Tradition HKFC 10s 2024 Wraps Day 1 – All To Play For On Finals Day

The Tradition HKFC 10s 2024 saw a successful opening day and the frontrunners were revealed for the Women’s and Men’s sections in the 36th edition of the world’s best tens tournament. Thursday 4th April is Finals day and anything is possible when the quarterfinals are played.

With so many high-quality calibre players coming from around the globe to play together in teams, many of which are barbarian style in their touring nature, the tournament gives opportunities to many up-and-coming talented players and some experienced old heads.

In the Men’s section on Wednesday 3rd April, the likely frontrunners heading into Finals day are Pig Athletic Club Baabaas, Shogun RFC and A-Trade Overseas Old Boys, while the eight-team Women’s Competition saw China Five Stars and RKS Shogun Rugby emerge as potential title contendors.

Photo Credit: Tradition HKFC 10s 2024 – RKS Shogun Men

Kane McKay, Tour Coordinator of the Pig Athletic Club Baabaas (PAC) said: “It’s fantastic to be here, so great to see people here at HKFC on day 1 of the 10s. It’s an amazing festival vibe. I feel like Hong Kong rugby is really back on the international stage.

The team are playing really well; they’ve got to know each other, and they’re super cohesive now playing as a team. It’s almost as though they’ve been playing together for years and really gelling. We’ll keep getting better and doing the small things – on finals day, anything can happen but we’re eyeing off that top spot.”

The PAC mostly consists of NZ, Australian and Pacific Islander players, some with international, NPC, Super Rugby and other Grade A experience. There are also at least two Hong Kong China Rugby international capped XVs players in the squad as well as three former Australian 7s players. They managed to beat 2023 champions Tradition YCAC in pool play on the way to three wins without conceding a point!

Photo Credit: Pig Athletic Club Baabaas (PAC) – HKFC 10s 2024

RKS Shogun Rugby (formerly Samurai) matched the PAC side by seeing out the opening day without tasting defeat or conceding a point and will be eyeing a finals spot.

Heather Fisher, who is managing the Haywards Tropics (whose women won two out of three pool matches – falling to undefeated RKS Shogun Rugby) said, “We’ve got some great players, but I don’t think we’ve maximised our potential yet, however onto day two, and medals are won on day two. These players have never played together before, they’ve come from around the world: New Zealand, France, GB, and it takes time to work off each other. So, I hope in the quarter-finals we go well, and I’m confident. It’s just about performance, and being the best we can.”

RKS Shogun women saw off all pool competition and will face Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix in the quarterfinal, with the Japanese side runners-up in 2023, they have not brought the same quality squad in 2024 but will hope to cause an upset against the fancied Shogun side who are looking formidable.

Shandong Rugby Club and China Five Stars, who had both the national Chinese 7s coach and Chinese Rugby consultant Sir Gordon Tjietiens watching in the crowd, are feeder clubs to the national team and it was China Five Stars who won the pool match 22-10, and went on two win their remaining pool matches without conceding a point.

Photo Credit: Tradition HKFC 10s 2024 – China Five Stars Women

The tournament also gives many match officials from Hong Kong to officiate at a high-level tournament – a number of teams feature capped international players.

Several of the main SVNS Series and other current and former international players and coaches can be seen in the crowd, with the likes of Wallaby Michael Hooper and legendary Black Fern Portia Woodman-Wickliffe already spotted in the crowd.

Tradition HKFC 10s Women’s Quarterfinals – Thursday 4th April 2024

The tournament will be live-streamed and options to watch are here.

• Hayward Tropics vs PNG
• Find Rugby Now vs Shandong Rugby Club
• RKS Shogun Rugby vs Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix
• China Five Stars vs HKFC Natixis Ice

Tradition HKFC 10s Men’s Quarterfinals – Thursday 4th April 2024

• RKS Shogun Rugby vs Taikoo Place Scottish Exiles
• Tradition YCAC vs HKFC Natixis Club
• A-Trade Overseas Old Boys vs Ashbury Tropics
• Jiangsu Lions vs Pig Athletic Club BaaBaas

Tradition HKFC 10s Men’s Bowl Semifinals – Thursday 4th April 2024

• Preseli Babas vs Papua New Guinea
• Mourant Apache vs China Five Stars

The full set of results from Day#1 and the fixtures for Finals Day#2 are here from the HKFC 10s 2024.

Tradition HKFC 10s 2024 – Day 2 Schedule

HK 7s Week 2024 News

• Tradition HKFC 10s Set For A Star-Studded 36th Edition In 2024.
• Tradition HKFC 10s 2024 – All Teams Confirmed.
• Kowloon RugbyFest 2024 Teams.
• Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Week – Ultimate Fan Guide.