Rugby Sevens Olympic Qualifiers: mature Hong Kong ready to atone for Tokyo pain
- Hong Kong’s men’s rugby sevens team will aim to reach an Olympic Games for the first time at this weekend’s qualification competition in Japan
- Head coach Jevon Groves confident team have substantially evolved since pain of last-gasp South Korea defeat four years ago
Head coach Jevon Groves says Hong Kong boast the physical and emotional maturity to claim Olympic qualification for the first time in Japan this weekend – and banish the memory of going into their shells with a place at the Tokyo Games on the line four years ago.
Groves’ team won Asian Games gold back in September, and last month obliterated the field at the Thailand leg of this year’s Asia Rugby Sevens Series [ARSS].
But the biggest prize of all is up for grabs at the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament on Saturday and Sunday. Hong Kong reached the deciding match of the same event in 2019, but suffered a shattering overtime defeat by South Korea.
“It was clear we panicked in that game,” Groves said. “When we were put under pressure, we went very individual, and very quiet, and it felt a lonely place out there.
“But I am a different version of myself from four years ago, and the same is true of the players. They have had a massive growth in terms of game understanding, and managing situations and that level of emotion. We have shown that in some very tough games this year, and, hopefully, will again over the weekend.”
Groves learned on Tuesday night that Iraq had withdrawn from the tournament, although organisers had still not confirmed the news on Wednesday.
