HK Rugby Sevens Teams Head to Suzhou; Asian Games Rosters Revealed Post-Tournament
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong men's and women's rugby sevens teams are set to compete at the Suzhou leg of the 2026 Asia Rugby Sevens Series on August 29-30. This tournament marks the opening stop of the new Asian Series season and serves as a critical selection platform for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for late September. The men's team, seeking their sixth consecutive Asian Series title, will face Thailand, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan in the group stage, while the women's team is grouped with Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia .
Key Points
- Both Hong Kong rugby sevens teams depart for Suzhou on Thursday to compete in the August 29-30 tournament
- The men's team aims to defend their consecutive Asian Games gold medals from 2019 and 2022 while targeting a sixth straight Asian Series crown
- Men's captain James Christie leads a squad featuring Harry Sayers, Callum McCullough, Jack Combes, and Matteo Avitabile, who recently rejoined from the Rugby World Cup 2027 preparation team
- Women's captain Chan Wing heads a 13-player roster including Michaela Baltazar, Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana, and Haruka Uematsu
- Asian Games team selections will be announced after the Suzhou tournament concludes
Why It Matters
The Suzhou tournament provides the final opportunity for players to prove their worth before Asian Games roster decisions, with men's coach Jevon Groves specifically noting the importance of giving less-active sevens players match exposure . The women's team faces a anticipated rematch with Thailand, against whom they narrowly won bronze at the 2022 Asian Games, presenting a meaningful early test of their medal credentials .
The Suzhou tournament provides the final opportunity for players to prove their worth before Asian Games roster decisions, with men's coach Jevon Groves specifically noting the importance of giving less-active sevens players match exposure . The women's team faces a anticipated rematch with Thailand, against whom they narrowly won bronze at the 2022 Asian Games, presenting a meaningful early test of their medal credentials .