HK whoops China 26-0 for Asian Games rugby gold

Hong Kong’s men’s rugby sevens team romped to a third consecutive Asian Games gold with a dominant display in a 26-0 victory over China yesterday.

Wing Harry Sayers scored a pair of first-half tries, added to by Dafydd Phillips to put Hong Kong in charge 21-0 at the break.

When flying wing Juan Esono Mba Oyana scored Hong Kong’s fourth try straight from the second-half kick-off the result was beyond doubt.

Hong Kong players celebrate winning the men`s rugby sevens final against China during the Asian Games yesterday.

Photo: AFP

“Amazing, amazing. The Asian Games has been a dream of mine for so long now,” said Sayers.

Hong Kong’s success was built not only on scoring prowess but also a defense that conceded just 14 points in six matches during the tournament, all against South Korea in the semi-final.

“It’s really great to win our third gold medal,” said veteran scrumhalf Cado Lee, who has been in all three gold-winning teams. “I think our performance throughout the week was excellent because we consistently learned to win through defense.”

“I think we showed that again in the final, so I’m very happy,” he added.

Hong Kong captain James Christie said his team had achieved something special. Only Asian rugby powerhouse Japan, from 2006 to 2014, had won the title on three consecutive occasions.

“To be on that level is pretty good. It means the world to us to win,” Christie said.

The gold added to Hong Kong’s triumphs in Hangzhou in 2023 and Jakarta-Palembang in 2018.

Hosts Japan won bronze with a 17-5 victory over South Korea.

They were aiming for gold but lost 10-7 to China in the semi-final.

“There’s disappointment,” said Japan’s Ryodai Shirakuni, who was in tears at the end.

“I could hear the voices of everyone supporting us, and I’m disappointed,” he said. “I wanted to win. This just isn’t good enough, and I’m not at all satisfied, so that’s why I was crying.”