Hong Kong China Women Set for HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2023

The Hong Kong China Women squad is ready for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series which gets underway today and runs from 20-22 April in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Since March 2023, Hong Kong China Women are without a permanent Head Coach after Iain Monaghan left the role to join Rugby Canada. The Women played at the Hong Kong Sevens 2023 for the first time and HKRU Seens Programme Lead Paul John is in temporary charge as Women’s Head Coach and takes the helm in South Africa too.

Paul John said: “Our preparation has been good this week. The girls are a bit nervous and excited at the same time, but it is great to have both of our men’s and women’s programs competing in the Challenger Series for the first time. We have to play without hesitation. It’s going to be challenging but the girls are in a good space and ready to get stuck into it.”

Photo Credit: HKRU – squad players get their jerseys in Cape Town, South Africa ahead of the Challenger 7s tournament

Ten of the 13-woman squad for the opening tournament played in the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens for the first time in 2023. In addition to Natasha Olson-Thorne and Melody Li Nim-yan who will co-captain the opening tournament, there are senior players Nam Ka-man, Jess Ho Wai-on, Chloe Chan, Maggie Au Yeung Sin-yi, and Stephanie Chan Chor-ki.

The HK China team also contains two sets of sisters, with Micayla Baltazar and her sister Chloe, as well as siblings Gabriella and Georgia Rivers. It is the first time that two pairs of siblings have featured in a Hong Kong women’s squad.

On the opposition in the pools, the coach added “We have played Colombia in the repechage previously and they have also played in World Series tournaments this year. Poland has some strong players and quite a bit of experience playing on the Series and in the feeder tournaments in Europe. Paraguay is a bit of an unknown so we really have to focus on our own performance at the end of the day.”

Paul John says that these international tournaments are vital for women and their development and they have not had as many competitions as the men. It will also be essential as the year builds toward the Asian Games.

“The more opportunities we get at this level the better prepared we will be to handle the pressure moments and situations that are part of the Asian Games. This is what we train for, so having this experience and game time is priceless. We can only learn from this,” John added.

Hong Kong China Women Pool & Fixtures – Challenger Series 2023 Leg#1

Pool A

• Poland
• Colombia
• Hong Kong China
• Paraguay

The link for the live stream of the Challenger 7s Series matches is here – There are two playing fields A&B so check the fixtures list for the right field! All Fixtures can be seen here.

Thursday 20 April 2023 (Indochina Times GMT+7)

• Pool A – Hong Kong China vs Colombia (16:22)
• Pool A – Hong Kong China vs Poland (19:46)

Friday 21st April 2023 (Indochina Times GMT+7)

• Pool A – Hong Kong China vs Paraguay (14:22)

Hong Kong, China Women’s Sevens Travel Squad for HSBC World Rugby Challenger Series (April 2023)

Natasha OLSON-THORNE (Co-Capt); Melody LI Nim-yan (Co-Capt.); Maggie AU YEUNG Sin-Yi; Micayla BALTAZAR; Chloe BALTAZAR; Chloe CHAN; CHAN Chor-ki, Stephanie; Jessica HO Wai-on; NAM Ka-man; Gabriella RIVERS; Georgia RIVERS; TSE Wing-kiu, Agnes; Rosanna WRIGHT.

Photo Credit: HKRU – Hong Kong China 7s Squad

HSBC World Rugby Challenger Series 2023 News

• World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2023 Schedule and Guide.
• Hong Kong China Sevens Teams Confirmed For Challenger Series 2023.