World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series: Uruguay halt Hong Kong’s heroics in final, but elite HSBC SVNS places still up for grabs
- Hong Kong defeat series co-leaders Kenya to reach final, where they are blown away by the hosts, but move up to fifth overall in race for top-four spot
- City’s women win their playoff in a tournament won for a second leg running by China
Hong Kong’s men kept up their strong showing in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series’ second leg of three in Uruguay before running into an inspired home team in the final.
Impressive victories earlier in the weekend over Japan, Chile and Tonga had already given them a fighting chance in a series from which teams can earn promotion to the elite 12-team HSBC SVNS. The top-tier circuit’s season includes the main competition at next month’s Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
And Hong Kong took another scalp in their semi-final in Montevideo, beating series co-leaders Kenya 21-14 on Sunday, local time.
Cado Lee Ka-to scored two of their three tries, with the other coming from Callum McCullough as Hong Kong led on the scoreboard throughout.
Uruguay, however, were resurgent. Having lost to Uganda and Germany in their pool to only sneak into the quarter-finals as one of the two best third-placed group-stage finishers, they proceeded to beat Portugal and fellow series contenders Chile to reach the final.
