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Paul McNamara

Head coach Jevon Groves has paid tribute to outgoing captain Max Woodward for “changing the behaviour and culture” of Hong Kong’s rugby sevens team.
Woodward is bowing out following a stellar career that featured two Asian Games gold-medal campaigns and a trio of painful Olympic qualification near misses.
He has been replaced by James Christie, who begins his captaincy reign at this weekend’s Asia Rugby Sevens Series (ARSS) leg in South Korea.
Groves’ plan to appoint Seb Brien as co-skipper was scuppered after the wing suffered an ACL injury in the 15s team’s victory over Brazil two months ago.
Groves said the South Korea tournament, where Hong Kong have pool games against the hosts, Singapore and UAE on Saturday, marked the outset of a new four-year cycle. A 10-year strategic plan released by the local union in April identified Asian Games success in 2026 and 2028 Olympic Games qualification as overarching targets.
Groves, however, will be without Woodward, who turns 34 next month, for the first time since taking charge in 2016.

“Max was a real cultural ally when I first arrived,” Groves said. “He was a great captain for us … he had success with the Asian Games golds, and some huge disappointments, like everyone during my time here.
“What he has in terms of trophies doesn’t reflect his service. He put in an absolutely huge shift for Hong Kong and probably changed the perception of how a player and a person should act in a professional environment … he changed the behaviour and culture of the team.
“Max has been a role model and can be proud of what he gave for the jersey. It is very hard to keep up with the trends and pace of the game when you are 33 or 34. [Younger] players are going to be that little bit better at recovering.”
Groves earmarked Christie as a potential leader following the player’s determined reaction to repeated selection disappointments when he originally joined the sevens programme.
“That was only two or three years ago … it shows the group that if you keep working hard, you can not just get into the team, but lead the team, too,” Groves said.
“James is very calm and controlled; among the squad he probably has the best understanding of the game.
“Max had that warrior mindset of flying into everything. James is equally committed, but controlled in how he plays.
“He and Seb both back up their words with performances, which is the most important thing as a leader.”

Groves acknowledged his team would go to Incheon undercooked after only four weeks’ training.
“We needed a trade-off between letting the boys recover fully from last season’s hectic schedule and getting back into things,” Groves said.
Unusually, Hong Kong have faced none of their pool opponents since last October’s closing 2023 ARSS leg. However, Groves said “going into the unknown” suited his team, because “we have focused on ourselves in more detail”.
Primarily under the microscope was June’s Olympic repechage quarter-final loss to Spain.
“We were shown up in certain areas,” Groves said. “Spain totally blew us away. They moved the ball with speed and intensity and had good passing accuracy. The challenge for us is to match that.”
Groves said Spain “pushed the laws”, and acknowledged his own team could be slightly “nastier”.
“It’s a fine balance, because you don’t want to do anything that will cost you,” he said. “They recognised they could get away with a bit at the breakdown, but with different opposition and referees they didn’t do it.
“Trying to get better within games, changing pictures and being harder to play against is another challenge for us. We’re very good at recognising [what we could have done better] afterwards, but that doesn’t help.”
Hong Kong have established a development squad at their sports institute base, with an emphasis on incorporating passport holders, who are eligible for Asian Games and Olympic competition.
The squad for Incheon has a familiar look, nonetheless, although Brien’s injury opened the door for likely debutant Matteo Avitabile, while Alex McQueen is absent after scaling back rugby commitments following promotion in his job as an airline pilot.
Hong Kong squad: James Christie (c), Michael Coverdale, Alessandro Nardoni, Matteo Avitabile, Callum McCullough, Cado Lee Ka-to, Hugo Stiles, Max Denmark, Bryn Phillips, Liam Doherty, Liam Herbert, Fong Kit-fung, Harry Sayers.


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Hong Kong Sports Institute

Coach Jevon Groves salutes outgoing captain Max Woodward for Hong Kong 7s ‘culture change’

‘Role model’ Max Woodward is quitting the Hong Kong sevens team following a stellar career. Photo: Handout.

‘Calm and controlled’ James Christie (right) will begin his captaincy reign in South Korea this weekend. Photo: Elson Li.

Seb Brien would have been Hong Kong co-captain but for a serious knee injury. Photo: Yik Yeung-man.

Hong Kong rugby sevens add ex-GB star Robbie Fergusson to coaching team for Asia Series

Ex-Team GB star Robbie Fergusson has joined as part of Hong Kong Rugby Sevens’ coaching department for the coming Asia series. Photo: Hong Kong China Rugby

Great Britain’s Robbie Fergusson (second from right) is tackled while facing New Zealand at the 2024 Rugby Sevens. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong name 30-strong squad for WXV3, with women chasing return to Rugby World Cup

Hong Kong fly-half Georgia Rivers (left) is tackled by Kazhakstan’s Mariya Grishina during their Asia Rugby Championship game in June. Photo: Jonathan Wong

International rugby residency ruling may give Hong Kong options on pathway to World Cup

Hong Kong’s Ben Axten-Burrett in possession against South Korea in this year’s Asia Rugby Championship. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong’s Tyler McNutt scores in the Asia Rugby Championship final against South Korea. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Paris Olympics: Canada’s Symonds feeling ‘love from Hong Kong’ after rugby sevens silver

Florence Symonds (left) on the podium with teammate Charity Williams. Photo: AFP

Symonds wants Canada to be world leaders at sevens and 15s following their Olympic exploits. Photo: AFP

Symonds (second left) celebrates with gleeful colleagues after the semi-final victory over Australia. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Rugby

Hong Kong Rugby Union

HK Sevens

International Rugby

New era begins with James Christie leading Hong Kong at this weekend’s Asia Rugby Sevens Series leg in South Korea


New era begins with James Christie leading Hong Kong at this weekend’s Asia Rugby Sevens Series leg in South Korea.


Asia Rugby Sevens Series