CITY’S RUGBY SEVENS STARS REACH SEMIFINALS AT XXTH ASIAN GAMES

[Hong Kong China, 2 October 2026]:  The men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China have advanced from pool play at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.  Both teams are hoping to repeat podium finishes from 2022.  Hong Kong China’s men’s team are two-time defending gold medalists, while the women won the city’s first ever rugby sevens women’s medal with bronze in Hangzhou, China.

The men’s seven extended their unbeaten streak to five games without conceding a point to reach tomorrow’s semifinals against South Korea at 11.20.  
 

“Results-wise, pretty good,” said men’s coach Jevon Groves after today’s play: 

“Everything has gone to plan so far. That first game against China really was a challenge, and the boys responded quite well and were patient. It didn't happen in the first phase or second phase, like what we had in the previous games, so I thought we managed that game particularly well. 
 

“But there is lots to reflect upon, and it's obviously going to be a different feel and a different challenge in the semi-final against Korea. They looked pretty good. They've got a couple of good individuals, a couple who are physical and fast and a good kick-off game. We're going to have to be at our best tomorrow to get what we want to get out of our first game.”

The women lost a gritty encounter against defending Asian Games gold medalists China 24-10, but advanced to the semifinals as the third best finisher in the eight-team tournament ahead of rivals Thailand. 
 

“We are just building into this tournament,” said women’s coach Andy Vilk “Hopefully we are carrying some momentum over from days one and two into day three, which has been the whole aim of this preparation block. We are ensuring that we have tried out all our combinations and scenarios so that we are best prepared for tomorrow. These last two days have been a bit more about fine-tuning things.”

Winger Can Chen scored a brace against Hong Kong in the opening four minutes of the China match, before Chong Ka Yan’s try put Hong Kong on the board, trailing 12-5 at the break. Dou Xinrong added two from her wing in the second half before Au King To claimed her second score of the tournament to close the gap to 24-10 in the losing effort. 
 

The women’s path will be even trickier in tomorrow’s semifinal (10.55 Hong Kong time) when they face Japan who were runners-up in Hangzhou and are hosting the Asian Games. 
 

“We were challenged by a strong China team today and showed some flashes of what we are able to do in attack, and we are building on that into tomorrow against a Japanese team. It will be a really accurate and fast game, with lots of challenges and opportunities across the board. 
 

“The big opportunities are around. We came here for medals. Everyone is fit at the moment. We are looking forward to tomorrow,” said Vilk.

Hong Kong China men advanced to the semifinals after beating Malaysia for a second time at the Games in today’s quarterfinal, 50-0, bettering yesterday's 48-0 margin behind the first hat trick of the tournament from Juan Esono Mba Oyana.  
 

Malaysia had a disastrous start as they conceded a try to Mba Oyana after 30 seconds, a yellow card, and a try to Max Denmark all before two minutes had expired. Bryn Phillips added a converted try at the buzzer to push the lead to 17-0.  
 

The second half saw more of the same with Matt Rickard scoring 30 seconds in as the floodgates opened for Phillips to collect his second try, to push Hong Kong ahead to 31-0. Mba Oyana scored twice inside the final two minutes to complete his hat trick before captain James Christie’s final try pushed Hong Kong China to the half-ton marker.  
 

That result followed on from a clinical 22-0 win over China in the Pool A decider match this morning.

Tries from Julien Bourron and Liam Herbert gave Hong Kong a slim 10-0 margin at the gap against China, but Hong Kong’s rotating reserves bench once again made an impact in the second.  Harry Sayers scored shortly after coming on for Max Denmark to push the score to 17-0 after Bryn Phillips’ conversion. Cado Lee Ka-To scored his first try of his fourth Asian Games tournament with a minute remaining to push Hong Kong to 22-0 and see them complete pool play without conceding a point. 
 

“Against China, we were tested physically,” Groves said. “They were pretty up for it, pretty motivated to contest the breakdown and make it happen. I thought that they really challenged us in that area. We showed some good patience in our attack and also to keep them out as well. There was some good last-ditch tackle, some scramble there, so I'm pleased with that result.”

On the eve of the semifinals Groves paid tribute to his core of experienced players saying, “We've got a good chunk of players from the last Asian Games, and obviously, we've got Cado [Lee Ka To] there who's played four. The message for us is, if we look after and control what we can control - our mindset, battle processes, and battle game plan—and look to execute that game plan as best we can, we will be in a good place. 
 

“When we start deviating from that or thinking too far ahead, that's going to pose a challenge. The boys have shown real mental resilience to stay focused on each and every game. Everything is now going to be focused on that first game against Korea, not thinking too far ahead. We've learned lessons from previous tournaments and campaigns, particularly around the challenge of doing that. We need to take each and every game as it comes. It's a semi-final and it needs a really focused mindset and staying present in that first game.”

Groves noted that Rory Stewart-Cox is out of the action with a fractured foot. The emerging star winger had three tries before taking the knock on day one. “It's unfortunate for him because he was looking really good. A little bit of a reshuffle with Rory being out, but the boys are more than capable of playing those multi-positions, and we train for those types of scenarios,” Groves added.

20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Nagoya, Japan (1-3 October) 

Hong Kong China SF&OC Women’s VII

Chloe CHAN (c); Micayla BALTAZAR (vc); AU King To; AU Yeung Sin Yi Maggie; CHAN Tsz Ching Agnes; CHAN Stephanie Chor Ki; CHONG Ka Yan; Shanna FORREST; HO Wai On Jessica; Julia Mibuy MBA OYANA; NAM Ka Man; Natasha OLSON-THORNE; Gabrielle RIVERS; Women’s Staff: Paul JOHN (Manager); Andy VILK (Head Coach); CHONG Shin Hin (S&C Coach); Callum CHIA (Physiotherapist); Mark KOMAR (Analyst). 

Hong Kong China SF&OC Men’s VII

James CHRISTIE (c); Matteo AVITABILE; Julien BOURRON; Max DENMARK; Liam HERBERT; LEE Ka To, Cado; Callum MCCULLOUGH; Juan Esono MBA OYANA; Alessandro NARDONI; Bryn PHILLIPS; Matthew RICKARD; Harry SAYERS; Rory STEWART-COX. Staff: Paul JOHN (Manager); Jevon GROVES (Men’s Coach) Peter JERICEVICH (Asst. Coach); WONG Tsz Kit (S&C Coach); Stephen MUTCH (Physiotherapist) Mark Komar (ANALYST).