) and Shiven Dukhande (1) join debutants Rory Stewart Cox and James Kee as some of the squad’s emerging players who have been given a chance to press their claims at Kai Tak.

Hong Kong China sevens stalwart Michael Coverdale has represented the city in 52 tournaments dating back to his debut at the Asian Sevens Series in 2014.