Japan aim for Asian 7s title

Hong Kong coach Anna Richards relishing "perfect" conditions in Incheon

Theopening legof the Asian Women’s Sevens in Hong Kong at the start of the month was dominated by Japan and China, who swept to the final with most opponents barely laying a glove on them – apart from Hong Kong who did manage a try against China in the semi-finals.

As a result, a Japanese win in Incheon, Korea this weekend would – to all practical purposes – wrap up the series as, unless some of the other six teams make serious improvements from three weeks ago, it seems somewhat unlikely that Japan would finish worse than third in Sri Lanka next month.

Ten of Japan’s team from Hong Kong have been selected for Incheon, Noriko Taniguchi and Ai Nakamaru being preferred this time to Yumeno Noda and Wasana Fukushima, resulting in a slightly older and more experienced squad for this round.

Japan:Mateitoga Bogidraumainadave (Arukas Queen Kumagaya) Age: 32; Aya Takeuchi (Arukas Queen Kumagaya) Age: 30; Chiharu Nakamura (Arukas Queen Kumagaya) Age: 28; Keiko Kato (Setagaya Ladies) Age: 28; Ano Kuwai (Arukas Queen Kumagaya) Age: 26; Misaki Suzuki (Tokyo Phoenix Rc) Age: 34; Noriko Taniguchi (Arukas Queen Kumagaya) Age: 24; Ai Nakamaru (Arukas Queen Kumagaya) Age: 23; Yuki Sue (Arukas Queen Kumagaya) Age: 22; Mio Yamanaka (Arukas Queen Kumagaya) Age: 20; Honoka Tsutsumi (Nippon Sport Science Univ) Age: 19; Mayu Shimizu (Nippon Sport Science Univ) Age: 18

The team most likely to upset the Japan/China duopoly is Hong Kong, and Anna Richards is targeting the final. However the loss of Aggie Poon Pak-yan  through an injury picked up in the opening tournament is a major blow, though she should be back for the series finale in Sri Lanka next month.

In addition Richards leaves out Melody Li Nim-yan , with Amelie Seure and utility back Lindsay Varty joining the squad

Hong Kong:Christy Cheng Ka-chi (captain), Natasha Olson Thorne (vice captain), Nam Ka-man, Candy Cheng Tsz-ting, Amelie Seure, Sham Wai-sum, Colleen Tjosvold, Kwong Sau-yan, Lindsay Varty, Chong Ka-yan, Adrienne Garvey, Yuen Lok- yee

Most of the rest of the teams were well off the pace, but there remains a separate promotion battle between Guam, Sri Lanka and Korea to be resolved. Each plays two tournaments, and Korea come in this weekend for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka are in the driving seat at the moment with their sixth place in Hong Kong, one ahead of Guam – who will be aiming to at least match that in this, their final tournament.  Coach Stephen Grantham is cautious, but optimistic: “Players in our expanded training squad have shown huge improvement and our results in the earlier Development Tournaments prove that we are able to compete at this higher level. That being said, it is a big step up from local rugby and some of our newer players struggled with the pace and skill levels of the best teams in Asia.”

Guam: Olivia Flores, Erica Quichocho, Cera Taguacta, Kayla Taguacta, Kimmy Taguacta, Dyonii Quitugua, Joyce Borja, Leticia Blas, Lavina Terlaje, Lavana Pieper and Brooke Pangelinan.

The tournament draw pits Japan and Hong Kong against Singapore (5thin Hong Kong) and Uzbekistan (8th) in in one pool, and China with Thailand (4th), Guam (7th) and Korea in the other.