Follow this page for daily updates from the April 2026 Women*s Tour to Laos and Hong Kong, including participating in the Sinak 7s and Hong Kong 10s tournaments.
itinerary
Day 1. Arrival in Vientiane, capital of Laos
Day 2. Training in Vang Vieng
Day 3. Training with Champa Ban School and Vientiane Province
Day 4. Pass It Back Delivery Day
Day 5. GAME DAY: 7s Sinak Tournament
Day 6. Depart for Hong Kong
Day 7. Arrive in Hong Kong
Day 8. GAME DAY: Hong Kong 10s Pool Matches
Day 9. GAME DAY: Hong Kong 10s Pool Matches
Day 10. GAME DAY: HK10s Qualifiers, Semi Final and Final
Day 11, 12, 13. Spectate HK7s
Day 14. Depart Hong Kong
Day 1: Arrive in Laos
April 7
At long last (and with much anticipation) tour had finally arrived! Having struggled (some more than others) to pack all of our rugby kit and personal items into a meagre 20kg of luggage allowance, the tour group awoke at ungodly hours to arrive at Gatwick for an 8:30am meet on the morning of April 6th. Luckily the travel day proved plain sailing, with both flights taking off on time to have us land in the scorching 39 degree heat of our first stop on tour - Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. Tired, dazed, sweating already, we eventually made our way through to visa and passport control, and after persevering through an hour and a half of queueing, we were finally reunited with our luggage. A warm welcome from Lao rugby followed with Viengsamai Souksavanh, a former international Lao player and now the CEO of the Lao Rugby Federation (and the first woman to hold the position) greeting us with garlands of flowers. Bex was over the moon to see her former Laos teammates (including Viengsamai) at Arrivals. We were rewarded by an afternoon baking by the hotel pool, desperate to make the most of the UV opportunity having rarely seen the sun the past winter in England. Later that afternoon, rested and rejuvenated, we had the immense privilege of a presentation from Laos rugby federation. Viengsamai spoke to us about the rugby development programmes that have been set up in Laos, aiming to support children and young adults in learning a new sport and developing leadership and life skills. Already 36,000 people have benefited from the programmes, with aims to continue expanding. She spoke about the benefits they have seen by creating safe spaces, and in particular the engagement and impact on girls and young women from rural communities. Inspirationally, over the last decade the programme has grown and continues to have a positive impact on young lives, communities and in making Laos a more competitive and inclusive rugby nation. We were so impressed to hear that Laos is the only rugby playing nation with over 50% female participation. Incredible to see women leading this transformation and so happy to be representing ourfc in this world leading context. The day was finished off with a hearty dinner and Lao beer towers at a boat-shaped restaurant on the bank of the Mekong river, before everyone, jet lagged and exhausted, collapsed into bed, looking forward to the very busy week ahead. Written by Kate Mitchell
written by kate mitchell
Day 3: BLUE LAGOON
April 9
On Thursday morning, our team rose somewhat bleary eyed at 5am to head to a sunset hike followed by blue lagoon with our lovely guide and friend Lotchana (Tina). We loaded back onto our tuktuk and rode along a pretty bumpy rode, with a beautiful sunrise, watching cows and goats in fields pass by. Having arrived at Nam Xay viewpoint, we started a hike that was definitely a good challenge, approximately 360m in about 30 minutes. The steep stairs soon eroded into dirt and rocks, and we continued climbing, which we all managed in good time despite a few much needed rests, owing to having beaten the hottest time of the day, with the temperature around 23 degrees. We took many photos at the peak, adorned with a viewing platform and motorbike photo prop, watching the beautiful red sun rise over the peak and gazing at forest stretching in every direction below. We then started our slower and more cautious descent and at the end we grabbed ourselves a congratulatory smoothie from a stand by the entrance, where they peeled fresh mangoes and pineapples in front of us, to be blended into the delicious drinks. Then, we hopped back onto our beloved tuktuk and journeyed towards one of Laos’ blue Lagoons, being the first there at 8am - early for once, we in fact arrived before official opening hours! We still managed to have a dip, and the beautiful pools had plenty of swings, ropes and jumps to enjoy. After quickly drying, we returned to our hotel for a quick breakfast, packed up, took a dip in the pool or went to souvenir shops- where the Beerlao T-shirts proved very popular with our team! Having cheecked out, we piled into vans to be driven to Nam Ngum, driving under toll roads with beautiful curved temple-like roofs. We arrived at the reservoir of Nam Ngum, and had lunch on a boat taking us around the lake, locally known as the Lao Sea, and saw the hydroelectric dam which formed it. While taking in the views, we made use of the on-board karaoke machine and blessed the boat driver and Lotchana with our karaoke skills (of varying levels…we all know in the Blues whose name does not sit well with singing…). Then, we got back in the buses and headed through fields toward the school. We arrived at the school to see many Lao children, some arriving on their mopeds, and were greeted by the Lao Rugby Federation, an incredible and inspiring team of women who warmly welcomed us with waters and snacks. We were very grateful for their time and incredible interpretation skills. We discussed the importance of rugby and social development in both the UK and Laos and Bex highlighted the importance of continuing to foster relations between Oxford University and Lao Rugby following the tour. We then headed out to train with the Pass it Back players and coaches, playing a kicking game and getting involved in a very competitive touch game, mixed in with their players and very impressed by their enthusiasm and range of skills, regardless of being new to the game. Then, we sat in on the life skills talk, an instrumental part of the programme of each session aimed to help guide players on important life topics, not just rugby, which they may not be taught in schools. Today they discussed the wellbeing of pregnant women, and it was inspiring to see how the children enthusiastically engaged with the topic, even with an audience. Incredible to see the interactive discussion and insightful reflections of the players. We then had a q&a and the players said that one of the best things about champa ban was connecting with each other and being able to talk about things in a safe space that they usually wouldn’t have the opportunity to talk about. After Bex heroically shooed cows off the rugby field, we warmed up and trained with some club players, benefitting from some useful passing drills, and we all especially appreciated their kick to hand skills. We then embarked on a short touch game, this time with OURFC against the Lao players, which was very helpful and fun for our development leading into Saturday’s 10s tournament! Having taken lots of pictures with the teams after training and discussing with them, we left with a much greater understanding of the inclusive Lao rugby culture and the importance of the bonds and crucial life skills developed there by young players, which was an incredibly touching experience to have the experience be a part of. Though we would have loved to play on with the teams, as dusk fell we (promptly to avoid the oncoming mosquitoes) got back in the vans and headed back to Vientiane. Having had much needed showers, we headed out to dinner, which we had at a food market very near the hotel. We all picked up something different from the food stalls, and it was lovely to experience and see all the different cuisines available. We then headed to a bar for some fun games and a few Beerlaos to celebrate Daisy’s birthday! A few of us carried on to a local bar to listen and dance with the locals, a brilliant way to end the busiest day of the tour so far! Water bottles filled, we kept on to Vang Vieng and arrived at the lovely Silver Naga hotel, before ditching the minivans to travel by tuk tuk to the astro to train. The heat hit us hard - while Bex sprang around as she explained 10s rules to the team, the rest of us sweated our way through training with plenty of breaks in the shade. While we managed to get our set pieces and rules for 10s down, we don't think anyone will be complaining about being too cold at training back in the UK anytime soon. Presenting the ball on the boiling hot astro even had some of us longing for the Iffley mud... Training complete, we got back in the tuk tuk and headed to lunch where we ate some more delicious Laos food, before racing back to the hotel to grab our stuff for the swimming lagoon and kayaking afternoon activities. The brave among us jumped off the high dive platforms, while everyone enjoyed the opportunity to cool off. Kayaking was next on the list - we made our way down the Nam Song in twos and only some of us got stuck on the rocks... but it was such a cool way to see some more of the Vang Vieng landscape even while beached! Disembarking at the hotel, the team raced to the pool for the long awaited pool lineouts or 'extra training reps' after the morning’s session. Following Tina once more, the team hit the night markets for some food with delicious Laos hotpot featuring on the menu. After a long day of Vang Vieng exploring, a tired but happy OURFC squad headed back to the hotel ahead of the 5am wake up the next day for the sunrise hike. Written by Daisy Heintz
written by Elysia Ellis
Day 5: pass it back coaching clinic
April 11
Match day. OURFC rose bright and early (though not quite as early as our 5am hike) to fuel ourselves with a lovely hotel breakfast in preparation for the major part of the Laos leg of the tour: the tournament. Following a lovely breakfast and frantic application of sun cream and bug spray, the team piled into a Tuk Tuk to head to the pitch. Enroute, Bex delivered the plan for the U16’s coaching clinic that was to be run by OURFC before our tournament; the plans were relayed and (mostly) understood, and we prepared for our roles as coaches and development leaders for the young women of the three Vientiane rugby clubs who were participating in the session. The clinic itself was a great success. To start, the OURFC team introduced themselves, and discussed the key values for the training session; Lao players and Oxford players alike settled on three things to hold each other and themselves accountable to; Togetherness, Strength, and Having Fun. Then, moving on, all members involved came together for a group warmup, where Bex introduced the U16’s to a strength, cardio, and knee injury prevention based warm up. Captain CMH then led everyone in a series of stretches to finish the warmup. With the hot midday sun beating down on us, we moved into the session proper. Bex led the OURFC team to run 4 stations, each lasting around 7-8 minutes, with the groups of U16’s rotating between them. The girls showed great aptitude during the training, and quickly learnt a lot from the OURFC members who coached and supported them through each drill despite the language barrier. Great effort was put in by all involved, resulting in a very productive beginning to the session. Moving on to the middle part of the session. The U16’s split into two large groups and began a defensive square drill, designed to develop communication and movement from both the defence and attack. Initially, this took some time to understand, but with the help of our wonderful translators, the determination of the Lao girls, and the useful demonstrations from OURFC members, all involved quickly excelled at the drill. A much needed water break followed, and then quickly back to two games of kicking touch. Members of the Oxford team explained the drill and demonstrated to the U16 girls. They took to the drill fast, aided by OURFC direction, resulting in some games of quick attacking action. This took us to the end of the session. We finished by gathering in the shade (the sun was getting to us all at this point) to reiterate the discussions that had arisen at the beginning of the session. Sat in a circle, passing around much needed bags of ice to place on our necks, we all discussed our values. Bex and our translators opened the conversation to the floor, with the Lao and Oxford girls pointing out examples of the values that they had seen displayed. After this, photos were taken and praise given; the effort by all involved was monumental, and everyone should be incredibly proud for the genuine dedication and application they displayed during this session. The Lao girls got to experience high level coaching from a high level university team and this impact was observable through the way they progressed in their rugby. Coaching session ends, food is sought. A group of hot and hungry OURFC players went to explore lunch options with members of the Lao rugby team and pass it back organisation once the coaching clinic was over. Together we headed to a local eatery, recommended by some of our Lao friends, to fuel ourselves before the matches commenced. The menu was entirely in Lao, and Google translate became the main phone usage for the next 40 minutes. Eating together, OURFC and Pass it Back members really solidified the connection we have been steadily building throughout this tour; sharing food, game tactics, and conversation was a lovely way to calm our pre match nerves.
written by eve MacLeod
Day 6: so long laos, hello hong kong!
April 12
Knowing a sad day lay ahead we had made the most of our last full day in Laos the day before - coaching, playing, connecting with our Laos rugby sisters, and then celebrating long into the night….. We were awoken by Laos Rugby Federation in the hotel reception returning a not-insubstantial sum of cash that had been mistakenly left in a kit-swapped rucksack to a young Laos player - our players demonstrating that an implicit kindness far outweighs our attention to detail. Our hosts were typically gracious, kind, discreet and speedy in their response. Our last hotel breakfast of pho noodles, rice, coffee, juices was much appreciated before deciding on how to spend our final morning in Vientiane. Players chose a combination of visiting temples, jewellery shopping and massages. Uncertainty about Laos massage etiquette led to some comedic exchanges, insistence on clothing removal, dropped AirPods, and a surprising and unique offer to our resident medic, who despite professional curiosity ultimately declined. Our Laos hosts Tina and Vaen kindly accompanied us to the airport where our combination of nationalities, plan of a speedy transit through China and the fact we didn’t have ongoing tickets to Hong Kong proved a step too complex for the check in desk, and we were faced with a delay for our favourite US national. We argued, ultimately successfully, that it would mean a lot of paperwork and after all she was far too cute for us to leave behind. While we showed solidarity and waited with her at check-in, we bid a fond farewell to Vaen and Tina with massive hugs, tears and assurances that we would find a way to see them again, with the annual Vientiane 10s being a strong contender. Our American friend was finally fortunately allowed to break away, charging through to the closing gate, manfully and single-mindedly ignoring the opportunity to buy airport hamburgers, with only seconds to spare, while the rest of us left chaos in our wake - being chased by airport staff, having left trolley bags and linen trousers behind at security. Having missed lunch, the airplane boxed meal proved popular and luckily nut free as OURFC players (and coach) hoovered up all available food with a ferocity of appetite rarely, if ever, seen before on South China Airlines. On arrival, the authorities finally let us all (including our American friend) leave the airport, where we were greeted by prearranged waiting taxis. I’m writing this as we are driving the last part of our journey into Hong Kong. Reflecting that amongst the multiple tours I have been on over the years, this Laos trip has been the most special. Not just crazy fun, fantastic training and rugby, bonding and memories for our team, but seeing the women that I first met almost a decade ago transform how sport is done, not just at the elite level but across communities and the impact it has had on young people from challenging and rural backgrounds is remarkable. The challenge to all of us is to learn from their example - women leading sport with wisdom, kindness and generosity. They understand the power of sport for bringing people together, building resilience, confidence, trust, and a sense of voice, agency and leadership that the children on the programmes as well as young adult coaches rarely have the opportunity to experience. The success of the programme in terms of participation particularly of females speaks for itself. Women and girls are encouraged to participate in this programme due to the huge amount of work and attention to detail of the programme proving that it is trustworthy and safe. There is so much we can learn from them and hopefully contribute to spreading the news and demonstrating the impact so that this fantastic work can continue and spread. Who knows what Hong Kong will bring, but one thing is for certain - it's got one hell of an act to follow.
written by bex syed-sheriff, team manager
Day 8: hk10s day one
April 14
The day started with breakfasts from the new found favourite shop of the OURFC team, 7-Eleven, which consisted of a healthy amount of raisin buns, boiled eggs and chocolate milk (very different from the breakfasts in Laos last week!!) With Ubers ordered, and hair plaited, we headed off to Hong Kong Football Club for our next training session where we would be joined by more of the invitational players from around the world. Before we made our way onto the pitch to begin training, we were approached during our hype time by a physio asking us who our physio was, and to his shock, we didn’t have one. The confusion and fear clouded his eyes as he realised that we were a team run by students and Bex. Bex marched the combination team of OURFC members and the international invitationals onto the pitch where training ensued. Line outs were practiced and set plays were ran as we started to gel together as a team. Post-training included some pool and Jacuzzi time (with a very chilly dip in the cold tub) and making friends with other teams in the tournament. The downtime before the preparation for our opening match allowed us to grab some lunch at the restaurant in the HKFC with players feasting on a selection of pizza, noodles, bolognaise and club sandwiches. Players also took some time to calm their nerves in the HK10s village before the match. 3pm hit and rules were explained, team chats were had, more introductions, and unfortunately for Scowen she learnt along with the rest of the team that she was to be team physio with Bex as supporting medic.
written by eve "dundee" wood
Day 2: Exploring Laos
April 8
OURFC's first full day in Laos started bright and early - hotel breakfast at 8am was delicious as everyone filled up on a mixture of noodles, pho, fried rice and more. We then jumped into the minivans at 9am for our transit to Vang Vieng, with a cheeky stop at a pharmacy to buy a 50 pack of rehydration salts ahead of our first training session in 36 degree heat, with the help of our lovely cultural liaison officer Tina! Water bottles filled, we kept on to Vang Vieng and arrived at the lovely Silver Naga hotel, before ditching the minivans to travel by tuk tuk to the astro to train. The heat hit us hard - while Bex sprang around as she explained 10s rules to the team, the rest of us sweated our way through training with plenty of breaks in the shade. While we managed to get our set pieces and rules for 10s down, we don't think anyone will be complaining about being too cold at training back in the UK anytime soon. Presenting the ball on the boiling hot astro even had some of us longing for the Iffley mud... Training complete, we got back in the tuk tuk and headed to lunch where we ate some more delicious Laos food, before racing back to the hotel to grab our stuff for the swimming lagoon and kayaking afternoon activities. The brave among us jumped off the high dive platforms, while everyone enjoyed the opportunity to cool off. Kayaking was next on the list - we made our way down the Nam Song in twos and only some of us got stuck on the rocks... but it was such a cool way to see some more of the Vang Vieng landscape even while beached! Disembarking at the hotel, the team raced to the pool for the long awaited pool lineouts or 'extra training reps' after the morning’s session. Following Tina once more, the team hit the night markets for some food with delicious Laos hotpot featuring on the menu. After a long day of Vang Vieng exploring, a tired but happy OURFC squad headed back to the hotel ahead of the 5am wake up the next day for the sunrise hike. Written by Daisy Heintz
written by daisy heintz
Day 4: TEMPLES
April 10
The team awoke, some more bleary-eyed than others after a night out sampling local culture in Vientiane, for another delicious breakfast at Chanthapanya Hotel. Highlights included Pho noodle soup and dragon fruit. We set out in our tuk-tuk for a cultural tour of Vientiane. First, the beautiful 19th century Buddhist temple Wat Sisaket, housing thousands of ornate Buddhas and surrounded by a peaceful cloister where some of the team found a much-needed opportunity for calm contemplation and meditation. We then hopped back into our ride to travel to the Patuxai (literally, Victory Arch), a war monument in the centre of the city completed in 1968 and dedicated to soldiers who lost their lives in the war for independence from French colonialists. From afar, it looks like Paris's Arc de Triomphe, but on closer inspection it is decorated with Laotian symbolism and mythological figures. Better acquainted with the history and culture of the city, we went onto a lunch hosted by Lao Rugby Federation (LRF). This week, the city is celebrating Pi Mai Laos (Lao New Year), and as such we were lucky enough to experience a Baci ceremony (Sou Khuan), a traditional Lao blessing ritual that brings a person's 32 souls back to their body, during which we tied white strings to each other's wrists and shared things we wished for the New Year. The lunch was hosted by LRF's president, its senior committee, and coaches and players involved in LRF and Champa Ban (Pass It Back). It was wonderful to hear from them about the program, the positive impacts it is making on women and girls in Laos - and also to see a country where women are leading Rugby. Sharing a meal cooked by the team (which was ແຊບຫຼາຍ /saap laai/ - very delicious!), learning traditional Laos dances and exchanging our favourite dances, and a full blown dance circle under disco lights and Lao x Oxford karaoke performances were also highlights. Our next stop was Nong Beuk school, where we participated in a training session with the children. The girls' enthusiasm and joy during the session in the baking sun was infectious, and if it was not already clear how important and valuable this charity is for the community, this session reinforced it. After the session, was another Life Skills session. The curriculum of 16 sessions covers topics not taught in schools. This session on STIs taught about consent, how to protect themselves in relationships, and safe sex practice. The sessions are also linked directly to the rugby training; this time, a drill where communication was banned versus a second iteration where it was encouraged was used to evidence the importance of communication in relationships. We felt lucky to be so welcomed by the coaches and players, and enjoyed not only the rugby (a final game of tag had the 10 year old kids running rings around us, and warning us to tighten our defensive line (in our upcoming tournament), but also playing with the children and a water fight. We went onto our own training, an intense, progressive and sweaty session led by Coach Bex. We were joined by two senior Laos players who pushed our standards and helped us feel more prepared for our matches the next day. Then, back to the hotel for a much needed shower before a local dinner to celebrate team member Daisy's 21st birthday, complete with live music, an acoustic performance of happy birthday, and the second birthday cake of the day. And finally - an early night and recovery for the big matches tomorrow.
written by Charlotte Scowen
match reports
April 11
Kickoff steadily approaching, we gathered ourselves and headed back to the pitch. Proudly wearing our tour kit, we began our warmup, led by captain CMH; this warmup was very similar to the one we did in our U16’s coaching clinic, and it was lovely to see some of the girls who had stayed behind to watch recognising the stretches and routines! After warming up in the sun, we decided to finish our stretches in the shade, something the Lao teams in the tournament had the good sense to do from the beginning. Warmup finished, we came together for final encouragements and tactics before entering the pitch. Game one. Oxford won the toss and chose to kickoff, a tactic that ended up working very much in our favour. We quickly pushed up, chasing the kick with intensity. The pressure we displayed kept the opposition within their own five meters for the next two minutes, before a handling error by them saw a loose ball which I scooped up and planted over the line. First try for Oxford, and not the last. Back to kickoff, we repeated this effort and Captain CMH ran a lovely line resulting in our second try. Honourable mention to Kim who followed this immediately with a strong drive through their defensive line to the try line, but unfortunately got confused by the markings and carried into the dead ball area (not to worry, her later tries more than made up for it). We kept a strong and consistent attack throughout the rest of the first and second half, with strong forward carries (huge effort particularly from Dundee, Scowen, and Charlie LV) paired with fast back moves. The match finished with seven tries to OURFC, zero to Vientiane Gold Crabs. Not a bad run out for our first proper match playing 10’s rugby, if I do say so myself! A much needed water and ice break followed where we discussed our strengths and challenges displayed in the match to take forward into the second and final match of the day. We ran through some backs drills for the forwards who tried their hand at being a back; recognition really needs to be given to Liv and Kim who took everything thrown at them in their stride, despite being out of position, to deliver a very good run as backs. Our second and final match. Still hot, still, sweaty, still very ready to play our best, the Blues ran out to begin the second game. This was a much harder game against the Vientiane Lions, a team which contained some members from the Laos national team and who should be recognised for their ability and speed. Their small stature made tackling even more difficult when combined with their general skill, and we had to make great effort to get low (which admittedly did not always happen, as observed though my much deserved penalty for a high tackle). Despite the step up in difficulty, the Blues still managed to get the first point on the board with a brilliant running try by CMH. This was quickly followed with a strong scrum from our forwards and a set piece back move which saw winger Kate run in another try. Yet, our opposition responded strongly, running a try past our defence, which was beginning to tire in the relentless heat. Half time was very much a time for reflection, hammering in our need to keep our structure in attack and defence as strong as possible. Positive feedback was exchanged to keep up morale, and Oxford entered the second half determined and ready. An immediate try from Kim following kickoff set the tone for the second half. We were the stronger and more physical team despite the Lao players being faster and more agile, and we played to this strength. Our forwards forced through a number of tries with their hard leg driving, and our backs continued to run through their lines. We conceded another try, but a monumental effort by the Blues saw us through. Overall score five tries to Oxford, two to the Vientiane Lions. Post match photos were taken and we sat ourselves in a circle to discuss the strong and persistent performance we had displayed. In particular I’d like to give a huge shoutout to Bex, for teaching us the fundamentals of 10’s rugby and giving us the ability to perform the way we did in this tournament through her focus on values, coaching and support. We as a team would also like to extend a huge thank you to all involved with the tour who’ve helped make sure it happens, especially to our captain CMH, as we have ended our Laos leg very much on a high. We followed our post match discussion with a kit swap, where the team gifted the Lao girls OURFC kit in exchange for kit from the Vientiane clubs. The exchange was incredibly emotional and it was so lovely to leave a physical part of our club with these girls alongside the impact we left on their rugby development. Following this, a core member of pass it back, and an old friend of Bex who she played with in early years, invited the team to her home for a Laos New Years celebration. We were incredibly grateful and proud to have been given the honour to enter the home of, and meet the family of Lao Kang, and she was an incredible host. OURFC members helped prepare food in her kitchen, before the party truly started, with lots of beer, music, and numerous water gun fights. We were involved in a New Year toast where we spoke a few words about what we were grateful for. More partying ensued, and celebrations continued into a late dinner and bar trip (no more on this will be said!). Today was an utterly incredible experience for all those involved with the tour and I’m certain that these memories will live strongly on the minds of all. To witness the impact that OURFC has had for local rugby teams through the pass it back organisation has been incredible to see, and it has been equally wonderful to challenge ourselves with adapting to the style of tens rugby that is not as familiar to us as our usual fifteens! Once again, a huge thank you to all who have helped make this trip happen; the relationships we have created in Laos are ones we hope to continue as a club for a very very long time!
written by eve MacLeod
Day 7: hong kong
April 13
OURFC’s first day in Hong Kong started with a well-deserved and well- appreciated lie in, although admittedly it was longer for some than others. However despite any morning slowness, the team quickly jumped into action to take on the challenge of the Hong Kong metro. We started our adventure exploring the Mong Kok Ladies market, and many cups of boba tea and a few bags later, the team sat for some lovely dumplings We then made our way through Kowlook park to the Star ferry to travel back to our hotel to meet two very exciting (although very tired ) guests. We welcomed Lucy and Mel and all got ready to travel to Hong Kong Football club for a first training session before the matches on the 14th. Training next with coach Bex, where we met three of our invitational players, Maddie, from Australia, PY from Hong Kong , and Fi, a Scottish national player. An intense training session ensued, setting the scene for the matches tomorrow. After a quick exploration of the many amenities the club had to offer, we then headed to a team dinner near the club, to share some traditional Hong Kong dishes, the restaurant having been recommended to us by PY as her team’s post-match ritual. After travel back, and a reconvening in one room to welcome back Sky Stewart-Roberts, we all headed down for an early night, for some much needed rest before tomorrow!
written by charlie luxford-vaughan
match reports: hk10s day 1
April 14
Shirts distributed, water bottles refilled, electrolytes and gels had and we were ready to head to warm up on the famous HK football club whilst the opening ceremony began. The opening ceremony included a wonderful performance involving drums and a giant dragon showing some of the amazing culture in Hong Kong. Time for kick off… OURFC vs New Zealand legends, the first game of the tournament. It was a hard fought game by our girls but the fully stacked New Zealand squad featuring the one and only Portia Woodman-Witcliffe, plus the incredible Ruby Tui, proved to be a difficult challenge for our players with the legends blazing through on the wings; however, we held them strongly in the middle, with a huge effort from the defence. The encouraging half time chats rallied the team through the challenges of the game and the Blues started the second half with high spirits and lots of support from the crowd, including the Danish 7s team who were friends of some of our invitationals! The second half was another master class by the New Zealand legends and OURFC fought hard but ultimately, the score went the way of the legends, coming to a respectable 47-0. The break between the games gave time for exploring the fan and players village as well as watching the other matches of the women’s pools. The talent on show was immense with international players from all over the world including Australia, GB, New Zealand, and Germany, which provided some exciting matches. Then it came time to warm up for our second match against the home side, Hong Kong Football Club. We knew this match was going to be difficult as the team included some impressive international talent. The OURFC women were ready and rearing for this match with intent and purpose as they walked out onto the pitch. This game highlighted the strength and fearlessness of the our defence, but unfortunately we fell behind at half time. The second half showed heart and determination from the girls, with some brilliant defensive effort yet again, but the final score of 22-0 showed just how much talent is on show at this tournament. After our final match of the day, we regrouped as a team and decided on what we wanted to attack the next day and what our intentions were going into day 2 of the tournament. Recovery and team bonding after the match day included some TikTok dancing for the HK10s Instagram, ice baths and dinner provided in the players village. Overall, the day showed how much heart and love of rugby our teams has and how grateful we are to be able to experience this as a squad and with our invitational friends.
written by eve "dundee" wood
Day 9: hk10s day two
April 15
Blog post in progress!
written by Liv Rosin
Day 10: hk10s day three
April 16
Blog post in progress!
written by Jess chiriboga
Day 10: spectating at hong kong 7s
April 17
After all the excitement of the Hong Kong 10s tournament -and an admittedly long night for some- the Friday started very slowly. A small group ventured into the city for some long-awaited sightseeing, including shopping and a visit to Kowloon Walled City Park, while others lounged by the pool in the morning before heading directly to Kai Tak Stadium via ferry at lunchtime. Armed with our three-day passes to the famous Hong Kong Sevens tournament, and excited to be spectators this time, we were all ready for some first-class rugby. And oh, did it deliver. Twelve men’s and twelve women’s teams, representing nations from across the globe, showcased some exceptional athleticism. With Friday being the first day of pool matches, the stadium wasn’t quite at full capacity, which meant we could move around freely and soak up the vibrant energy. Some great performances by PRIMROSE and Gwyn Dorado even had us singing along at full volume. We were also delighted to be reunited with the wonderful Danté K, whom we first met earlier this year in Oxford when she photographed us around the city (making us look even cooler than usual, which is no small feat). We all had dinner together on the way back to the hotel, sampling some local Cantonese delicacies. And then, sensibly for once… straight to bed.
written by Kim López Güell
Day 10: Super Saturday at the 7s
April 18
Super Saturday at the 7s. The earliest start of the Hong Kong leg confronted us this morning, a 6:30am wake up call and strict orders to suit up in full pirate attire for the legendary Super Saturday of Hong Kong 7s! Huge thanks must go to Liv - her costume mood board was the wind in our sails. The mission for today was simple: get into South Stand & then stay in South Stand - to soak up the 7s atmosphere at its best. Despite our usual flexible interpretation of the lobby meet time, in a first of the tour we were actually too early & instead of long queues awaiting us at Kai Tak sports park at 7:30am, it was long rows of empty seats. After a few hours of napping and challenges for the day delegation (on which I can't elaborate as I was indeed fast asleep), the action finally kicked off at 9:30am. We had a few warm up matches to practise motivational chants and crowd management measures, before the GB women took to the pitch. (When I say G you say B, G? B! G? B!) Unfortunately our gentle words of encouragement were not quite enough to prevent a loss against a strong South African side. We were quickly cheered up, however, by the opportunity to support our favourite photographer (second, if Steve Karpa is reading this): Dante Kim, who has her camera trained on the Canada women this week. Can't wait to see the results! It is relevant to note that around this time, Jess entered the queue after a few extra hours of beauty sleep. Whilst Jess bravely waited her turn to be served by the one in one out system, the rest of us were treated to a 30-minute set from the Vengaboys that had us all out of our seats. We like to party! Jess finally made it into the stands after a solid 4-hour shift in the queue. The rugby resumed with a high-stakes 9th place quarter-final: a rematch between GB women and South Africa. With lightning-fast feet and some intelligent play, the GB women stormed to their first victory in 351 days! Other highlights included cameos from our international invitationals, reunions with ex-OURFC Blues and the generosity of the Fijian supporters. Lowlights include $48 muffins (HKD, but still), the occasional reluctancy of the crowd to sing along with us and unfortunately, Tabs. For dinner we returned to Ming Kee for an eclectic spread, consistently solely of sweet & sour pork or flat rice beef noodles. If it ain't broke & all that ... Some of the "young and fun" contingent ventured off to sample the local night life whilst the rest of us settled in to recharge ready to do it all again tomorrow - hopefully with a more leisurely start.
written by lucy hamer
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OURFC would like to thank the donors listed below who have generously supported the tour
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Professor Irene Tracey, CBE
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