Hong Kong Sevens 2023: 6 men’s and women’s players to watch at this week’s tournament
- This week’s tournament will include women’s teams for the first time and Fiji’s Reapi Ulunisau is certain to wow the fans
- From a couple of Australian flyers to an Argentinian comeback story for the ages, here are six stars you won’t want to miss seeing in action
Hong Kong has emerged from the World Rugby Sevens Series wilderness, and this week the city is hosting its second tournament in just five months.
For those who might have lost track of who the stars of the game are right now, here’s our selection of those to watch at Hong Kong Stadium this weekend.
Maddison Levi (Australia): There were eyebrows raised when the now-20-year-old Levi was plucked from relative obscurity to join the Aussie squad in 2021. What a piece of genius the decision is now looking. Currently leading the tables in terms of both tries, 44, and points scored, 220, Levi promises to light up the Hong Kong Stadium as Australia zero-in on a possible showdown with arch-rivals, and series leaders, New Zealand come Sunday.
The Gold Coast-born flyer is a remarkable double threat when it comes to elite sports, as she has previously played as a forward/midfielder with the Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League Women’s competition.
Matias Osadczuk (Argentina): What a surprise the Argentines have been so far this season, winning both in Hamilton and last time out in Vancouver. They have come close in Hong Kong before – and return after securing a hat-trick of Plate wins in November – and with the 25-year-old Osadczuk driving the bus, this just might be the tournament where everything clicks for Los Pumas.
That Osadczuk has rebuilt his career after suffering a nasty knee injury in the city in 2017 is testament to his courage and his dedication, and leading his nation to the title on Sunday would cap off one of the game’s great comebacks.
