Co-captain James Christie has said it would be a “huge honour” to lead Hong Kong in the National Games next month, before he hunkers down for an austere Christmas ahead of his team’s next challenge.
Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium will stage the Games’ three-day rugby sevens tournaments from November 12. On their return to the competition after a 12-year absence, the hosts’ men are in a pool with Shandong, Tianjin and Inner Mongolia.
“It’s a huge honour being back in the National Games, especially on our own patch in front of friends and family,” Christie said.
“A lot of top professional teams don’t get to play a home tournament, so we’re hugely grateful we’ll get to play here twice this year [following the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens].
“There’s always pressure, but we wouldn’t be in the game if we didn’t like that.”
Hong Kong won both legs of the recent Asian Series to qualify for January’s inaugural HSBC SVNS 3 in Dubai.