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Paul McNamara

Captain James Christie says he is equipped to handle the pressure of leading Hong Kong sevens rugby into its brave new world.
On Monday, local rugby bosses confirmed their flagship Hong Kong Sevens tournament would move to a new home at Kai Tak Sports Park in 2025.
The seminal off-field development came weeks after Christie was named successor to outgoing men’s sevens skipper Max Woodward, who inspired Hong Kong to Asian Games gold last year.
Christie has tasted early success in the role, after Hong Kong won a pair of Asia Rugby Sevens Series (ARSS) legs in the opening weeks of his reign. After taking over at the beginning of a new Olympic Games cycle, however, the 28-year-old has set his sights on much bigger prizes.

“This is a new cycle, with new lads coming into the team and we want to push for world series and Olympic qualification,” Christie said.
“In the last cycle [2021-24], not too many players left the programme, but a few have gone this time. We want to blood some new talents and see how they go.
“We have been close to the world series so many times, now we need to knuckle down and get into it.”
Hong Kong need to claim a top-four position in next year’s second-tier Challenger Series to earn a shot at gaining core world series status.
They were fifth in this year’s Challenger Series, a heartache compounded by defeat to Japan in a match to decide 2024 Olympics qualification.
Christie said there was an element of the unknown around how Hong Kong would resurface for this campaign, after the unusual luxury of six weeks off before the opening ARSS leg in South Korea.
That victorious tournament turned out to be “plain sailing”, before a much tougher second leg in Hangzhou, where Hong Kong needed Christie’s last-ditch try to beat Japan in the final.
“I am not much of a talker, I like to lead through what I show on the pitch,” Christie said.
“I prefer the harder games, like that Japan final, because you learn much more individually and as a team.
“Nothing will change about my dynamic with the group – I am still part of the team and we have a big squad. I played more tournaments last season than ever before and it is exciting to be fully involved.”
Christie acknowledged the captaincy appointment came as “a bit of a shock”, despite the fact he had been a member of the team’s senior leadership group. The original plan was for Christie to co-skipper with Seb Brien, until an ACL injury for Brien left Christie, who made his international sevens debut in 2018, to fill the “big shoes” of friend and former teammate Woodward.

“I wasn’t expecting the job and the injury for Seb meant it was all on me,” Christie said. “That created a bit of pressure, but I don’t mind pressure.
“Max is a great player and even better friend. He had huge experience and it was so good playing under him, but, hopefully, I can manage to fill those shoes.”
Hong Kong will aim for an ARSS clean sweep at next month’s final leg in Bangkok, before looking towards the beginning of 2025, when the Challenger Series and Hong Kong Sevens take over. Christie was raised on the local event after attending his first sevens at Hong Kong Stadium “in my mum’s womb” 28 years ago.
“I have been to nearly every sevens since,” Christie said. “We had such good times in Hong Kong Stadium, but going to the new stadium, with the modern facilities and 10,000 more fans, is exciting. It was deafening in the old stadium, so imagine how loud it’s going to be at Kai Tak.”


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Hong Kong Sports Institute

Hong Kong rugby sevens captain James Christie reveals ambitious world and Olympic goals

New captain James Christie is setting lofty targets for Hong Kong. Photo: Eugene Lee

Christie with women’s star Chloe Chan at the official sevens relocation announcement event. Photo: Ike Images

Max Woodward left ‘big shoes to fill’ after a successful spell as Hong Kong skipper. Photo: Handout

Coach Jevon Groves salutes outgoing captain Max Woodward for Hong Kong 7s ‘culture change’

‘Role model’ Max Woodward is quitting the Hong Kong sevens team following a stellar career. Photo: Handout.

‘Calm and controlled’ James Christie (right) will begin his captaincy reign in South Korea this weekend. Photo: Elson Li.

Seb Brien would have been Hong Kong co-captain but for a serious knee injury. Photo: Yik Yeung-man.

Hong Kong men seal Asian rugby 7s leg after Japan scare, women lose semi to top guns China

Liam Doherty runs in to score during Hong Kong’s comfortable semi-final victory over China.

Stephanie Chor Ki-chan’s tries in the pool stage helped Hong Kong book their semi-final date with China.

Asia Rugby Sevens Series: ‘ruthless’ Hong Kong men lift cup, women proud after final loss

Hong Kong lift the men’s cup after the first leg in South Korea. Photo: Hong Kong China Rugby

Sabay Lynam of Hong Kong carries the ball during Sunday’s final. Photo: Hong Kong China Rugby

Asia Rugby Sevens Series: Hong Kong men storm into semi-finals, women make dramatic escape

Max Denmark was in try-scoring form for Hong Kong on Saturday. Photo: KLC fotos for World Rugby

Grace Hood (third from left) waits to make her Hong Kong debut. Photo: Asia Rugby

Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens

Hong Kong Rugby Union

New era gets under way as Hong Kong Sevens’ relocation is confirmed, with the men’s captain excited about the move to Kai Tak


New era gets under way as Hong Kong Sevens’ relocation is confirmed, with the men’s captain excited about the move to Kai Tak.


Olympics