Snake ward to rugby pitch: Hong Kong fullback's fearless journey to WXV tournament
SCMP · 1 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Sabay Lynam, a fullback for Hong Kong's women's 15s rugby team, overcame her fear of snakes during a veterinary technology placement in a reptile ward. The Australian-born athlete is now home in Hong Kong for the WXV Global Series Challenger tournament, where she and her teammates will compete against Brazil, Fiji and Samoa for a 2029 World Cup spot. Lynam, who started playing rugby at age eight with Flying Kukris in Tuen Mun, studies at the University of Queensland while playing for Wests Bulldogs in Queensland Premier Rugby.
Key Points
- Sabay Lynam is a fullback for the Hong Kong women's 15s team, currently competing in the WXV Global Series Challenger tournament
- Her first veterinary technology placement at University of Queensland placed her in the "domestic reptile ward" handling snakes, lizards and turtles
- She overcame her fear of snakes by learning to "respect them, keep your distance and don't poke them"
- Hong Kong face Brazil on Sunday, followed by Fiji and Samoa over the following fortnight, in the race for a 2029 World Cup berth
- Her parents Glen and Susanna moved the family from Australia to Hong Kong 18 years ago when she was four
Why It Matters
The WXV Global Series Challenger tournament represents a crucial stepping stone for Hong Kong women's rugby, with the team battling for qualification at the 2029 Rugby World Cup. Lynam's unique blend of veterinary studies and elite sporting pursuit exemplifies the dedication required to compete at the international level, while her multicultural background underscores Hong Kong's ability to develop homegrown talent from diverse international roots .
The WXV Global Series Challenger tournament represents a crucial stepping stone for Hong Kong women's rugby, with the team battling for qualification at the 2029 Rugby World Cup. Lynam's unique blend of veterinary studies and elite sporting pursuit exemplifies the dedication required to compete at the international level, while her multicultural background underscores Hong Kong's ability to develop homegrown talent from diverse international roots .