Melrose Claymores 2024 – Six Asian Teams Ready In Hong Kong

The six men’s and women’s captains participating in Hong Kong China Rugby’s inaugural Melrose Claymores competition 2024 are ready for this weekend’s action.

The debut competition is designed to showcase the best of Asian sevens rugby and will feature the HKCR women and men, Chinese men and women, as well as the Thai women and Japanese men at the Hong Kong Stadium from April 5-7, 2024.

Feature Photo Credit – HKCR / World Rugby: L to R – Kippei ISIDA (Japan), Rattanaporn WITTAYARONNAYUT (Thailand); Nathasha OLSON-THORNE (Hong Kong, China Women); Max WOODWARD (Hong Kong, China Men); WANG Wanyu (China Women); Li Haitao (China Men).

Even though a debut tournament for all of the teams, this will be the first time ever the Thai Sevens Women will play at the famous stadium in Hong Kong.

#6 from Thailand, Rattanaporn Wittayaronnayut, told Rugby Asia 247; “I am so excited to play here, as is the whole team as it will be the first time we are playing in this stadium. We want to reach the final and win every match in every tournament but we need to focus on things one game a time and keep improving.”

The Hong Kong China men have had hit outs with the Japanese and NZ men in preparation this week, while the HKCR women had a run out against GB.

Photo Credit: HKCR – HKCR and Japan 7s men in the leadup to the Melrose Claymores 2024

HKCR Women’s Head Coach Andy Vilk spoke to us at the HK Stadium where the teams were receiving their special new kits for the Claymores tournament about the excitement for the weekend.

“Excitement is the right word, It’s not often you get a home tournament and it happens to be in Hong Kong, and with how big this tournament is and how much it resonates with the community in Hong Kong,” Vilk told us.

It will be the Englishman’s first time leading a team as coach as part of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens week. “The majority of the team had a good learning experience last year playing here for the first time, whether they were in the playing squad or not, they took that opportunity to be part of the Series.

We want to focus on the games and make the most of every minute on the pitch, so getting our performance right and focusing on our game plan. There is such limited time that we do have to express ourselves and show what we are about to the public.”

On playing in front of the grand old Hong Kong Stadium one last time, with an expected sell-out crowd and taking in the moment, Vilk explained, “We do want to take it in, and of the big focusses has been having everyone involved. So often we travel to tournaments and it’s just the group of 12 that travel and you try and have a group sharing and what was learned and pass it on to the squad.

Here we have an opportunity, as we are all here, to try and enjoy it as much as possible. For us, it was important today to have a squad photo and not just a team photo and we are trying to bring that togetherness off the pitch so the whole squad can savour that experience.

Several of the Chinese men and women players seem to be involved in the HKFC 10s 2024 tournament too, as there are two women and a men’s development side from China playing this week.

The Japanese men have sent what they have called a development side to Hong Kong to play in the Melrose Claymores, and also have their sights set on the Olympic Games in Paris later this year.

Melrose Claymores 7s Rugby 2024 – Team News

HKCR Squads – Melrose Claymores 7s Rugby 2024

Thailand Women – Melrose Claymores 7s Rugby 2024

Photo Credit: TRU – Thailand Women – Melrose Claymores 7s Rugby 2024

Dion Akwaja
Rattanaporn Wittayaronnayut
Passorn Jaengjob
Salinda Phaekhwamdee
Panpassa Jaijarim
Wannaree Meechok
Nantadchaporn Yodya
Narathip Maneesai
Laksina Nawakaew
Jutartip Yimyaem
Darin Jantamala
Panthitra Raksin

Japan Men – Melrose Claymores 7s Rugby 2024

Photo Credit: JRFU – Japan Men – Melrose Claymores 7s Rugby 2024

Shotaro Tsuoka
Kippei Ishida
Junya Matsumoto
Moeki Fukushi
Hayata Taniyama
Yoshiyuki Koga
Kazuma Ueda
Yoshihiro Noguchi
Kippei Taninaka
Yu Okudaira
Taiga Ishida
Takamasa Maruo

China Men and Women – Melrose Claymores 7s Rugby 2024

China Women’s Squad

Kang Chengtian
Wang Wanyu
Liao Jiuli
Chen Can
Wang Zhaojing
Yang Feifei
Jiang Yutong
Xu Xiaoyan
Ma Xiaodan
Wang Rui
Wu Juan
Zhou Yan

China Men’s Squad

TBC

How To Watch Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 & Melrose Claymores

Fans can watch the HSBC SVNS action via broadcaster partners or online on RugbyPass TV. You can see the full match schedule here.

Sign Up for the Rugby Asia 247 Newsletter Now To Receive the Latest Asian Rugby News (coming soon)

Hong Kong Sevens Week 2024

• Max Woodward – What Makes Playing In Hong Kong So Special
• Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Week – Ultimate Fan Guide.
• Natasha Olson-Thorne On HKCR Women’s Sevens Goals And Reaching 50 Caps.
• Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Week – Ultimate Fan Guide.