Hong Kong Sevens 2024: Yiu pleased to prove point for Chinese players, as successor Fong scores twic

Japan’s Kippei Taninaka did all he could with two tries of his own, but it was too little, too late.

Hong Kong lost 24-10 to China in the women’s Melrose final. Chong Ka-yan, with her third try in as many matches over the three days, joined Chan Tsz-ching in touching down.

“We set out to reach the final and we did,” Chong said. “We wanted to win in front of our home crowd in our last game here, but it was not to be.”

Captain Natasha Olson-Thorne called the tournament’s last hurrah before a planned move to Kai Tak Sports Park “sad, because this is the stadium I grew up watching rugby in. But I am so glad we got to experience it for a last time”.

Yiu, Hong Kong men’s rugby’s longest servant, insisted this was the end of his international sevens career after 75 tournament, and was raw with emotion when he started talking to media.

Still, he has retired at least three times already, so it would be no surprise if this were another false dawn.

“I still cannot calm down. This is the end, the full circle,” he said. “I appreciate the coach [Jevon Groves] sending me on in the final few minutes for my last game, in this final dance at Hong Kong Stadium.”

He tried to continue: “I’ll miss all these …”

When the 36-year-old was composed enough to resume, he dedicated his “grateful” tears to the spectators, who he said “gave me this identity”.

“They were the driving force for me to keep on playing, they powered me on to perform, and most importantly, to prove Chinese players like us can also do well in this sport. The fact that I stayed on for so long is iron proof that we can do it.”

Yiu said it was important for Chinese players to be part of the Hong Kong team.

“I will continue promoting rugby in the community, so that we can find and encourage more local players,” Yiu said.

Yiu had long tipped Fong as his successor and the 26-year-old did not disappoint, touching down twice in front of the South Stand.

“It’s like waking up from a dream, it’s still surreal, to be honest,” Fong said. “This really is a perfect weekend,” he said. “I felt Yiu could play on for a year or two more, so to see him leaving us now is a pity.”

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51kwLG70a1moaeenHqsu82gZpqqpJ6wrbGObGlucGFqhXC0zqeeZqOfo7Ruv8SvnKerXWd9c4CMsqCuZaChsqK%2FxJ1kqaqfq7JuvM6ipa1lk522r7HSnmSppJGusrO%2FjKysnJuVqMCwvoyfpqefXaiwsL7ErGStr5mYsm6yyKeYpWWnnrs%3D