Asia Rugby Championship: Hong Kong’s women to take on Sweden and the Netherlands in warm-up matches
- Royce Chan’s side will take on Sweden and Netherlands in Amsterdam next week ahead of their ARC campaign in May
- A squad of 32 includes 8 uncapped players alongside the experience of Natasha Olson-Thorne and Jessica Ho
Hong Kong’s women will prepare for the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) in May with two Test matches against Sweden and the Netherlands next week.
Royce Chan Leong-sze is taking a 32-strong squad for the games in Amsterdam, with eight uncapped players included alongside the likes of experienced pair Chow Mei-nam and Lee Ka-shun.
The group will be further boosted by the likes of Natasha Olson-Thorne, Rosanna Wright and Jessica Ho who are expected to join up with the team after the final round of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in South Africa this weekend.
Hong Kong will take on Sweden on Monday, and face the host nation on May 6. The ARC pits them against Kazakhstan, who they beat twice in December, with Japan and China clashing in the other game on May 23.
The winners from those two matches will play each other five days later in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, with the losers also in action.
Ranked 15th in the world after those back-to-back wins at home at the end of last year, Hong Kong have been largely starved of international rugby over the past few years and Chan is hoping to use next week to keep her side’s momentum going.
“We want to emphasise our strengths and focus on believing in ourselves,” the head coach said. “We got the job done in December, now it’s time to regroup and reorganise for the next challenge.
“This is a huge opportunity for a special playing group and we are looking forward to seeing what they bring to the table over the next few weeks.”
Separately, the Hong Kong Rugby Union has announced the appointment of three independent directors to its board, with England World Cup winner Josh Lewsey, Brett Free, a media and government communications veteran, and Gill Meller, a legal and governance director at the MTR Corporation, taking up their positions with immediate effect.
Chris Brooke, the union’s chairman, welcomed the trio’s addition in a move aimed at “broadening and strengthening” the board’s skill sets.
“The three individuals which have been chosen, have outstanding experience and expertise in their professional fields, and I know both my fellow directors and the HKRU management team are very much looking forward to working with them in the months ahead,” Brooke said.
Hong Kong squad: Au King-to, Au Yeung Sin-yi, Chloe Baltazar, Abigail Chan, Chloe Chan, Chan Hiu-tung, Chow Mei-nam, Nadia Cuvelier, Tanya Dhar, Rachel Fong, Fion Got, Jessica Ho Wai-on, Ho Tsz-wun, Kea Herewini, Lam Tsz-yan, Lee Ka-shun, Melody LI Nim-yan, Lo Wing-yin, Ng Ki-sum, Nam Ka-man, Natasha Olson-Thorne, Cherly So Yee-kei, Pun Wai-yan, Qian Jiayu, Megan Richardson, Aileen Ryan, Winnie Siu Wing-ni, Tsang Ching-man, Tsang Hoi-laam, Roshini Turner, Rosanna Wright, Wong Sze-ying
