Hong Kong remain Asia’s kings of Sevens

Victory over hosts UAE makes it 3 from 3 as team earn spot in world qualification event

Hong Kong’s men successfully defended their Asia Rugby Sevens Series title with a 21-7 win over hosts UAE in Al Ain yesterday.

Victory made it a perfect three from three for coach Jevon Groves’ side, in a competition in which the only minor blip on an otherwise spotless record was a draw with UAE in Korea.

Groves called the win “a good result in the end” after a scrappy and penalty-strewn final, but he said completing the hat-trick was “hugely pleasing”. The triumph also earned Hong Kong a spot in the qualification tournament for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series next year.

“We were good in patches, but we made it difficult on occasion,” Groves said. “The boys really stepped up in the end. UAE gave us a real challenge. They were in their first final and at home, it was an emotional moment for them, but I think we controlled the ball well when it counted.

“In Thailand at the beginning of the series we talked about wanting to be consistent and I think we have shown that consistency in the three Asian series legs, and we showed glimpses of it at the Hong Kong Sevens. We used all 21 of the senior players in the squad this series and everyone got a true opportunity, which is great for the team as a whole.”

With South Korea the only side who could have denied Hong Kong a series title getting knocked out early, Hong Kong were crowned before the first ball was kicked in anger.

But they did not let that distract them, and tries from Liam Herbet and Russ Webb put them 14-0 up at half-time.

Not even Max Denmark’s yellow card before the break could put a dampener on proceedings, and he returned to extend his side’s lead to 19-0, grabbing his eighth try of the weekend and 17th over two legs of the series.

Denmark had earlier scored a hat-trick in a 33-7 dismantling of Japan in the semi-finals, and Groves hailed the back as a “real point of difference” for the team.

“Max is really rounding into form and his conditioning is superb,” Groves said. “It is great to see him come back after suffering some pretty serious injuries.”

China beat Japan 21-14 to claim the women’s title for a second straight year.

Earlier, the Hong Kong women’s cup campaign was ended by China with a 31-0 loss in the semi-finals, and Thailand proved too strong in the bronze medal play-off, winning 24-10 as Hong Kong finished fourth.