Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Teams Advance as Group Winners in Suzhou
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's men's and women's rugby sevens teams both finished as group winners at the Asian Rugby Sevens Series first leg in Suzhou on Saturday, June 29, advancing to Sunday's quarterfinals. The women's team secured a revenge 5-0 win over rivals Thailand, with Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana scoring the decisive try before halftime. This tournament serves as the final tune-up before the October 1-3 Nagoya Asian Games.
Key Points
- Hong Kong men's team won all three group matches: 48:0 vs Uzbekistan, 61:0 vs Malaysia, 17:5 vs Thailand
- Wing flyer Max Denmark scored two tries against Thailand, helping maintain the team's unbeaten group record
- Hong Kong women's team dominated with 40:5 win over Malaysia, 45:0 shutout of Sri Lanka, and 5:0 victory over Thailand
- Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana, born and raised in Hong Kong to parents from Equatorial Guinea, scored the match-winning try against Thailand in stoppage time of the first half
- Men's team faces Malaysia in Sunday quarterfinals; women's team meets India with potential semifinal vs defending Asian Games champion China
Why It Matters
The Suzhou tournament provides Hong Kong's teams with a crucial final test before the Nagoya Asian Games, with the women's team potentially facing defending Asian Games champion China in the semifinals—an invaluable opportunity for high-level competition in the lead-up to the regional showpiece .
The Suzhou tournament provides Hong Kong's teams with a crucial final test before the Nagoya Asian Games, with the women's team potentially facing defending Asian Games champion China in the semifinals—an invaluable opportunity for high-level competition in the lead-up to the regional showpiece .