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.
Akuila Rokolisoa (New Zealand): No surprises to learn that the Kiwi resurgence post their disappointing ninth-place finish here in November has been led in no small way by the 27-year-old Rokolisoa.
The Fiji-born Rokolisoa goes into the weekend leading the tables in terms of tries, 28, and points scored, 268, and he’s led from the front as New Zealand have won two of the past three tournaments and lead the series by 12 points. Expect to see Rokolisoa out there, as ever, marshalling the troops and leading by example.
Max Denmark (Hong Kong): The 23-year-old local star has emerged as a force to be reckoned with on the Asian scene – and the sight of New Zealand double-teaming him here last November shows how the big boys of the international game are also being forced to watch the tapes, and come up with a plan to counter the former Island School student’s pace and power.
There’s no escaping the test ahead for Denmark – but there are possibilities in a group that also features France, Great Britain and Uruguay – but the youngster has faced down every challenge so far.
Reapi Ulunisau (Fiji): The full women’s tournament will be played out at the Hong Kong Stadium for the first time and expect no bigger presence than the 28-year-old Ulunisau.
Fiji might be out of the running for a title – sitting in sixth at present – but in Ulunisau they have a wrecking ball, as the stats from the last tournament in Vancouver testify. There were 10 tackles, nine breaks, 11 offloads, and 27 carries across the series as Ulunisau extended her lead in the DHL Impact Player Award to 26 points with just two tournaments left to play.
Dietrich Roache (Australia): The shock winners of World Rugby Sevens Series last season, and defending Hong Kong champions, Australia have rekindled their love of the game, and the explosive style of play that promises full-on entertainment.
At the centre of it all is the 21-year-old Roache – a live wire who, coach John Manenti says, can do “all the special things”. Coming into the weekend Roache leads the DHL Impact Player Award standings and the man from Sydney’s West will have a big influence on his side’s chances.
