India's RPL circuit ‘will be high-quality sevens experience' for Hong Kong
Hong Kong players will be able to gain vital insights when they rub shoulders with some of the world's best sevens exponents in India in June.
Advertisement
That is the view of Paul John, the head of Hong Kong sevens rugby, who said it was imperative for his charges to acquire more experience outside the handful of do-or-die tournaments they contest every year.
Michael Coverdale, Mak Kwai-chung and Fong Kit-fung are all going to the pioneering Indian-staged Rugby Premier League (RPL), whose six franchise teams will be led by elite coaches and feature marquee international performers.
'Our players will play with and against world-class players, and under world-class coaches, in a completely different environment – which is great for their development on a number of fronts,' John said.
'They'll also mix and train with top players for two weeks before the tournament, so it'll be a high-quality sevens experience.'
Fong Kit-fung (centre) gets stuck in during training at Hong Kong Sports Institute. Photo: Elson Li
Coverdale will play under All Blacks Sevens head coach Tomasi Cama for Delhi Redz. Another New Zealander, DJ Forbes, is in charge of Hyderabad Heroes, where Fong will line up alongside Argentine powerhouse Luciano Gonzalez. Mak's teammates at Bengaluru Bravehearts include the New Zealand trio of Scott Curry, Tone Ng Shiu and Akuila Rokolisoa.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
2 days ago
- RTHK
Fatalities in stampede at Indian cricket celebrations
Fatalities in stampede at Indian cricket celebrations Victims of the stampede in Bengaluru are rushed to hospital. File photo: AFP A stampede broke out on Wednesday as a tightly packed crowd celebrated the victory of their home cricket team in the Indian city of Bengaluru, resulting in deaths, a senior government official said. India media reported as many as 11 people had been crushed to death, but Karnataka state's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he was not able to immediately confirm the exact number who had been killed. "The tragedy and death have brought deep pain and shock," Shivakumar said in a statement. "My condolences to the deceased. My condolences to their family." An AFP photographer saw vast crowds as a sea of people crammed the streets and police waved sticks. Shivakumar said "hundreds of thousands of people" had flocked onto the streets. "I have spoken to the police commissioner and everyone, I will also go to the hospital later – I do not want to disturb the doctors who are taking care of the patients," he told reporters. "The exact number cannot be told now. We appeal to the people to remain calm." Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the tragedy as "heartrending" as he offered condolences to the victims' families. Broadcasters showed police rushing away from crowds carrying young children in their arms, who had seemingly fainted. One unattended young man was sitting in an ambulance struggling to breathe. India's NDTV broadcaster said at least 11 people were killed, while The Times of India newspaper reported seven dead. "This is not a controllable crowd," Shivakumar said, speaking to reporters. "The police were finding it very difficult... I apologise to the people of Karnataka and Bengaluru. "We wanted to take a procession, but the crowd was very uncontrollable... the crowd was so much." Cricket fans had come out to celebrate and welcome home their heroes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, after they beat Punjab Kings in a roller-coaster Indian Premier League cricket final on Tuesday night. Organisers pressed ahead with the ceremony, with the team's social media account posting a video of cheering crowds as the bus full of the players – including batting legend Virat Kohli – waved back. But IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, speaking to NDTV, said organisers in the stadium had not been told about the stampede. "At the time of the celebrations inside the stadium officials there did not know what had happened... I would like to send my heartfelt condolences," Dhumal said. Shivakumar said cricket organisers had "shortened the programme". "This is a very sad incident," Rajeev Shukla, vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the national governing body, told India Today news outlet. "No one imagined that such a huge crowd would turn up." (AFP)
RTHK
27-05-2025
- RTHK
Judge in Maradona death trial steps aside
Judge in Maradona death trial steps aside Julieta Makintach said she had no choice but to recuse herself from the proceedings following the furore over her involvement in a documentary about the case. Photo: Reuters One of the three Argentine judges presiding in the trial of seven members of Diego Maradona's medical team charged with negligent homicide in the soccer star's 2020 death stepped down from the case on Tuesday amid accusations of ethical breaches, leaving the future of the proceedings uncertain. Judge Julieta Makintach stood down from the case after video surfaced in recent days showing her apparently being interviewed by a camera crew as part of a documentary in the corridors of the Buenos Aires courthouse and in her office. Court rules forbid such interviews involving a judge mid-trial. The trial began on March 11 in the South American country where the World Cup winner is a revered figure. The defendants have denied the charges of "simple homicide with eventual intent" in Maradona's treatment. If convicted, they could face prison sentences of between eight and 25 years. "This is a judicial tragedy," Fernando Burlando, a lawyer for Maradona's eldest daughters, Dalma and Gianinna, told reporters on Tuesday, referring to the judge's behavior. Prosecutors have described the care given to Maradona as reckless, deficient and unprecedented. The next steps in the trial remain unclear. Burlando said the trial could resume later this year with a new judge appointed to join the case's remaining two. Maradona, considered one of the greatest players of all time, died at home in Buenos Aires in November 2020 from heart failure at age 60 while recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot experienced days earlier. His death prompted an outpouring of grief and finger-pointing in Argentina over who was to blame after Maradona's years-long battle with addiction and ill health. Maradona led Argentina to a World Cup victory in 1986 and scored one of the most memorable goals in sporting history against England. An eighth member of the medical team faces a separate trial by jury in July. (Reuters)
RTHK
27-05-2025
- RTHK
'Everest Man' breaks own record with 31st summit
'Everest Man' breaks own record with 31st summit Kami Rita Sherpa, seen after climbing Mount Everest for the 28th time in May, 2023. File photo: Reuters A 55-year-old Nepali climber dubbed the "Everest Man" reached the peak of the world's highest mountain for a record 31st time on Tuesday, more than three decades after his first summit. "Massive congratulations to the legendary Kami Rita Sherpa on his 31st successful ascent of Everest - the highest number of ascents by anyone in history," said a statement from expedition organisers, Seven Summit Treks. "Kami Rita Sherpa needs no introduction. He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself," it added. Sherpa first stood on the top of Mount Everest in 1994 when working for a commercial expedition. He has climbed Everest almost every year since, guiding clients. Sherpa, speaking a year ago after he had climbed the 8,849-metre peak for the 29th and 30th times, said that he was "just working" and did not plan on setting records. "I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken," he told AFP in May 2024. "I am more happy that my climbs help Nepal be recognised in the world." Seven Summit Treks said he completed the climb on Tuesday as the leader of the Indian army team, adding that he "not only reached the summit himself, but also led and guided the last remaining members of the team to the top". The achievement comes as the spring climbing season nears its end. Nepal has issued more than 1,100 permits for mountaineers this season, including 458 for Everest, earning more than US$5 million in royalties. The season has so far recorded the fewest number of deaths on Everest in recent years. Two climbers, a Filipino and an Indian, have died on its high camps. (AFP)
