Both the SAR men's and women's teams won an invitational in style at the first Hong Kong Sevens at Kai Tak Stadium on Sunday.

The local squads drew some of the loudest cheers from an electric home crowd, as the men's team successfully defended their Melrose Claymore title.

In the final against the national team, Hong Kong, China conceded a try in the first half but quickly bounced back, racing to a 14-5 half-time lead.

The SAR scored three more tries against China after the break to come away 35-5 winners.

Max Denmark scored one of those second-half tries.

"I just saw the ball in front of me and the try line's so close, so all I can think of was I've got to get over there," he told RTHK.

"Scoring at home, in this stadium, hearing the crowd is the best feeling on the planet."

The women's team took advantage of a Kazakhstan player being sent off in the first half to score a 45-5 victory in the final.

Co-captain Natasha Olson-Thorne scored a try for the SAR.

"When you're going through, there's a moment when you break through and you're like, am I in the clear? And you're like, yes, yes I am. And I could hear (teammate) Chong Ka-yan behind me going, you've got this, keep going," she told RTHK.

"So it's good to have that confidence from the team, to know that they back you, it's quite special."

SAR co-captain Chloe Chan hailed the win, calling it a total team effort, adding that they now turn their focus to the National Games in November.

The Hong Kong, China women's squad improved from their runners-up finish a year ago.
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Last updated: 2025-03-30 HKT 18:00