South China Morning Post

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City’s team have not won a Trophy match in six years, but will seek to develop talent in a squad featuring several overseas players.

China drawn alongside New Zealand, Fiji and Canada – all of whom are World Series grand finals sides.

Favourites going into the tournament, China breeze past Kenya in the final, while South Africa claim men’s place at expense of Great Britain.

Head coach Andrew Douglas concedes Hong Kong need stronger South Korea ‘so we can keep raising our game’

Victory over South Korea will secure Asia Rugby Championship and cement team’s spot as second-best side in region, and coach Andrew Douglas wants his side to play expansive game.

Chong Ka-yan scores hat-trick as Hong Kong beat Paraguay 33-15, China demolish Mexico 55-0 in opening games of repechage event.

Rugby bosses are preparing for September, when the 15s and 7s calendars cross over, but all eyes are now on the repechage in Monaco.

Women’s sevens team face ‘enormous pressure’ to deliver, but take a 21-match winning streak into Monaco qualifying tournament.

After a busy year, Hong Kong are among 12 teams at repechage tournament in Monaco this weekend trying to secure the remaining spot in Paris.

City will host South Korea in championship decider in significant step up this month before July tour to South America.

The 22-year-old try-scoring machine finished the season with 69 – just in time to help Australia regain the gold medal they won at Rio 2016

China’s women will play on global sevens series circuit in 2025 following flawless grand finals campaign in Madrid, while Antoine Dupont inspires France success ahead of home Olympics.

Hong Kong outplay Kazakhstan in Asia Rugby Championship finale to secure spot in WXV3 tournament later this year, and remain in contention for 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.

Hong Kong seal opening victory but head coach Andrew Douglas wants quick improvement after stop-start display, featuring too many errors.

Hong Kong are playing for the ARC runner-up spot, as well as the health of women’s rugby in the city, when they clash with Kazakhstan on Saturday.

UAE rugby chief Apollo Perelini wants game’s power brokers to do more in support of lower-ranked nations, and is concerned over prospect of amateurs playing in expanded World Cup.

Power brokers will vote on a new leadership structure but the players’ association has threatened to form a rebel body if the provinces get their way.

French scrum half Antoine Dupont is heading back to the sevens circuit as he continues preparations for Paris Olympics this summer.

Hong Kong seeking ‘much better level’ for critical Kazakhstan clash in Asia Rugby Championship, with immediate future of city’s 15s team at stake.

Hong Kong women to vie with Japan and Kazakhstan in Asia Rugby Championship for a spot in Rugby World Cup, while runners-up will still be in contention.

NZRPA says it will set up a new governing body for the game if proposed reforms are blocked by the country’s provincial unions later this month.

City’s men’s team suffer consecutive last-ditch blows in the qualifying pathway to rugby sevens’ top tier, extinguishing world series hopes for another year.

Head coach dealt weakened hand for Challenger Series, but has no issues with 15s counterparts cherry-picking sevens stars for Asia Rugby Championship.

Former All Blacks captain Cane’s move to Tokyo-based Suntory Sungoliath adds to allure of a country attracting top players and bumper crowds.

Craig Chan is aiming to referee the women’s final this summer, only eight years after first picking up a whistle reluctantly.

Coach Jevon Groves backs proposals for a rugby sevens competition between local teams, as Hong Kong seek a place in the season-ending Madrid grand finals.

Taiwan were once consistently among the top four teams, but have languished in lower echelons since 2008. Unions Cup in Singapore represents chance to restore programme.

Kiwis’ double success in Singapore follows Hong Kong clean sweep, while Argentina men cling on to clinch season series top spot for first time.

The 2016 Olympic gold medallist Alicia Lucas hails first women’s sevens event in Singapore, and revels in rampant Aussie displays, while legend Bryan Habana praises ‘superstar skill and athleticism’.

Great Britain staring at prospect of world series relegation playoff following unfavourable sequence of results in Singapore, while Aussie 15s legend Michael Hooper opens sevens try account in Canada victory.