Hong Kong women keep World Cup dream alive, prove too powerful for Kazakhstan in Asia Rugby Championship finale
- Hong Kong qualify for WXV3 competition after clinching Asia Rugby Championship runners-up spot
- Head coach Royce Chan’s team score three unanswered tries, as Kazakhstan end competition pointless
Hong Kong women scored three unanswered tries to end their Asia Rugby Championship with victory over Kazakhstan on Saturday, one of the most significant wins in the Test team’s 26-year history.
A 22-0 triumph helped head coach Royce Chan Leong-sze’s side finish second behind Japan, earning them a spot at the global WXV3 tournament and keeping their hopes of reaching the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England alive.
Chan had arranged a surprise visit from families and friends to the team hotel for Friday night’s jersey presentation, and the motivational ploy led to some “happy tears”, according to wing Zoe Smith, whose kicking was instrumental in the win at Football Club.
Hong Kong dominated the scrum, and were superior in the line-out, but it took 22 minutes for their first score. The hosts created an attacking overload, releasing Chong Ka-yan to go over in the corner.
Smith’s conversion hit the post, and crept over, generating a sense that it was going to be Hong Kong’s day. Her penalty shortly after half-time opened up a 10-point gap.
“That allowed us to settle,” Smith said. “We were a bit panicky, but after that penalty we had it together, and were in a really positive place.
