Tradition HKFC 10s Set For A Star-Studded 36th Edition In 2024

rugbyasia247 Posted On April 2, 2024

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Tradition HKFC 10s Set For A Star-Studded 36th Edition In 2024

All the teams and their equally illustrious coaching staff are ready to take on the 36th edition of the Tradition HKFC 10s over two days from 3-4 April 2024 at the Hong Kong Football Club.

The 12 Men’s and 8 Women’s teams will combine emerging talent with seasoned international experience as many capped internationals are spread across the 20 teams, while there are centuries worth of international caps among the respective coaches too!

Paul Christopher, Chair of the Tradition HKFC 10s organising committee, said of the 2024 event; “We had a very strong tournament last year, with it being the inaugural women’s event and this year is no different. We have a very international line up, and we really feel that that’s it’s very exciting to track the calibre of players that we’ve got this year.

We know from feedback from the teams and players, what a special place the Hong Kong 10s is, and what a unique tournament it is. And obviously, we’re very grateful to Tradition for supporting us.”

Photo credit: Hong Kong Football Club – L-R: Simon Ryan, Coach, Tradition YCAC; Roshini Turner,Player, HKFC Natixis Ice; Ian Brown, COO APAC, Tradition; Paul Christopher, Chair, Tradition HKFC 10s Organising Committee;, Heather Fisher, Manager, Ashbury Tropics; Nemani Nadolo, Player, Ashbury Tropics ahead of the2024 Tradition HKFC 10s 2024

HKFC Tens Showcasing Women’s Rugby Talent

The tournament organisers said on the eve of the tournament “This year, the tournament takes a significant step forward in promoting the growth of the women’s game, expanding its women’s competition from five teams to eight.

This expansion underscores our commitment to providing more opportunities for female athletes and shining a spotlight on women’s rugby, a testament to the sport’s growing popularity and the increasing recognition of women’s contributions to rugby on a global scale.”

As we covered in our team previews, there are easily more than a dozen countries represented by capped internationals from 7s, 10s and 15s in the women’s section in 2024, while some of the honourable mentions of the coaches include Heather Fisher, Mere Baker, Tamara Taylor, and Shannon Parry (who have a Rugby League World Cup, Womens Rugby Union World Cup, and an Olympic Sevens Gold medal between them.)

Fisher will be coaching one of the favourites in the form of the Ashbury Tropics, whose men’s star-studded line-up includes Fijian-Australian ex-international Nemani Nadolo. Fisher is making the transition from player to coach after recently retiring from playing and said; “It’s always a very scary time retiring but being able to keep the game alive and coach both the girls and the guys and creating the new generation coming through; it’s very exciting.”

Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix were runners-up in 2023 and are back in 2024 at the HKFC 10s

She added at the grounds where the teams will be vying for honours this week, “When we’re playing, we just do what we do, and we just take it for granted. So, to be able to pass that knowledge along understand the different relationships with players and understand combinations and have the best out of players and handing over that trust.

There’s a massive responsibility to give the player the opportunity to play, especially when women’s rugby is on the rise – they’re where they should be, but not where they need to be. That’s still growing. And it’s really important to recognise that Hong Kong has been brilliant in terms of giving women a platform and opportunity. And we appreciate that. Women have earned the right to be where we are, and we’re still fighting to be better over time. So, for me, the result is almost irrelevant. If we get the people right, the performance right, and for me, performance is longevity and the legacy.”

She also emphasised the tournament’s role in showcasing the players to the globe, “There are some players here who this will be the biggest platform they’ve ever played on, and this could be their first, the last, or the middle of their career, you don’t know.”

Roshini Turner, who plays for the HKCR national XVs team and the HKFC Natixis Ice, spoke of the opportunity the tournament provides.

“I grew up watching the tournament, I grew up actually playing in the women’s showcase, and not even thinking that the women’s tournament would be a thing, so to finally get the opportunity to run out, personally, for me is great, and to be able to represent the club is also great, and there are also a couple of other Hong Kong China players who are getting more exposure and getting exposure against international teams,” said Turner.

Turner added, “I think that’s what you strive for, as a player, it’s just the opportunity to compete and to challenge yourself against the best. There are also a couple of girls who will be featuring in the HKFC Natixis Ice team who probably are on the cusp of joining the Hong Kong China squad and giving them that exposure and actually giving more girls the exposure to be able to do that, I think is a massive opportunity.”

Tradition HKFC 10s 2024 – Opportunity For Players To Be Noticed

Teams in action at the HKFC 10s 2023

Nemani Nadolo last participated in Hong Kong at the HKFC Tens in 2014 and said of his role as a mentor; “I think, players that have had the opportunity to play at that top level, I feel that we have an obligation to help the younger generation coming through, because me myself, I was in that situation one time, and I looked up to the guys who played at the top level, and they’ve passed their knowledge on to me.

I’ve always said to people that the Hong Kong 10s is unearthing the next superstar or the next big thing, we’ve seen in the past players such as Beauden Barrett and George Gregan, guys like that have come play here, I’ve played here.

So, I think it’s hugely important to make sure that we pass that knowledge on because ultimately, that’s what they’re trying to aspire to be as well. And what a better way to do it than here in Hong Kong,” emphasised the larger than life Nadolo.

Tradition YCAC Coach, Simon Ryan, said his side is keen to defend the title won in 2023.

“It was great to have that success last year, but this year there’s no pressure and we’re not here to defend the cup, but to win again. That’s our mindset to take the pressure off. It’s always so difficult to predict what you’re up against in the 10s. The teams always surprise you as it’s such a mixed bag.

So, the one thing we try to do is make it fun for people. A lot of the guys come from very structured environments, in Super Rugby Development, New Zealand 7s Development for example, and we’ve got a very young squad this year. So, it’s great to bring them to Hong Kong and put them in an environment they can relax and express themselves a bit more,” explained Simon Ryan.

Paul Christopher concluded by saying; “We think it’s a very prestigious event and want to keep to that very high quality that we’ve got, we see it very much as a testbed a breakthrough ground for new players. And I’m sure there are going to be players out there that we may well see even in the Olympics later this year because we know that being tested for that world stage.

And we’ve seen plenty of players from last year, that are in a sevens this year. So, it’s that testbed of high quality, new talent, as well as some of the players that may have already had a very high-quality career.”