HSBC SVNS: Hong Kong’s bid to join world rugby sevens elite thwarted in last play of game, but China’s women have chance
- City’s men’s team suffer consecutive last-ditch blows in the qualifying pathway to rugby sevens’ top tier, extinguishing world series hopes for another year
- Uruguay men claim Challenger series title following second straight tournament win, while dominant China run away with women’s crown
Hong Kong failed to shed their “nearly men” tag after a slim Challenger Series semi-final loss to hosts Germany cost Jevon Groves’ team the chance to fight for world series status.
The top four Challenger Series finishers qualified for a playoff in Madrid, beginning on May 31, where four spots in next season’s HSBC SVNS Series are up for grabs.
Germany snaffled that precious fourth spot after beating Hong Kong 21-14 in a nip-and-tuck last-four match in Munich.
Groves’ side were otherwise flawless, winning all three pool fixtures before recording a thumping quarter-final victory over Tonga, and beating Chile in the third-place match, either side of their German disappointment.
Hong Kong’s women, meanwhile, endured a rough weekend in Krakow. A squad ravaged by call-ups for the 15s team finished 11th in their closing Challenger Series leg, after four defeats in their five matches.
China’s women swept aside all comers for a third series success this year. They crushed hosts Poland 36-0 in a final officiated by Hong Kong referee Sunny Lee, and after receiving a kind draw for Madrid will be confident of securing a world series berth for 2025.
