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Hong Kong v Wales @ Cardiff Arms Park

Hong Kong take on Wales tonight [03:00 HK time] at the iconic Cardiff Arms Park in the second and final test of their European Tour. In announcing the team Coach Jo Hull, needing to expose a largely inexperienced squad to international rugby against top ranked countries, has kept the team largely intact from last week’s first, with a few tweaks.

Centre Grace Hood starts in place of Sarah Lucas, whom she replaced at half-time in Alicante. Lucas moves to the bench for the start of the match. Hong Kong sevens contract player Stephanie Chan will get her first start at full-back, while U20s star Jessica Eden earns her first cap for Hong Kong on the wing.

New prop Debby Lam Ka-wai has been named to the bench and Flanker Pun Wai-yan comes in for Maggie Au Yeung who moves to the opposite flank, pushing first test try-scorer Winnie Siu to the bench. Experienced scrum half Sham Wai-sum and utility back Lau Sze-wah also make the bench.

For Hull, the measure of success lies in how much improvement the side shows from game one to two.

“The challenge we have set for the team is that we must see improvement from game to game. The whole purpose of this trip is to improve. This is year one of our three year journey for 2021 [Women’s Rugby World Cup] qualification and even, in the bigger picture, 2025″ said Hull

“This is the group and this is the first step. By playing these teams, the players will get invaluable experience and exposure at this level. We need to expose them as much as possible before 2021 and 2025.”

Hull is under no illusions that the difficulty level is increasing in Wales, ranked ninth in the world entering tonight’s clash.

“Looking at the Spain game, it really was a huge defensive effort from us. The key areas we were lacking in were our set piece and being able to get ahold of the ball initially, and then keep ahold of it and keep that possession.

“We were defending from the start of the game, so our defence has again been a focus for us ahead of Wales. They are a very strong and physical team.

“The breakdown is going to be important for us in terms of being able to stop them from gaining momentum. So we have been looking at our scrum and lineout a lot this week and we need to see significant improvement there.

“It is difficult to play rugby if we are missing a lot of tackles, as we did in Spain. The big challenge is to match their physicality and make sure they don’t run away with the game or build too much momentum early on and not to let them bully us,” continued Hull.

“We felt the subs did well against Spain, so it is reassuring to see that we are starting to develop a bench that can add impact to the game,” Hull added.

Hong Kong v Wales Test (Cardiff Arms Park, Wales, 16 Nov 2018)

1. Lau Nga-Wun, 2. Dr. Karen So (Captain), 3. Yip Cho-Kwan, 4. Chan Ka-Yan, 5. Tsang Ching-Man, 6. Pun Wai-Yan, 7. Maggie Au Yeung, 8. Melody Li (Vice Captain), 9. Jessica Ho, 10. Cheng Lok-Tung, 11. Chong Ka-Yan, 12. Grace Hood, 13. Natasha Olson-Thorne (Vice Captain), 14. Jessica Eden, 15. Stephanie Chan, 16. Charlotte Myrans, 17. Vincci Leung, 18. Lam Ka-Wai, 19. Amber Chan, 20. Winnie Siu, 21. Sham Wai-Sum, 22. Sarah Lucas 23. Lau Sze-Wa.

Additional reporting and images: HKRU, Gai Wu

Hong Kong Take on Spain’s Leonas

Six debutants make the starting fifteen against Spain in Alicante (Sunday, 19:30 HK time) as Hong Kong’s women rugby players look to build on last year’s World Cup appearance.

Up front prop Yip Cho-kwan marks her first cap in a front row which also features Tammy Lau and captain and hooker Dr Karen So. Newcomer Tsang Ching-man forms a locking partnership with Angela Chan, while the back row sees flanker Maggie Au Yeung partnering with Winnie Siu and Melody Li at No.8.

Jessica Ho starts at scrumhalf and she will be hoping to get some quality ball to new-comer Cheng Lok-tung at fly-half. Sevens captain Natasha Olson-Thorne will start at outside centre, pairing with U20s graduate Sarah Lucas, while smiling speedster Chong Ka-yan assumes her customary place on the left wing with Bena Yu on the right. Cindy Yuen starts at fullback.

On the bench there are five more new caps with front rowers Charlotte Myrans and Vincci Leung joining flanker Amber Tsang in back-stopping the forwards, while another National Age Grade player Grace Hood is in line for a first cap at centre. Sevens star Stephanie Chan is likely to earn her first cap off the bench which also features the experience of prop Debby Lam and back Chloe Mak.

At the World Cup Spain’s overwhelming pace was apparent as they scored four of their five tries from longer than 50-metres out. Spain was also among the top teams at forcing turnovers, setting the platform for their devastating counter-attacks.

National coach Jo Hull understands this, saying, “They will be fast, with a lot of sevens influence, and will want to play a counterattacking game. They love to counter,” said Hull.

“One of the big things we have been working on is our ability to play at a higher game speed to withstand the intensity of test rugby. That’s the biggest challenge for us, and playing physically stronger teams.”

A year on from the historic first appearance at a fifteen-a-side world cup, the squad has more exposure to the demands of test rugby and another season of strength and conditioning work and high performance training beneath their belts.

After two losing tours to the Iberian Peninsula in recent years and a 31-7 loss to the Leonas at the 2017 Rugby World Cup. Spain will provide an early test of how Hong Kong’s new look team sizes up against one of the world’s leading rugby nations ahead of Rugby World Cup qualification campaign.

Hong Kong v Spain (Alicante, Spain, 11 Nov 2018)

1. Lau Nga-Wun, 2. Dr Karen So (Captain), 3. Yip Cho-Kwan, 4. Chan Ka-Yan, 5. Tsang Ching-Man, 6. Maggie Au Yeung, 7. Winnie Siu, 8. Melody Li, 9. Jessica Ho, 10. Cheng Lok-Tung, 11. Chong Ka-Yan, 12. Sarah Lucas, 13. Natasha Olson-Thorne (Vice Captain), 14. Bena Yu, 15. Cindy Yuen
Reserves: 16. Charlotte Myrans, 17. Vincci Leung, 18. Debby Lam, 19. Amber Tsang, 20. Pun Wai-Yan, 21. Chloe Mak, 22. Grace Hood, 23. Stephanie Chan.

Additional reporting and images: HKRU

Women’s 15s on Tour

Hong Kong’s women’s national 15s team headed to Europe this week for, what will hopefully become an annual, Autumn tour. Hong Kong will play test matches against Spain on 11 November in Alicante, and Wales on 16 November at the legendary Cardiff Arms Park.

With an eye to the future and qualification for the 2021 Rugby World Cup the young 26 player squad features fourteen new caps including several graduates of the HKRU’s National Age Grade programmes. The opportunity for the younger players to experience playing overseas and against players they have never played against before is important Hong Kong coach Jo Hull.

“In my perspective, this is the squad that should be together for the next milestone of Hong Kong Rugby. These are the players we need and now we need to give them time to work together, introduce them to the performance environment and get them that exposure, together as a team, to grow and develop,” said Hull

“It is our first international outing since the Rugby World Cup and a chance to showcase our new players and expose them to that level of rugby, which is what we need to do for future World Cup qualification. These are the players that need to gain that experience. To get it, we have to play against the best and we have to put ourselves into test match environments, as early on as possible,” Hull continued.

With the large number of debutants, Hull will look to her senior players to set the tone. That task will fall to new captain Karen So and Rugby World Cup 2017 veterans Natasha Olson-Thorne, Melody Li, Lau Nga-wun and Chong Ka-yan.

“The veterans stepping up will be huge for us, but even though they are veterans for us, they are still young and a bit inexperienced compared to other teams at this level. They need to lead the team now and we’ve asked them to take more ownership and to foster and bring the younger players on,” added Hull.

Among the tour debutants are the centre s and U20s graduates Grace Hood and Sarah Lucas. The duo were also included in the senior tour to Perth, Australia earlier this year. After training with the national squad over the summer, Hood returned to Bath University at the start of the school term but is meeting up directly with the squad in Europe for the upcoming tests.

“Both of them are, I think, future players for Hong Kong and we are keen to give them a go and see how they get on in a test match environment,” Hull said.

Lucas has been proving her mettle domestically, where she has had some impressive outings for USRC Tigers.

“It’s good to see that we’re starting to get players in from a variety of clubs. We are particularly excited about a contingent of players from Kowloon and are looking forward to see how Vincci [Leung Win-yi] from Tai Po Dragons handles the environment,” said Hull.

Leung is one of several new tight five forwards in the squad, alongside Kowloon prop Yip Cho Kwan and lock Amber Tsang. Gai Wu prop Lam Ka-wi and lock Chau Man-huen, Causeway Bay lock Tsang Ching-man and hooker Charlotte Myrans from Tigers are other new faces in the tight five, as Hull looks to build strength and depth in the team’s engine room.

Sevens emerging star Stephanie Chan and Amber Tsang are both being given a chance to add a fifteens cap to their sevens version. Hull believes Chan has a lot to offer in the longer code.

“She is new to the fifteens programme, but she’s been on our radar for several years. She transferred to Gai Wu this season and really is a player that has emerged off of the back of training and playing hard at club level, before she started to shine at sevens.”

“She offers us a lot of versatility in terms of her pace and her decision-making in attack, and her footwork. We’re looking at her across a few positions as she gives us a lot of strike power and pace,” said Hull.

With two challenging but contrasting matches ahead and a squad that will need to gel quickly in the tough tour environment, Hull is realistic about the short-term expectations.

“A huge goal is just to spend as much time together as we can. A lot of our players have full-time jobs. They can’t always focus on our professional environment full-time. The tour gives us a chance to immerse everyone in a high performance environment, to come together as a team and to develop as people as well, all of which will hopefully come together on the pitch.”

“Our time together has been very focused, because it is so limited. But overall, the group has come together very well. Our training has been focused on the needs of the games, and how we think that Spain and Wales will play and what we have seen from them in previous matches.

“Spain will be fast, with a lot of sevens influence, and will want to play a counterattacking game. They love to counter. Wales are a strong team, more structured probably than Spain and they have talent all over the field, from forwards to the backs,” Hull said.

Hull believes that Hong Kong stacks up well against their opponents

“We have different focuses going into each game. A big thing we have been working on is our ability to play at a higher game speed, to withstand the intensity of test rugby. That is the biggest challenge for us, and our set piece and playing against physically stronger teams.”

“What we do well is in the intensity of our play. What this group will need to harness is that experience and exposure to international rugby from these games, what to do in different scenarios and situations, when the game is going against us or if we are winning and need to close it out.”

“We aren’t expecting or needing a miracle on tour, or to get it right all of the time, but we are expecting the squad to come together and show the potential to keep them together and grow and nurture this group of players.”

Hong Kong Squad for Autumn Tests (Spain, Wales)

Forwards: Karen So Hoi-Ting (Captain), Au Yeung Sin-Yi*, Chan Ka-Yan, Chau Man-Huen*, Lam Ka-Wai*, Lau Nga-Wun, Vincci Leung Wing-Yi*, Melody Li Nim-Yan, Charlotte Myrans*, Pun Wai-Yan, Winnie Siu Wing-Ni, Tsang Ching-Man*, Amber Tsang Wing-Chi*, Yip Cho-Kwan*.

Backs:Stephanie Chan Chor-Ki*, Cheng Lok-Tung*, Chong Ka-Yan, Jessica Eden*, Jessica Ho Wai-On, Lau Sze-Wa, Sarah Lucas*, Grace Hood*, Mak Ho-Yee, Natasha Olson-Thorne, Yuen Lok-Yee, Bena Yu Bo-Yan*.

* Potential First Caps

Additional reporting and images: HKRU

Women’s Rugby: Kicking

We don’t get to see much high quality women’s rugby in Hong Kong, live or on television, so as a local rugby player it was fascinating to watch how play developed in the England v Wales Six Nation’s match.

As part of my watching brief bc magazine asked me to look for areas where we can improve locally. At the 2017 Rugby World Cup, much was made of the number of missed conversion and penalty kicks – and this applies to many teams locally. On the strength of England v Wales, it is an area which can benefit from close attention.

England’s Daley-McLean’s grubber kick through for Burford’s try was only one of a number of perfectly executed footballing moments, both from hand and place kicking. Elinor Snowsill on the Wales’ team had no opportunities to kick for goal, but she looked comfortable kicking out of hand.

Some of the most intelligent play came in preparation for receiving kicks; in the 36th minute Daley-McLean anticipated a long kick out to touch, and placed herself perfectly to bat it back into field at full stretch, giving England a fresh attacking platform.

There were also a number of charge downs: two of the England number 10’s kicks were tipped off course and a third charged down behind her, leading to one of Wales’ few try scoring opportunities before England recovered.

Look to improve kicking and catching skills:

– practice your catching stance. Getting the body in the right position is half the challenge; and it’s a basic skill.

– practice after main training is finished. Find a partner who will kick to you, and put you under pressure when catching, especially when you’re already tired.

– There’s no need be scared of the ball – it will bounce off you!

Image: courtesy of England women’s rugby

Red Roses March On

On a wet and freezing Twickenham station platform, a young girl articulately explains to her dad the options for closing the gender pay gap in rugby. Outside the Stoop, more fans vividly re-enact their favourite moments from the game. One wonders if these moments, where their inspiration is so obvious, mean as much to the players as on field results, as the women’s game continues to grow. In this post-World Cup season, there is evidence of this growth, not least in attendance numbers. A record crowd of 4,023, including bc magazine’s Sarah Higgins filled Twickenham Stoop Stadium to watch England take on Wales in the Women’s Six Nations.

Both teams came into this game off opening weekend victories; England waking up in the second half against Italy and Wales inching an absorbing contest 18-17 against Scotland. Starting how they left off, England attacked with intent, a first foray over the line prevented by a try-saving tackle from Wales wing Jess Kavanagh-Williams before lock Poppy Cleall finished off a line out move in the right hand corner.

For Wales, existing injury woes worsened, Hannah Jones replacing outside centre Kerin Lake who came off clutching her elbow in only the third minute. And basic handling errors cost them, with more experienced members of the squad just as culpable as the fresher faces. By the 21st minute, England were three tries to the good, Abigail Dow and a sniping run from scrum half Leanne Riley adding to their tally. The bonus point was secured inside 30 minutes, through rising star Ellie Kildunne, though this time Katy Daley-McLean’s conversion attempt bounced off the left post and out.

Wales looked particularly vulnerable down the right, but they put up a spirited defence in the forwards, and competed well in the scrum. And it was all defence – Wales’ first meaningful foray into the England 22 didn’t happen until after the break.

As the weather worsened, Wales got a little brighter, with some expansive runs and their first real period of sustained possession. But an overthrown attacking line out from captain Carys Phillips, allowed England to then recover possession on the edge of their own 22, exemplifying their day. Fly half Robyn Williams was replaced after only 50 minutes by Llecu George, but it did little to stem the tide.

England’s pack was redoubtable if unflashy; flanker Marlie Packer (a typically forthright performance necessitating a fresh shirt for the second half) driving over in the 45th minute, then playing on in one shoe momentarily as Swing Low rang out around the stadium. The backs provided the fireworks – Daley-Mclean penetrating strong Wales defence with a neat grubber, Rachel Burford’s resulting try her last contribution to the game. And a brief pause for treatment for Kildunne clearly worked, as moments later a scintillating solo run from just inside the England half resulted in try number 7 and the best moment of the game.

Cleall rounded out the half century in the final minutes, earning Player of the Game to go with her two tries. Daley-McLean, influential throughout, converted and England marched on with a successive shut-out, 52-0. On this performance, it would be unwise to bet against consecutive Grand Slams. Wales next face Ireland, where they will be looking to cut out the errors and convert their forward power and resilience into points.

In the Men’s Game, England completed the sweep over Wales, a much tighter contest ending 12-6 thanks to two Jonny May tries and a game-saving tackle from Sam Underhill.

England: (backs) Waterman, D; Dow A; Kildunne, E; Burford, R; Pearce, C; Daley-McLean, Riley; (forwards) Clark, R; Cokayne, A; Bern,S; Scott, A; Taylor, T; Cleall, P; Packer, M; Hunter, S (Captain)
Replacements: Davis, L; Cornborough, V; Lucas, J; Burnfield, R; Noel-Smith, I; Mattinson, C; Cattell, L; Tuima, L

Wales: (backs) Snowsill, E; Bluck, H; Lake, K; De Filippo, R; Kavanagh-Williams, J; Wilkins, R; Parker, R; (forwards) Thomas, C; Phillips, C (Captain); Evans, A; Lillicrap, S; Clay, M; Butchers, A; Lewis, B; Harries, S (50th cap)
Replacements: Jones, K; Pyrs, G; Hale, C; John, N; Davies, N; Knight, J; George, L; Jones, H

Images: Courtesy of England rugby