PUBLISHED ON 17 APR 2026
Hong Kong China Women 14-14 Denmark
Our women kicked off after a noisy reception from the Kai Tak crowd under the closed roof and regathered the ball, but had it turned over after a few phases of attacking play.
We then stole a lineout and looked to unleash the pace of Chong Ka Yan and Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana, but the Danish defence held. The Danes then had their chances to attack with the ball in hand and were met by staunch Hong Kong China defence.
There was a 5th-minute TMO check on a potential high hit from the team in red, but no foul play took place. When Hong Kong China had the ball, the girls looked to create chances, but small handling errors meant there was a lack of continuity. The vocal crowd urged the team on.
Denmark applied pressure, and the girls had to defend our try line at the hooter, but Denmark scored from the back of a 5 metre scrum and converted the try to lead 7-0 at the break.
The second period started scrappily for both teams. Hong Kong China at times struggled to find cohesion and Denmark worked the ball well to the left and extended the lead 14-0 with just 4 minutes left.
A Danish player was yellow-carded from the restart, but the girls couldn't make the most of the half-chances that were created. With the clock running down, we had to score twice, and the scoring machine, Chong Ka Yan, scored with 2 minutes remaining, and it was successfully converted.
The Hong Kong China scramble defence stopped a third try from the Danes, and after winning a penalty after the hooter, Chong Ka Yan made another burst and scored under the posts in front of the South Stand. The second conversion meant it was a draw at full-time.
Try Scorers: Chong Ka Yan (10’ & 15’)
Player Reaction:
Haruka Uematsu is making her Hong Kong Sevens debut this weekend, although didn’t take to the field in today’s first match of the tournament. After the match she said she had never been in front of this many fans before. “I enjoyed the crowd a lot. I thought I was going to be much more nervous, as I can be anxious, but I was fine out there. My teammates helped me get through this, and in the tunnel, we were all encouraging each other.”
She said that she was really enjoying the moments and taking the whole experience in. “I have been really enjoying this a lot. I'm the youngest in the team, and this is my dream. I have family and friends in the crowd, so this means so much.”
She added of the Danish team, whom they had played in a hit out in preparation over the week, “I think they have improved a lot over the short amount of time we have seen them. We didn't start our best, but our captain, Chloe (Chan), told us to stay in there and trust ourselves and do what we are good at.”
Hong Kong China Men 36-14 China
Following an hour of live music which entertained the vocal crowd, Hong Kong China came out and kicked off their Melrose Claymores title defence against China, who are coached by former All Black 7s Sam Dickson.
Liam Herbert opened the scoring in the 2nd minute to lead 5-0, but China struck back and scored under the posts a minute later and took the lead with the conversion 7-5.
The Chinese secured the ball from the restart, but the Hong Kong China defence earned us a penalty. Herbert created the space, and his pass allowed Bryn Phillips to dart between two defenders, and he scored the second try, this time converted, to retake the lead 12-5 in the final minute of the first period.
A Chinese player deliberately knocked the ball after the hooter and was yellow-carded. As the crowd was eagerly chanting ‘Hong Kong’, Matteo Avitabile scored off a set move, and the boys led 19-7 at the break.
In the second period, a great weaving run by Rory Stewart Cox saw him beat several defenders, before dotting down in front of the South Stand to lead 26-7 in the opening two minutes.
China scored in response under the posts after some good offloads and narrowed the deficit to 14-26.
A crucial steal and turnover on defence from our men stopped the Chinese scoring again, and they then turned defence into attack as Matt Rickard scored the 5th try for a 31-14 lead, in his first Hong Kong Sevens appearance.
Liam Herbert added a 6th and final try at the end of the game to record a 36-14 victory.
Try Scorers: Liam Herbert (2’ and 14’), Bryn Philips (6’), Matteo Avitabile (8’), Rory Stewart Cox (10’), Matt Rickard (12’)
Player Reaction:
Julien Bourron said after the win, “We never know what to expect from the Chinese side as the team changes every time we face them. Our focus was on ourselves, and we had good experienced players create chances out there. My role was to distribute, and the guys did all the hard work out there.”
It is his first Hong Kong Sevens, and he is part of the younger crop coming through. “We have about six experienced guys and six younger lads this weekend. It's a good blend between the two, and guys in the group like Liam Herbert, who does a great job at gelling us all together.”
With six tries scored, and a few in front of friends and family in the South Stand, the boys were humble in the celebrations. “I scored at the National Games in front of that stand, and there is no better feeling for sure. I am one of the many guys who were out there as a mini player when I was younger. And watching the guys growing up and the heroes I have, and to have some of them as my teammates now is such a special and surreal feeling. This is a whole other level out there at Kai Tak, and it's only Friday.”