Robbie Fergusson Joins HKCR 7s As A Coach

Following the news that former Scotland and GB Sevens Rugby player and captain Robbie Fergusson had made the move to Hong Kong to play his rugby at HKFC, Hong Kong China Rugby has confirmed he will join their staff as a sevens coach.

Robbie Fergusson announced his retirement from Team GB 7s following the Olympic Repechage in June, and we reported he had joined Hong Kong Football Club in August. HKCR confirmed he has joined the Hong Kong China 7s coaching team ahead of the 2024/25 season which gets underway with the Asia Rugby Sevens Series in Korea from 7-8 September 2024.

Hong Kong China 7s Head Coach Paul John said of the appointment via HKCR, “Robbie brings us a wealth of knowledge and experience in playing international sevens and of the modern game, something that gives everyone a chance to keep learning. He started his coaching with GB Women’s 7s while still playing, so he is used to balancing his schedule and working hard.

He added that Fergusson had been settling in well and that the “players will always respect high-profile figures within the game, so they are responding to him and it’s nice for them to have another voice.”

Fergusson added of the chance to join the HKCR representative sevens full-time programme, which is supported by the Hong Kong Sports Institute, “Earlier this year I had started to think about life after rugby, knowing that I wanted to finish this summer. When I was playing at the Hong Kong Sevens in April, I had a few chats with the coaching staff and got a feel for the place, and then when the role came up I decided to give it a shot.

Robbie Fergusson commented, “I believe that sevens is in a real stage of transition around the world right now, and I feel this full-time model is the best one moving forwards. The coaching squad here are young and enthusiastic so I think it will be a brilliant environment for me to learn in as well.”

Fergusson played for Scotland 7s and Great Britain 7s, and competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 and two Commonwealth Games. He earned 50 HSBC World Sevens Series caps including captaining Great Britain on the HSBC SVNS Series for the last two seasons.

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Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2024

Fergusson has been hands-on getting the HKCR sides ready for the Korea 7s, the first leg of ARSS 2024. Fergusson will support Hong Kong China Women’s Head Coach Andy Vilk in preparing the women and with Men’s Head Coach Jevon Groves and Peter Jericevich preparing the men.

Fergusson said of the Hong Kong China sides, “I think our men’s squad is in a brilliant spot at the moment and just seem ready to play. At Team GB, we previewed them heading into Monaco for the Olympic Repechage and were genuinely worried about the firepower they had. I think that belief will be a huge factor this season.

Our women’s squad are at a stage where if we can really focus on executing our skills through the Asia Rugby Sevens Series then we will be in a good spot, as we have a lot of talented individuals and just need to put it all together.”

This past week, long-time stalwart of the men’s 7s HKCR side Russel Webb called it a time on his international 7s career.

Previously the top two men’s teams from the ARSS qualified for the HSNC Challenger Series which is the pathway to try and reach the core SVNS Series.

Asian Rugby Coach Appointments 2024

• Greig Laidlaw Discusses Plans For Urayasu D-Rocks As Head Coach.
• Yuka Kanematsu Appointed Sakura Sevens Head Coach.
• JRFU Appoint Phil Greening As New Japan Men’s Sevens Head Coach.
• Yohei Shinomiya Announced As New Thailand Women’s Sevens Rugby Coach.