Tradition HKFC 10s 2024 Women’s Competition Expands To 8 Elite Teams
rugbyasia247
Posted On March 30, 2024
The Tradition HKFC 10s 2024 tournament will see the women’s section expand to feature eight elite teams, with teams coming from Hong Kong, Japan, China, and further afield to participate in the 36th Tradition HKFC 10s.
Updated with squad and staff news – 30th March 2024
The Women’s Competition made its debut at the Tradition HKFC 10s in 2023 with five teams and RKS Legal Samurai Warriors was victorious when they defeated Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix in an enthralling final – both sides are back this year and will be considered among the favourites.
This expansion in 2024 means there are three national or development feeder teams making their debut – these include Shandong Rugby Club and China Five Stars which include Chinese national team players, as well as the Papua New Guinea national team.
Tropics Sevens (winners of the Plate in 2023), Find Rugby Now, and hometown favourites HKFC Natixis Ice will all return, in addition to the two 2023 Cup finalists.
Tradition’s Asia-Pacific CEO, Adrian Bell said, “Following a highly successful inaugural women’s tournament, we’re excited to announce its expansion, introducing three new teams to an already competitive line-up. This development not only raises the stakes but also enriches the tournament’s appeal and intensity.”
He added, “We eagerly anticipate welcoming fans and teams next month for what promises to be an exhilarating competition, further solidifying our commitment to supporting and growing women’s rugby alongside the HKFC.”
Roshini Turner, the HKFC Ice Womens Prems captain and HKCR national team player, who is also the Commercial Manager of HKFC Rugby Section told us in 2023 of her desire to see the women’s competition grow.
Turner commented, “The Tens perfectly showcases that tier of players who are about to make it or who will emerge in the game. And that’s very much where the Tens sits. I’m glad that we sort of filled that gap because it needs to be filled more often and those girls need to get the game time we’re talking about – they’re just not getting the competitions.”
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Tradition HKFC 10s 2024 Women’s Competition Teams
Please bookmark and check back as we will update squad news in this article as they are announced.
- RKS Shogun Rugby
- Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix
- Tropics Sevens
- Find Rugby Now
- HKFC Natixis Ice
- Shandong Rugby Club (debut)
- Papua New Guinea (debut)
- China Five Stars (debut)
RKS Shogun Rugby Women
Shogun Rugby Football Club was founded by Terry Sands in 1996 as Samurai (actually inspired by the Japanese national rugby team in the 1995 Rugby World Cup).
The team will be represented by players from 7 different nationalities at this year’s HKFC 10s; Australia, England, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Luxembourg, and the USA. There are also two Asian-based players in the squad – Alana Grace (Philippines) and Wong Sze Ying (Hong Kong).
USA Rugby 7s player Liz Tafuna also joins the defending champions, now called RKS Shogun Rugby.
The side is coached by two experienced internationals (see below) and supported by Kenyan and Australian staff.
- Mere Baker – has coached sides in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Ireland, the United States, Scotland, Italy, and Estonia. The coach is also a New Zealand 2003 World Cup-winning champion in Rugby League and played national team NZ 7s rugby.
- Shannon Parry – a Gold medal Olympic winner with Australia in Rio 2016.
1 Lina Mia Chioato
2 Georgia Gray
3 Emily Blackburn
4 Jordan Russell
5 Kinza Olsen Riahi
6 Emilia Kristiansson
7 Elizabeth Tafuna
8 Temitope Ogunjimi
9 Alana Grace (Philippines)
10 Milla Elaro
11 Kiiahla Duff
12 Betty Koula
13 Fleur Ginn
14 Damita Betham
15 Anaia Cruickshank
16 Piper Simons
17 Ava Wereta
18 Wong Sze Ying (Hong Kong)
Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix
Photo Credit: Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix
The Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix had a successful season in 2024 by winning the Japan National Women’s Rugby Championship XVs and Sevens under the guidance of former Japan National Team representative Yohei Shinomiya who is their Director of Rugby.
Following signing an agreement with the Australian Western Force in 2023, they also toured down under in 2024 and have their sights on possibly joining the Super W competition in the future.
Domestically, they will also be competing in the JRFU Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2024 (the first leg in Japan is the same weekend as the Hong Kong Sevens, so we don’t know what type of squad will compete at the Tradition HKFC 10s.)
However, the Phoenix player roster has seen several players sign up and leave in March 2024 – they have reps who are in Super W currently, as well as national team Sakura 7s and XVs representatives. Based on the team below, they are also using some Hong Kong based players.
Image Credit: Tokyo Sankyo Phoenix
1 Hasting Leiataua
2 Jay Jay Ho Hoi Lam
3 Aislin Wu
4 Hina Hamano
5 Yume Okuroda
6 Misato Kuramochi
7 AC Chan Nga Wan
8 Mao Ishida
9 Aoi Kurokawa
10 Lee Oyinlola Kim
11 Masaki Ueki
12 Mana Furuta
13 Sayaka Tanaka
14 Mei Jozodo
15 Bella Milo
16 Megu Takagi
Haywards Tropics Sevens Women’s 10s
The Tropics franchise launched in 2015 and has since welcomed hundreds of players donning the jersey globally. The team has a base in London, UK but has boasted capped internationals from England, Wales, Scotland, GB, Samoa, Fiji, Australia, Ireland, Jamaica, Philippines, Uganda, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands.
The side has played the Dubai 7s, Safari 7s; and Hong Kong Football Club 10s.
In 2024, the team will be coached by former England international Heather Fisher.
1 Tafi
2 Iliana Rechaume
3 Celia Quansah
4 Natalie Walsh
5 Kaitlyn Hubbard
6 Georgie Lingham
7 Justine Zhou-McGregor
8 Tess Evans
9 Rhi Parker
10 Eloise Hayward
11 Tilly Kidd
12 Tess Proos
15 Olive Watherston
16 Kelsey Teneti
17 Georgie Daniels
18 Dhys Faleafaga
HKFC Natixis Ice
Photo Credit: HKCR
HKFC Natixis Ice, successfully defended their Women’s Premiership title this year but lost the Grand Championship Final against perennial rivals Valley RFC.
The club boasts several HKCR national team players.
1 Octavia Iafeta
2 Caitlin Simpson
3 Zoe Teece
4 Katie McLeod
5 Roshini Turner
6 Chloe Baltazar
7 Nour Dennaoui
8 Georgia Rivers
9 Rachel Fong
10 Aileen Ryan
11 Sabay Lynham
12 Annie Buntine
13 Ivana Samani
14 Sofie Fella
15 Darling Mohammed
19 Rosie Down
20 Lisa Egberts
22 Kiana Rae
Find Rugby Now
Find Rugby Now secured two titles, the South Island 7s, and Give a Ruck 7s (LIT7s Series), as well as being a runner-up (LIT7s) in the 2023 season.
Online, Find Rugby Now confirmed: “We will be bringing a really diverse and high-level team of players and staff hailing from 11 different nationalities.”
The team will be coached by former England Women’s player and Rugby World Cup winner Tamara Taylor (the current Sweden Women’s Head Coach) and Taumafai Komiti.
Find Rugby Now at the HKFC 10s 2024 will feature 15 players in the squad who have been capped for their respective countries, from Mexico, Jamaica, South Africa, Ireland, Holland, PNG, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, Scotland and more.
1 Jade McGrath
2 Rosemary Inglis
3 Tiffany Fu
4 Isabela Gonzalez Berazueta Burgos
5 Janina Nightingale
6 Tyler Botha
7 Charlotte Mudoola
8 Leah Kintiba
9 Jade Wong
10 Allesandra Bender Cruz
11 Mercedes Cole
12 Maya Sangala
13 Juliette de Visser
14 Emily Lekuru
15 Kaylee Geerlings
16 Hannah Chrisp
17 Helena Dou’ble
18 Shaye Whareaorere
19 Montana Heslop
China Five Stars
The Chinese women’s club has members of China’s national teams and formerly played in the HKFC 10s under the name CRFA Gladiators.
2 WANG XUEMIN
4 XU XIAOYAN
5 ZHANG LE
6 WANG WANYU
8 WU JUAN
9 YANG FEIFEI
10 LIAO JIULI
11 LIU XUEYA
16 CHEN ZIYING
17 GE CHENJIE
18 HAN JUN
19 CHEN CAN
20 ZHOU YAN
23 KANG CHENGTIAN
21 JIANG YUTONG
24 WANG RUI
28 MA XIAODAN
30 WANG ZHAOJING
Papua New Guinea
1 Regila Wilfred
2 Merolyn Malt
3 Angelica Nanege
4 Amenda Pakure
5 Jasmine Roplaen
6 Lorraine Torao
7 Robina Wilsen
8 Magdelene Swaki
9 Katherine Wena
10 Barbie Michael
11 Janet Michael
12 Naomi Kelly
13 Joanne Lagona
14 Clare Akauma
Shandong Rugby Club
China Five Stars Women and Shandong Rugby Club (both from China) will be exciting to watch, with the two Chinese clubs acting as a feeder to the national setup.
1 Zhuang Chengcheng
2 Zhang Rui
3 Wang Xiao
4 Ren Jieyu
5 Yu Xiuxiu
6 Hua Beibei
7 Gao Xiaoyang
8 Zhao XiaoXia
9 Zhou Qing
10 Zhao Ying
11 Han Wencui
12 Zhang Jingci
13 Zhang Xinying
14 Liu Xingyu
16 Zhan Liyuan
17 Song Wenyang
18 Wang Xin
19 Tang Minglin
How To Watch The HKFC 10s 2024
The tournament will be live-streamed and options to watch are here.
If you are looking for somewhere to stay in Hong Kong, close to the HKFC grounds and public transport to reach the Hong Kong Stadium, Rugby Asia 247 recommends The Charterhouse who have been our accommodation partner for the past two years for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Week.
Asian Rugby News
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- Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Week – Ultimate Fan Guide.
- Tradition HKFC 10s 2024 – All Teams Confirmed.
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