Hong Kong call on their French connection | Women’s Rugby World Cup

For Hong Kong player Amélie Seure, victory over Japan at the Asia/Oceania qualification tournament back in December would have been extra special because it would have meant a date with her native France at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017.

Instead, it is the Sakura 15s who find themselves in Pool C with France as well as Australia and hosts Ireland, while a Hong Kong are in Pool A with 2014 runners-up Canada, four-time champions New Zealand and Wales.

llllOriginally from Grenoble, Seure is known as ‘Frenchie’ among her Hong Kong team-mates and has been part of the wider ex-pat community for 12 years.“I was only supposed to come (to Hong Kong) for four months and the next minute it’s 12 years,” she explained, still speaking with a strong French accent.

THE HAND OF FATE

Seure came to Hong Kong as a 21-year-old in 2005 on a semester from her engineering degree and it was while there, not back at home in the rugby hotbed of south-west France, where her passion for the sport really took hold.

“I played handball back in France but it wasn’t that popular over here. I played for two years but the standard of play wasn’t as high and not as challenging,” she said.

“My boss played rugby and he introduced me to a club. I arrived at the first training session and straight away I realised that there are quite a few similarities between the two sports: catching the ball, sprinting, creating space etc.”

First capped in 2008, Seure has made 28 appearances for Hong Kong at 15s and almost as many in sevens. It is the longer format of the game that she prefers though. “I can hold my own at sevens but I think my qualities are better suited to 15s,” said the second-row, who will turn 34 during WRWC 2017.

“At 1.70m tall and 72kgs, I am probably a little larger than the average player here. Unfortunately, I am not very fast and at an international level in sevens that can potentially be limiting.”

As one of Hong Kong’s more experienced players, Seure will have a big role to play in their first-ever Women’s Rugby World Cup. But whatever adversity they may face in the weeks ahead, she is confident that the group will stay united.

“What is nice about Hong Kong is that it is a very heterogeneous city and everyone is used to seeing different nationalities. Our team reflects that too. We have a few ex-pats and it makes for a very solid and close-knit group because there is an acceptance and respect for each player’s origins. Everyone sees the big picture; we are all here to represent Hong Kong and to do the country proud, it’s my second home and my rugby nation.”

Hong Kong Squad Details

Japan Squad Details