Japan and China lead Asia in women’s rugby sevens, but Hong Kong coach has a plan
- Andy Vilk aims to accelerate development of ‘exciting crop of youngsters’ to rein in the Asian powerhouses
- Attention turns to the Challenger Series, with tournaments in Uruguay in March and Poland in May, following January’s opener in Dubai
Andy Vilk said Hong Kong would aim to accelerate the development of an “exciting crop of youngsters”, as the head coach bids to rein in Asian powerhouses Japan and China.
Hong Kong finished third at this month’s Olympic qualification tournament in Japan, booking a spot at the repechage competition next year, when one Paris 2024 berth is available.
Englishman Vilk masterminded the women’s team’s first Asian Games medal-winning campaign, when they secured bronze in Hangzhou in September, and achieved qualification for next year’s World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series following strong outings in both legs of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series.
Hong Kong were dealt a salutary lesson in the Olympic qualifiers, however, losing a semi-final against Japan by a 28-point margin, after going down 50-0 to China in the pool stage.
Vilk said the 12-0 victory over Thailand to secure third position – and the final repechage slot – showed his team’s “resilience, application and hunger”.
After a whirlwind opening three months in the job, Vilk can finally come up for air. He is considering tweaks to the coaching and training programmes at Hong Kong’s Sports Institute base, where Paul John, head of the elite sevens athlete programme, oversees what Vilk called a “stimulating environment, focused on learning and adapting”.
