!!~ LIVE@STREAM"]]# Rugby Sevens Hong Kong 2023 ...
Welcome to the 2023 Sevens
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Live stream
You can watch the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series live stream online within the match centre and the official App.
Depending on your location, geo-restrictions may apply.
You can find your local HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series broadcast partner(s) below
After a welcome return to action last November, the Hong Kong Sevens is back bigger than ever, in its traditional calendar slot to boot.
Fans are slowly starting to file into Hong Kong Stadium, but some early morning rain showers will probably not help in terms of crowd numbers for the first games.
Either way, the women’s competition will get the event under way, with France and Japan first up at 12.16pm.
Hong Kong will take on New Zealand at 2.15pm.
France lead at the break
Montserrat Amedee gives France an early lead, with Caroline Drouin converting, but Japan are soon level as Wakaba Hara powers over.
Michiyo Suda adds the extras to tie it up at 7-7, though France cross again, Amedee getting her second in the right hand corner after a neat hand-off.
Seraphine Okemba adds a third for Les Bleus before the break and they’re rolling, up 19-7 after another Drouin conversion.
Big statement from France
Lili Dezou adds a fourth score for France in the 10th minute, before Okemba gets a second, with the European side quickly powering into a 31-7 lead.
Chloe Jacquet them gets France’s sixth try in added time and Paula Barrat converts.
It finishes 38-7, with Japan having no answer.
France lead at the break
Montserrat Amedee gives France an early lead, with Caroline Drouin converting, but Japan are soon level as Wakaba Hara powers over.
Michiyo Suda adds the extras to tie it up at 7-7, though France cross again, Amedee getting her second in the right hand corner after a neat hand-off.
Seraphine Okemba adds a third for Les Bleus before the break and they’re rolling, up 19-7 after another Drouin conversion.
Australia bashing Brazil
Tough assignment for Brazil against Australia. The South Americans – commendably – hold out for a couple of minutes, but Sariah Paki eventually breaks the deadlock.
Madison Ashby soon adds another try. Then comes another from Maddison Levi. And two more from Charlotte Caslick.
It’s 31-0 at the break, and the Australians – who are second behind New Zealand in the women’s World Series table – are showing why they are one of the big favourites for this tournament.
Consolation for Brazil
Australia pick up where they left off after the break.
Teagan Levi – who has three conversions already – adds a sixth score straight away, and Maddison Levi then gets her second, putting Australia 43-0 up.
But Brazil are all smiles after a nice turn of pace from Thalia Costa brings them a nice consolation try.
Canada and Great Britain look well matched as they reach half-time scoreless, thanks to some determined defending all round.
We know Brits and Canadians should be used to a bit of drizzle, but a slippery ball is also troubling both sides.
The deadlock is finally broken when GB’s Heather Cowell touches down – although the scoring pass looks forward.
The Canadians should really grab the try they deserve, but they squander a glaring overlap, then Olivia De Couvreur fumbles with the line at her mercy. It’s 5-0 GB.
If Australia impressed earlier, New Zealand issue a reminder that they are the team to beat in this World Series.
With the Hong Kong players tiring as they battle bravely to hold back the black tide, further tries arrive for Stacey Waaka (her third), Jazmin Felix-Hotham and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.
It ends 50-0 to New Zealand, who look supreme. Hong Kong haven’t disgraced themselves – they’ll learn from that.
Last time these two sides met in Hong Kong, in November, things looked very different for New Zealand.
It was 9am on the Sunday, and they had failed to reach the Cup quarter-finals for the first time ever in Hong Kong.
They tonked the Kenyans that morning, and are quick to take command here as Leroy Carter, Dylan Collier and Akuila Rokolisoa cross for tries. Kenya get a score back through Nelson Oyoo, but Cody Vai and Rokolisoa again make it 29-5 at full-time.
We see flashes of the form that has turned the Kiwis’ season around. They don’t fancy that 9am slot this Sunday.
There’s plenty riding on this Ireland v South Africa tussle, because they’re in New Zealand’s group and neither can really afford a loss.
It’s Ireland, mind you, who are the seeded side in the pool, based on their placing in the last leg of the series in Vancouver.
The South Africans aren’t about to accept that state of affairs lying down, and open the scoring via Mfundo Ndhlovu before Matthew McDonald replies. That’s the way it stays until a minute left, when SA’s Zain Davids thunders in at the right corner for 14-7.
Who knows where that leaves us in pool D.
Argentina see it through
It’s a tight game here in the second half.
But Argentina – considered by some as dark horses for the tournament – stretch their lead again after Luciano Gonzalez goes over, and it stays
This was a must-win game, with Pacific Island powerhouses Samoa and Fiji up next tomorrow in what is a brutal Pool A.
France rolling again
After routing Japan 38-7 in the opening match of the morning, France’s women are building up another big score against Spain.
Carla Nelsen crosses in the first and fifth minutes, either side of Lili Dezou’s second score of the day, as Les Bleus quickly lead 19-0.
Seraphine Okemba gets among the points again, and it’s 26-0 at the break.
USA survive Japan scare
Naya Tapper makes it 19-10 soon after the restart, with order very much restored for the USA after that shocking start.
But hold the phone, Japan aren’t done here.
Yume Hirano goes over with three minutes to go, and Michiyo Suda converts. It’s 19-17, and we’ve got a game.
The Americans aren’t done either, though, and work their way up the field before sub Kris Thomas makes sure of the win.
A bit more of a competitive one here between Australia and Ireland’s women – well, to begin with, at least.
Faith Nathan gives the Aussies the lead but Kathy Baker puts the Irish back in it briefly, before Teagan Levi and Charlotte Caslick go over.
Ireland aren’t out of it though. They push for a second try, and get it in the right corner through Amy Leigh Murphy Crowe with less than three minutes to go, setting up a tense finish.
Ireland push for a third after the hooter sounds, but Australia hold firm to win 19-12.
Hong Kong beaten but end on high
All credit to the Hong Kong lads, who are creating chaos with their blitzing defence and energetic rucking. It’s appreciated in the stands.
They are emptying the tank – and that leaves them fatigued when Jonathan Laugel steps through a gap to score for 21-0 France.
But they’re still up in French faces to force a turnover that gives Seb Brien a run-in to score.
And there’s more pressing on after the full-time siren, successive tap penalties allow them to work some space on the right and Brien is in again. 21-14 it finishes.
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.
It’s the end of March and the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens has finally returned in its normal place in the sporting calendar.
No masks, no restrictions, no barriers to fun this is the Sevens as it should be, with the added bonus of a full women’s competition for the first time.
The expanded tournament means days are starting earlier, running longer and the Post is here for every minute of every game, bringing you all the action as it happens.
Here’s a full rundown of all the action from Day 1 at Hong Kong Stadium.
Reporting by Josh Ball, Nic Atkin, Tom Bell,
Allowed territories
Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Rep., Dem. Rep. Korea, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Falkland Is., Finland, Fr. S. Antarctic Lands, Georgia, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, N. Cyprus, Nepal, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Somaliland, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, W. Sahara.