Last Friday and Saturday Hong Kong hosted the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series Qualifiers at Shek Kip Mei Stadium. National teams rucked and mauled it out to make it to the tournament’s top four, which would allow them to compete in the third edition of the World Series. Fiji, China, France and South Africa took the four spots, with Hong Kong failing to qualify but winning the bowl nonetheless. The top four from the World Series will then qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Japan vs Brazil in a line out in the plate final (Final score: 38-7 to Japan)
It was an exciting tournament with high-level rugby being displayed by teams from all over the world: Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Fiji, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal and South Africa.
Well done @HKRFU for winning Bowl ! pic.twitter.com/6XJwXeZFxi
— IRB Women’s Rugby (@irbwomens) September 13, 2014
Fiji took the cup home after a 24-19 victory against France in the final. The plate was won by Japan after an easy 38-7 win against Brazil, who was surely disappointed to miss the chance to compete on their home turf at the 2016 Olympics. Our very own Hong Kong won the bowl after comfortably beating Argentina 26-7.
A Japanese player offloads the ball to a teammate just in time
A Japanese player almost manages to break through the Brazilian defense
A Japanese player about to charge through the defense
A Dutch player gets a low tackle on a Portuguese player (the Dutch won 31-7, winning 7th place)
Bear hug!
France vs South Africa in the cup semi-final (Final score: 14-5 to France)
A Fijian player tries in vain to stop a Chinese player from scoring in the cup semi-final (Final score: 21-19 to Fiji)
To the neck! Ouch!
This Fijian player seems very unfazed by the person perched on her back
Full video of cup final (France vs Fiji) courtesy of Asian 5 Nations TV:
Full video of bowl final (Hong Kong vs Argentina) courtesy of Asian 5 Nations TV:
Congratulations again to Hong Kong! We hope next year’s performance will be even better.
Photos/Text: Laurel Chor
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