Hong Kong Touch World Cup teams starting to create something ‘extraordinary’
- City rugby stars among 96 players poised for global event in England, where six Hong Kong teams will battle it our across multiple age groups
The Hong Kong teams poised to compete for Touch World Cup honours are “starting to build something extraordinary”, according to a leading figure in the sport.
Nearly 100 players across six teams will represent the city in England, from July 15, five years after only one Hong Kong side went to the 2019 World Cup in Malaysia.
Among the city’s 96-strong playing contingent are the former Hong Kong sevens star, Ricky Cheuk Ming-yin, and Ivy Kwong Sau-yan, a veteran of the 2017 women’s Rugby World Cup.
Cheuk, who retired in 2009 following two serious knee injuries, believes the code has the potential to replace sevens as an Olympic sport.
“This World Cup will increase touch’s profile, and encourage more people to play,” Cheuk said. “Hopefully, the [Hong Kong] union and government can get behind us more, and it can take off.”
Diana Li, the chairwoman of Hong Kong China Touch, has been one of the driving forces behind the city’s increased presence on the global stage.
In addition to her administrative duties, she is a member of the Hong Kong mixed over-30s team going to Nottingham.
“I have trained around four hours per day for the past six months,” she said. “At one point, I felt I needed to see a psychologist. The strength and conditioning coach told me to not touch a ball for five days.
“Every player experiences that … it was better to hit that stage early, rather than now. We love the oval ball, love the team work, and the bonding. It changes your mentality, and gives you more passion for life.
“I want the six teams to bring back positive energy. This is the most united the touch community has been, and [World Cup] is a great start to building something extraordinary.”
The 10th Touch World Cup lasts for six days, and features 180 teams from 39 countries and regions, competing across 13 divisions.
Kwong faced the likes of New Zealand and Wales at the 2017 15s edition, and the 35-year-old, who is part of the women’s over-27s team, played touch at university and returned after retiring.
“I came back to play socially, but then wanted to challenge myself to go to another big tournament,” Kwong said. “It is a big opportunity for me to go to two World Cups, and show people you can play rugby after retiring.
“I want to contribute my skills and experience, and help our team grow during the tournament. By raising the profile [of touch], we can increase the rugby playing community in Hong Kong.”
In a nod to the growth and importance of touch in the city, James Farndon, the new CEO of the local rugby association, will attend the competition.
More than 2,000 players compete in Hong Kong’s summer league. Li estimated, however, that volunteers make up more than 90 per cent of those organising Hong Kong World Cup teams in categories comprising men’s and women’s open, men’s over-30s and over-40s, women’s over-27s, and mixed over-30s.
At a jersey presentation ceremony last week, Farndon noted the dedication of players, a point supported by Cheuk, who said his teammates are “so committed and devoted”.
“A lot of them train harder than I used to,” added Cheuk, who played at the 2001 and 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments. “Touch suits the Asian physique, we are not the biggest, but we are fast, nimble and agile.”
