Former England 7s international Andy Vilk to take charge of Hong Kong women’s team
- Vilk joins Hong Kong Rugby Union after spending a 10 years coaching in Italy
- Englishman takes charge ahead of crunch period for team, with Asian Games, Olympic qualifiers looming
Former England Sevens captain Andrew Vilk will take over as head coach of the Hong Kong women’s team, just weeks before the Asian Games.
Vilk, who spent the past decade with the Italian Rugby Federation, said accepting the post was a straightforward decision, because of the “huge potential” in Hong Kong rugby.
The 42-year-old replaces Iain Monaghan, who left for a position with Rugby Canada at the beginning of 2023. Vilk arrived in the city only last week and oversaw his first training session at the Hong Kong Sports Institute on Monday.
He takes charge at a critical juncture, which culminates with November’s Olympic qualification tournament in Japan. Vilk’s first assignment is the Asian Sevens Series competition in South Korea next week.
The Asian Games – where Hong Kong are targeting a podium finish – is staged in China next month. And there is another series event in Bangkok in October.
And, as keen as he was to hit the ground running, Vilk vowed to adopt a measured approach while getting a feel for his new environment.
