Denmark, who is preparing for a World Rugby Challenger Series leg in Uruguay this week, said Dupont's presence was “awesome, he is the best of the best”.

“You can tell from social media, sevens is growing and growing, and people are taking more interest in the faster version of the game,” Denmark added.

“It still has a long way to go before it can compete with 15s, but there is definitely an opportunity. The games are quick, end-to-end, and exciting to watch. For sevens to have the same viewership, and backing, as 15s would be amazing, and I hope I get to see the day it happens.”

Hong Kong’s own Olympic ambitions suffered a severe blow when they lost an Asian qualifying final against Japan last November, leaving head coach Jevon Groves’ team to scrap for the single Games spot available at a 12-team repechage tournament in June.

Missing out in identical circumstances four years earlier “was much harder”, Denmark said.

“I realise now, the world does not stop spinning,” he said. “We had that goal, but our rugby careers are not over. We are not counting ourselves out of the repechage … anyone can beat anyone, on any given day.

“If you dwell on disappointments, your progress stagnates. We had to switch our brains forward. The Hong Kong ethos is, ‘it does not matter what has happened, move onto the next job’.”

Hong Kong, who are in a group with Chile, Japan, and Mexico, in the Montevideo tournament, beginning on Friday, reached the last eight of January’s opening Challenger Series leg in Dubai.

Denmark was his team’s top tournament try scorer, with five, but saw vast room for individual and collective improvement, after Hong Kong were punished for allowing Germany the majority of possession and territory in a disappointing quarter-final contest.

“On the defensive side of the ball, I was getting beaten way too much,” Denmark said. “My defensive positioning and tackle completion were poor.

“We did not have perfect preparation for Dubai [because it came soon after players returned from Christmas break]. Leading up to Uruguay, we have had a solid few weeks to restore good habits, and solidify them.

“The onus is always on the players to be prepared, but all of us being in the same place is important. You do not forget how to play rugby in two weeks, but there are nuances, like knowing, ‘this guy likes to slow down, then look for a pass’. Those things slip away.

“We always come out of these blocks so much stronger.”

Denmark, who said he was “a bit heavier” after a concerted spell of strength training following the Dubai tournament, is relishing a renewal of hostilities with perennial rivals Japan.

“People probably think we want to avoid them [because we meet so often], but we want to make a statement, to beat them, and say, ‘we are the best team in Asia’,” Denmark said.

Chile and Mexico are potential repechage opponents, and Denmark said a blow landed now might still resonate in Monaco in four months.

Hong Kong’s immediate task is to impose themselves on the global, second-tier Challenger Series, which concludes with a third leg in Munich, in May. Surrendering so much ball to Germany eight weeks ago prompted a renewed focus on seizing turnover opportunities, in a bid for a semi-final appearance in the Uruguayan capital, at least.

“If we see the chance [for turnover], we will go for it,” Denmark said. “Not like headless chickens, diving into every ruck, but if it is on, we will all swarm, and go.

“Because of how we went last time, our focus is solely on this tournament, and delivering the performances to achieve our goals.”