Latest news with #LewisWilson
South China Morning Post
20-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong beat Kazakhstan to set up Asia Rugby Women's Championship decider with Japan
Head coach Lewis Wilson said Hong Kong were backing themselves to upset heavy favourites Japan in an Asia Rugby Women's Championship decider on Sunday, after the city team overcame dogged Kazakhstan 29-12 in steamy Fukuoka on Tuesday. Tanya Dhar, Kea Herewini and Shanna Forrest all crossed to give Hong Kong a 17-0 half-time advantage. Player-of-the-match Forrest said: 'Kazakhstan are a very physical team, but I think we executed well in certain areas and that helped us win the game.' The Kazakhs' two tries came from Oxana Shadrina and Svetlana Malezhina, either side of a score for Jess Eden, before Grace Hood wrapped up Hong Kong's success with two minutes remaining. Shanna Forrest scored Hong Kong's third try as they led 17-0 at half-time. Photo: Hong Kong China Rugby Wilson, who handed a late debut off the bench to lock Naomi Peeters, praised his side's 'physical and well-organised defence' throughout a performance that was 'testament to all the hard work we've done'. The weekend shoot-out with record six-times champions Japan, who are fine-tuning ahead of the August and September World Cup in England, will represent a significant step up for world No 17 team Hong Kong.
South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong tap potential of fresh faces for Asia Rugby Women's Championship
Hong Kong could hand debuts to as many as five players in the Asia Rugby Women's Championship this month, something head coach Lewis Wilson said highlighted the 'really exciting' potential for the game in the city. Advertisement With several senior squad members, including Natasha Olson-Thorne, either injured or resting after an intense sevens season, Wilson said some fringe players had made 'absolutely amazing progress' over the past several months. The city's women take on Kazakhstan and hosts Japan in the space of five days in this year's ARC, hoping to kick-start their next World Cup qualifying cycle after the disappointment of the WXV3 tournament in Dubai last year. Other experienced players missing the trip to Fukuoka include the Rivers sisters, Georgia and Gabriella, and Sabay Lynam. Hong Kong coach Lewis Wilson has hailed the progress of the squad's fringe players. Photo: Elson Li The likes of Naomi Peeters and Isobel Littlehailes have been brought in as replacements, while Pun Wai-yan will captain a 28-strong squad, which will be cut down from the 35 that Lewis has had training in preparation. Advertisement 'There are five potentials in there, which is awesome,' Wilson said. 'And there's probably another 10 or so in behind, not too far away either, which is really exciting.'
