「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」中國香港男子、女子七人欖球代表隊決選名單一錘定音
Team Hong Kong, China announced for Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens
男、女子隊首次在滙豐世界七人欖球系列賽同場獻技
姚錦成第70次代表中國香港出戰七人欖球賽
Men & Women share stage for first time in an HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series event;
Salom Yiu Kam-shing set to mark 70th sevens appearance for Hong Kong, China
[2023年3月28日，香港]: 香港欖球總會（欖總）今日公佈即將於3月31日至4月2日假香港大球場出戰「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」的中國香港男、女子七人欖球代表隊決選名單。
身經百戰的雙隊長高香慧（Natasha Olson-Thorne）和李念殷將率領港隊首次參加 「滙豐世界女子七人欖球系列賽」，亦是「七欖」第一次主辦 「滙豐世界女子七人欖球系列賽」。
女子隊挑選了多名沙場老將包括藍嘉敏、陳楚琪、何維銨、陳穎、歐陽倩怡和謝詠翹。七欖新星林芷欣、米奇拉巴達莎（Micayla Baltazar）、奧亞娜（Julia Mba Oyana）和Allianz女子欖球超級聯賽球員韋諾蒔（Rosie Wright） 均金榜題名。女子隊將以今次在香港大球場的處女戰為下月在南非舉行的國際系列賽外圍賽作準備。
中國香港與系列賽榜首新西蘭、加拿大和英國同處女子賽A組，當中與前港隊主師莫以恒（ Iain Monaghan）執掌的加拿大交手別具話題。港隊首戰將於週五，下午2時16分與新西蘭對壘。
香港體育學院七人欖球總教練莊保羅（Paul John）談到女子欖球未來的機會和挑戰時說：「這時球員們有史以來最大的考驗。我們雖然被分入死亡之組，但我們必須迎難而上，並從中學習，在這週末體驗一生難忘的經歷。面對強敵我們必須無畏無懼，並且尊重她們。」
莊保羅續說：「香港七欖是我們進軍亞運會的最佳征途。每個球員都希望在大球場上陣，但這只是球隊的一個起步點。由周五起至4月底，我們將出戰三場大型賽事，這是難得的機會。今週，世界列強都聚首一堂，我希望球員們可以從中學習。作為職業運動員，我希望她們能夠遇強越強，並為自己的表現感到自豪。如果她們發揮至最好的話，她們便能無悔地享受比賽。」
男子隊再次挑選9名曾參戰11月賽事的球員，包括今年將第6次參加「七欖」的隊長禾獲特（Max Woodward），其中5次他都是以隊長身份率領港隊，以及「七欖」12朝元老兼最多港隊喼帽的姚錦成，今仗亦是他第70次代表中國香港出戰七人欖球賽。
另外，麥堅力（ Alex McQueen）將第9次出戰「七欖」，而經驗豐富的韋兆新（Russell Webb）和拜恩塞巴（Seb Brien）也將第4次亮相「七欖」。
達陣能手丹馬克（Max Denmark）也將在今個週末第3度參加「七欖」。虎拿當尼（Alessandro Nardoni）、麥堅尼韋斯（Pierce Mackinlay-West）和麥季聰將第二次參賽。
另外兩名具改變戰局能力但雙雙在去年11月因傷倦勤的靴貝特（Liam Herbert）和史戴爾斯（Hugo Stiles）同獲入選，他們將與傳接鋒蔡紀駿（James Christie）和麥古洛（Callum McCullough）皆初試啼聲。
史戴爾斯原本在去年「七欖」中首次登場，可惜後期因傷而退選，他已效力港隊多年並且曾代表中國香港參加了兩屆七人欖球世界盃和亞運會決賽，最近他傷癒復出回歸決選名單。同樣，靴貝特一直都是球隊的主力球員，曾參加過多個國際比賽，今次終於可以在一嚐主場滋味。
男子隊主帥高勳（Jevon Groves）表示：「球隊已準備就緒。選兵的過程艱難，有一些非常優秀的球員未能被選上，但我們也需要為下個月的滙豐七人欖球系列賽之挑戰者系列賽作預備。我們想給每個球員機會，這樣我們就可以為挑戰者系列賽打造最具競爭力的陣容，並爭取在當中佔一席位。」
他續說：「今週和接著的新加坡七人欖球賽將看到球隊的實力。去年11月，球隊在某方面表現出色，但仍有些地方是需要改進的，因此我們正在針對不足的地方練習。挑戰者系列賽並不是一個容易勝出的比賽，但我們仍會給球員們爭取名次的機會。接下來幾週是一些真正具競爭力的比賽，未能被選上的球員固然失望，但對於那些能夠從『七欖』中成長的球員來說，這是一個絕佳的機會。」
隨著「七欖」長大的兩名球員分別是史戴爾斯和蔡紀駿。前者代表華利球會，後者則代表香港足球會，兩人曾在15年前的青少年七人欖球賽中的U9 組別賽事相遇，現在兩人又再次在賽場上相遇。
26歲的史戴爾斯去年11月因肩頸位受傷而未能上陣，他說：「自從那次U9的比賽後，我就從未真正踏足大球場比賽，所以我十分期待今個週末的賽事。去年錯過了上陣的機會，但今次對我這個香港小子來說，我終於夢想成真了！」
男子隊今次在B組面對法國、英國和烏拉圭。香港和法國合演週五開鑼日的煞科戰（晚上8時33分），法國在剛過去的溫哥華站中奪得亞軍。
「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」（3月31日 – 4月2日）中國香港男子七人欖球代表隊決選名單：
禾獲特（隊長）、拜恩塞巴、蔡紀駿*、丹馬克、靴貝特*、麥堅力、麥堅尼韋斯、麥古洛*、麥季聰、虎拿當尼、史戴爾斯*、韋兆新、姚錦成
*首次參加「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」
「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」（3月31日 – 4月2日）中國香港女子七人欖球代表隊決選名單：
高香慧（雙隊長）、李念殷 （雙隊長）、歐陽倩怡、米奇拉巴達莎、陳穎、陳楚琪、何維銨、林芷欣、奧亞娜、藍嘉敏、謝詠翹、韋諾蒔
圖片說明：
圖1 – 「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」（3月31日 – 4月2日）中國香港女子七人欖球代表隊決選名單
（後排左至右）韋諾蒔、陳穎、奧亞娜、米奇拉巴達莎、林芷欣、歐陽倩怡
（前排左至右）陳楚琪、何維銨、李念殷 （雙隊長）、高香慧（雙隊長）、謝詠翹、藍嘉敏
圖 2 – 「國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」（3月31日 – 4月2日）中國香港男子七人欖球代表隊決選名單
（後排左至右）姚錦成、麥古洛、麥堅尼韋斯、禾獲特（隊長）、靴貝特、丹馬克、麥堅力
（前排左至右）虎拿當尼、麥季聰、拜恩塞巴、韋兆新、蔡紀駿、史戴爾斯
[Hong Kong, 28 March 2022]: The Hong Kong Rugby Union announced the men’s and women’s sevens squads set to compete in the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2023 from 31 March to 2 April at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Experienced co-captains Natasha Olson-Thorne and Melody Li Nim-yan will take the women’s team into its first ever HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournament this weekend when the Sevens hosts a full Series tournament for the first time in its history.
The team has a largely veteran cast with Nam Ka-man, Stephanie Chan Chor-ki, Jessica Ho Wai-on, Chloe Chan, Maggie Au Yeung Sin-yi and Agnes Tse Wing-kiu joining the co-captains. Rising stars Lam Tsz-yan, Micayla Baltazar, Julia Mba Oyana and Allianz Premiership player Rosie Wright are all included as the women look to use their debut World Series appearance inside the stadium this weekend, and then at the Singapore Sevens, as a stepping stone for the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Series qualifiers in South Africa at end April.
Hong Kong, China are in Pool A with Series leaders New Zealand, Canada and Team Great Britain. Their first match against New Zealand is on Friday at 14.16.
Hong Kong Sports Institute Head Sevens coach Paul John spoke about the opportunities and challenges that lie in store, saying: “This is the biggest test the girls have ever had. We have a difficult group but we have to embrace that, learn from it, and take the experience of a lifetime out of this weekend. The biggest challenge is to respect, not fear, our opponents,” said John.
“Hong Kong is a great way to start our progression to the Asian Games. Every player wants to play in that stadium, but it is just the start of an exciting time for the squad. From Friday until the end of April there are three huge tournaments for us to play in, which is brilliant.
“We have to approach it that way as well. The top teams in the world are here this week, and we need to learn from that. It is what we play for; it is why we are professional athletes - to test ourselves against the best - and hopefully the girls will do themselves proud. If they play to the best of their ability they can enjoy it,” said John.
The men’s side is also laden with experience with nine players returning from November’s Sevens including captain Max Woodward - marking his sixth tournament (five times as captain) in 2023.
Hong Kong Rugby’s most capped player, the evergreen Salom Yiu Kam-sing, will celebrate a 12th appearance at the Sevens. This weekend also marks Yiu’s 70th sevens appearance for Hong Kong, China.
Alex McQueen marks his ninth showing, while senior players Russell Webb and Seb Brien make their fourth appearances at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Top finisher Max Denmark makes his third Hong Kong Sevens appearance this weekend. Alessandro Nardoni, Pierce Mackinlay-West and Mak Kwai-chung will also mark their second tournaments.
Two X-factor players have also recovered from injury battles to make debuts in 2023 in Liam Herbert and Hugo Stiles, both of whom were side-lined by injuries for last November’s tournament.
Stiles whose 2022 debut was derailed by a late injury has returned to fitness and will mark his debut Hong Kong Sevens despite being in the squad for several years and having represented Hong Kong, China at two Rugby World Cup Sevens and an Asian Games final already.
Similarly, Herbert has been a fixture in the squad having played in numerous international competitions and now experiencing a first taste of the Hong Kong environment. James Christie and Callum McCullough are also making their first appearance at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in 2023.
“The squad is rugby ready,” said men’s coach Jevon Groves.
“It has been a tough selection, and there are some very good players missing out, but over this next month there is more of a view to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series. We want to give guys opportunity so we can have the most competitive squad we can for the Challengers and to push for a place on the circuit.
“Hong Kong and the Singapore Sevens the week after will show where we are at now. Last November, we showed we could compete in parts, and in parts we were below the standard required, so we are looking for that consistency. The Challenger is not an easy thing to win, it will be tough but we have to give guys the opportunity to push for spots.
“There will be some real competition over the next weeks, but it is very tough for the guys to be told they are not playing in Hong Kong. But for those guys that have been raised on the Hong Kong Sevens this is a fantastic opportunity for them,” Groves said.
Two players raised on the Sevens are Stiles and Christie. The 26-year old Stiles noted today that the two had played against each other at U9s level (Christie for Football Club and Stiles for Valley) in the Sevens youth rugby showcase 15 years previous, and now both are coming full circle in 2023.
“Since then, I have not really set foot on the pitch in the stadium, so it is going to be an awesome weekend,” said Stiles, who picked up a neck and shoulder injury shortly before last November’s Sevens.
“Missing out last year, but getting in this time is a dream come true to be honest as a Hong Kong kid,” said Stiles.
Hong Kong are pooled with France, Team Great Britain and Uruguay in Pool B. The men will close out the tournament’s opening day against France, who finished second place in the most recent tournament in Vancouver. That game is at 20.33 on Friday, 31 March.
Hong Kong, China Men’s Sevens Squad for Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens (31 Mar – 2 Apr):
Max WOODWARD (Capt.); Seb BRIEN; James CHRISTIE*; Max DENMARK; Liam HERBERT*; Alex McQUEEN; Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST; Callum McCULLOUGH*; MAK Kwai-chung; Alessandro NARDONI; Hugo STILES*; Russell WEBB, Salom YIU Kam-shing.
*Cathay /HSBC Hong Kong Sevens debut
Hong Kong, China Women’s Sevens Squad for Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens (31 Mar – 2 Apr)
Natasha OLSON-THORNE (co-capt.); Melody LI Nim-yan (co-capt.); Maggie AU YEUNG Sin-yi; Micayla BALTAZAR; Chloe CHAN; Stephanie CHAN; Jessica HO Wai-On; LAM Tsz-yan; Julia MBA-OYANA; NAM Ka-Man; Agnes TSE Wing-kiu; Rosie WRIGHT.
Information and Photo source : Elite Step Asia Limited / Hong Kong Sevens
