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SCMP Reporter

Sevens World Cup-winning coach Paul John has been named as Gareth Baber’s successor by the Hong Kong Rugby Union, with the role doubling as the head of the elite rugby sevens athlete programme at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
John, who guided Wales to victory in the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai, replaces Baber who took over as Fiji coach last year.
The 47-year-old former scrum half spent six seasons as Wales sevens coach and is no stranger to Hong Kong having guided the side to the cup final at the 2013 Hong Kong Sevens where they lost 26-19 to Fiji having fought back from 19-0 down at half-time.
John will assume the dual roles of programme administrator at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) and Hong Kong Rugby Union’s (HKRU) men’s sevens coach next month.

“Once we knew that Gareth was going to accept the Fiji post, the HKRU began working with the HKSI to run an international executive search for his replacement,” said HKRU general manager of rugby performance Dai Rees.
“Ultimately this is an HKSI appointment, but as the involved National Sports Association, we worked closely with the Institute and were well represented on the selection panel.
Hong Kong coach Gareth Baber to replace Ben Ryan as coach of Fiji in the most sought-after job in rugby sevens
“Out of over 40 applicants for the position from around the world, Paul by far offered the most extensive experience in terms of coaching at the elite World Rugby Sevens Series level with six years at the helm of Wales, including their 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens victory in Dubai.”
John’s first experience with the Hong Kong men’s and women’s sevens squads will be at the Borneo Sevens in March, ahead of the Hong Kong Sevens in April.

Interim men’s sevens coach Jevon Groves, who was John’s captain for two seasons with the Wales sevens squad, will resume his previous position as assistant men’s sevens coach.
“Paul and Jevon know each other very well, which will help ensure a seamless transition to the Hong Kong role,” added Rees.
Gareth Baber confident he can ‘push Fiji rugby forward’ as he takes over from mastermind Ben Ryan
John represented Wales on 10 occasions, captaining the side against Canada in 1997, and previously played for Cardiff Met and Cardiff Blues before joining and captaining Pontypridd before retiring as a player in 2005.
John was appointed Wales sevens coach in 2009 and also led the side at two Commonwealth Games and the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Most recently John served as assistant coach with the Cardiff Blues after having served as the club’s interim coach in 2014, while he has also worked with the Welsh Institute of Sport and managed the talent identification and development programmes for Welsh Women’s Rugby.
“In addition to being a sevens specialist, Paul has spent the last three years in the Cardiff Blues set-up and has more than 15 years experience in coaching at a world class level,” said Rees.
“His experience managing programmes at the Welsh Institute of Sport and for the Welsh Rugby Union made him the ideal candidate for the HKSI position.”


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Sevens World Cup winner Paul John named new Hong Kong coach

Paul John as Wales coach. Photo: Welsh Rugby Union

Announcing ceremony of men's and women's squads for Hong Kong Sevens at King's Park. Dai Rees, Head of Performance and National Coach poses for a picture during the ceremony. 16MAR13

Hong Kong sevens coach Gareth Baber trains with his squad in preparation for the Olympic repechage in Monaco.

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** #4 Tsang Hing-hung(L) of Team Hong Kong with #12 Jevon Groves of Team Wales in actions during the match Wales vs. Hong Kong at the first day of the Cathay Pacific/ Credit Suisse Hong Kong Rugby Sevens 2011 Friday 25th, March 2011, at the Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay. 25MAR11

Hong Kong may have missed the boat with Gordon Tietjens, but they must find a ready-made replacement for Gareth Baber

Hong Kong are on the hunt for Gareth Baber’s replacement. Photo: AFP

New Zealand head coach Gordon Tietjens (L) answers questions beside captain DJ Forbes (R) during a press conference for the Rugby Sevens tournament in Tokyo on March 19, 2014. The Tokyo Sevens 2014, the sixth leg in the IRB Sevens World Series, will be held on March 22-23. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 22, 2016 shows Fiji's rugby sevens coach Ben Ryan (C) waving to the crowd as he walks with his team during a victory ceremony at a stadium in Suva, upon their arrival from Brazil following the Rio Olympics. Fiji has ramped up overtures August 30, 2016 to sevens coach Ben Ryan giving him land and a chiefly title to keep the popular Englishman in the South Pacific island nation. Ryan has become the most venerated person in Fiji since guiding them to their first Olympic medal when they won the sevens gold in Rio earlier this month. / AFP PHOTO / Feroz Khalil

Former Wales sevens captain Jevon Groves settling in as Gareth Baber’s Hong Kong assistant

Gareth Baber’s new assistant Jevon Groves is tackled by Hong Kong’s Tsang Hing-hung while playing for Wales at the 2011 Hong Kong Sevens. Photos: HKRU

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** #4 Anthony Haynes (L in the air) of Team Hong Kong with #12 Jevon Groves (R in air) of Team Wales during the match Wales vs. Hong Kong at the first day of the Cathay Pacific/ Credit Suisse Hong Kong Rugby Sevens 2011 Friday 25th, March 2011, at the Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay. 25MAR11

Jevon Groves

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Hong Kong celebrate winning the Sri Lanka Sevens in Colombo and the Asia Rugby Sevens Series. Photos: HKRU

Cado Lee Ka-to

Adrienne Garvey

Ryan Meacheam on the attack against Japan in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series in Sri Lanka. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens

Former Wales scrum half replaces Gareth Baber, who joined Fiji last year, having guided Wales to victory in Dubai in 2009
