Hong Kong Sevens 2024: Melrose Claymore tournament the start of another tough few months, says women’s coach Andy Vilk
- After the home sevens come the third leg of the Challenger series and the final qualifiers for the Paris Olympics
- But positive experiences at the Asian Games and the series’ Uruguay leg stand the team in good stead, he says
Andy Vilk has revealed that his first few months managing the Hong Kong women’s sevens team was a “whirlwind” and a “steep learning curve” – and there are more storms and climbing ahead in the next three months.
First up is the Melrose Claymore competition at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens this weekend. Then it is on to Krakow, Poland, for the third leg of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger on May 18 and 19.
And finally, from June 21 to 23, Hong Kong will vie for a place at the Paris Olympics when they compete at the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco.
“It was literally a whirlwind and a very, very steep learning curve, especially the first three months, coming to this brilliant environment with these fantastic players,” Vilk, 42, said.
He took the top job last August, just a month before the Asian Games, where his team won a historic bronze medal.
