HSBC SVNS Series: Doherty outlines elite ambition for ‘hungry and more adaptable’ Hong Kong
Hong Kong will aim for a third straight Asia Rugby Sevens Series success next month, before moving on to Challenger Series action
Liam Doherty said a “more versatile and adaptable” Hong Kong were gunning for promotion to the HSBC SVNS Series after having their twin Olympic and global dreams “ripped away” last year.
Hong Kong have begun this campaign with back-to-back Asia Rugby Sevens Series titles and stand on the brink of qualification for the second-tier Challenger Series, with one leg of the Asian competition remaining in Bangkok next month.
World Rugby have still not confirmed the timing or format for next year’s Challenger Series, but there has been speculation it could be contested over two legs, in successive weeks at a single location, early in 2025.
In this year’s competition, which was played over three legs on three continents, Hong Kong were squeezed into fifth position by Germany, who snared the final place on offer in the season-ending world series qualifiers.
Hong Kong’s heartache was amplified after they had lost a straight shoot-out with Japan for Olympic qualification.
The two disappointments overshadowed some notable results and performances from head coach Jevon Groves’ team, before fatigue caught up with them at the end of the campaign.
