Records set to fall in Hong Kong

Nathan Hirayama will surpass former teammate Phil Mack as Canada’s all-time leading scorer with his first points in Hong Kong this weekend. The legendary halfback pairing are currently deadlocked at 973 points, with Hirayama looking a certainty to become Canada’s first 1000 point scorer on the HSBC Sevens Series, a mark he could eclipse this weekend. Hirayama will also play in his 50th tournament, becoming the third Canadian to hit the half-century following Mack and captain John Moonlight.

Also in the race to hit 1000 points in Hong Kong is South African star Branco du Preez, who sits just ahead of Hirayama at 982 points. Tim Mikkelson returns to the New Zealand lineup and isn’t far behind with 959, though it will take a special effort to reach the mark not being a regular goal kicker. Only 16 players have achieved 1000 on the circuit previously.

The all-time overall try-scoring record is set to fall yet again, and could do so multiple times over the weekend as both current co-leaders are in action. England’s Dan Norton and Kenyan star Collins Injera are level on 244. Mikkelson is good enough for 189 and just one more will push him past Seabelo Senatla into sole possession of 5th all-time.

Other notable achievements likely to be reached in Hong Kong include a 100th Series try for Tom Mitchell, which can be reached with just one touchdown. Canada’s John Moonlight is just behind on 96 tries. Alatasi Tupou’s recall to the Samoan team gives him a very good chance of scoring his 500th career point, just six away, while Katsuyuki Sakai looks set to become the first Japanese player to reach the same mark with 492 points on his ledger. Former Australian skipper Ed Jenkins will also play his 50th tournament.

The flagship tournament of the HBSC Sevens Series kicks off at 6pm local time, 6am Eastern on Friday, April 7. A complete list of fixtures can be seen here. All matches will be streamed live by World Rugby.

 

POOL A

AUSTRALIA

Head Coach: Andy Friend
Vancouver Finish: 8
Current Rank: 6
In: Boyd Killingworth, Tom Kingston, John Porch, Charlie Taylor
Out: Mick Adams, Alex Gibbon, Tate McDermott, Brandon Quinn

Roster: Lachie Anderson, Tim Anstee, Henry Hutchison, Ed Jenkins, Simon Kennewell, Boyd Killingworth, Tom Lucas (capt.), Nick Malouf, Liam McNamara, John Porch, James Stannard, Charlie Taylor, Tom Kingston (reserve)

ENGLAND

Head Coach: Simon Amor
Vancouver Finish: 1
Current Rank: 2
In:, Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Callum Sirker
Out: Alex Davis, Will Edwards

Dan Bibby, Tom Bowen, Phil Burgess, Richard de Carpentier, Charlie Hayter, Charlton Kerr, Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Ruaridh McConnachie, Tom Mitchell (capt.), Dan Norton, James Rodwell, Ethan Waddleton, Callum Sirker (reserve)

SAMOA

Head Coach: Gordon Tietjens
Vancouver Finish: 10
Current Rank: 13
In: Tomasi Alosio, Siaosi Asofolau, Gordon Langkilde, Fa’alemiga Selesele, Alatasi Tupou
Out: Afa Aiono, Elisapeta Alofipo, La’aloi Leilua, Neria Foma’i, Lester Sefo

Tomasi Alosio, Danny Kayes, Gordon Langkilde, Tila Mealoi, Alamanda Motuga, Joe Perez, Savelio Ropati, Alex Samoa, Fa’alemiga Selesele (capt.), Samoa Toloa, Alatasi Tupou, Lafaele Va’a, Siaosi Asofolau (reserve)

SOUTH KOREA

Head Coach: John Walters
Vancouver Finish: n/a
Current Rank: n/a
In: n/a
Out: n/a

Roster: Andre Coquillard, Gu-Min Han, Sung-Jong Hong, Yeon-Sik Jeong, Dae-Won Kim, Jin-Won Kim, Jin-Yeok Kim, Jae-Bok Lee (capt.), Jeong-Wan Lee, Seok-Gyun Lee, Jong-Young Lim, Ji-Hoon You

 

POOL B

CANADA

Head Coach: Damian McGrath
Vancouver Finish: 7
Current Rank: 10
In: Tevaughn Campbell, Jared Douglas, Josiah Morra
Out: Phil Berna, Pat Kay, Adam Zaruba

Roster: Luke Bradley, Jared Douglas, Justin Douglas, Mike Fuailefau, Lucas Hammond, Nathan Hirayama, Harry Jones, Isaac Kaay, Luke McCloskey, John Moonlight (capt.), Josiah Morra, Matt Mullins, Tevaughn Campbell (reserve)

FRANCE

Head Coach: Frédéric Pomarel
Vancouver Finish: 15
Current Rank: 11
In: Manoël Dall’igna, Vincent Inigo, Pierre-Gilles Lakafia, Pierre Popelin
Out: Julien Candelon, Josias Daoudou, Jean-Teiva Jacquelin, Kelegh Moutome

Roster: Jeremy Aicardi, Jean-Pascal Barraque, Bastien Berenguel, Terry Bouhraoua (capt.), Manoël Dall’igna, Alexandre Lagarde, Pierre-Gilles Lakafia, Jonathan Laugel, Jean-Baptiste Mazoué, Stephen Parez, Sacha Valleau, Vincent Inigo (reserve)

KENYA

Head Coach: Innocent Simiyu
Vancouver Finish: 11
Current Rank: 12
In: Derick Mayar, Dennis Ombachi, Brian Tanga
Out: Willy Ambaka, Oscar Ayodi, Leonard Mugaisi, Daniel Sikuta

Roster: Eden Agero, Andrew Amonde (capt.), Collins Injera, Augustine Lugonzo, Derick Mayar, Bush Mwale, Billy Odhiambo, Samuel Oliech, Dennis Ombachi, Nelson Oyoo, Daniel Sikuta, Brian Tanga, Frank Wanyama

SOUTH AFRICA

Head Coach: Neil Powell
Vancouver Finish: 2
Current Rank: 1
In: Tim Agaba, Selvyn Davids, Ryan Oosthuizen
Out: Stephan Dippenaar, Sandile Ngcobo, Rosko Specman

Roster: Cecil Afrika, Tim Agaba, Selvyn Davids, Zain Davids, Chris Dry, Branco du Preez, Stedman Gans, Werner Kok, Ruhan Nel, Dylan Sage, Philip Snyman (capt.), Siviwe Soyizwapi, Ryan Oosthuizen (reserve)

 

POOL C

FIJI

Head Coach: Gareth Baber
Vancouver Finish: 3
Current Rank: 3
In: Setareki Bituniyata, Isake Katonibau, Joeli Lutumailagi, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Amenoni Nasilasila
Out: Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Nacanieli Labalaba, Nemani Nagusa, Alivereti Veitokani, Samisoni Viriviri

Roster: Apisai Domolailai, Isake Katonibau, Osea Kolinisau (capt.), Joeli Lutumailagi, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Waisea Nacuqu, Amenoni Nasilasila, Kalione Nasoko, Vatemo Ravouvou, Jerry Tuwai, Setareki Bituniyata (reserve)

JAPAN

Head Coach: Damian Karauna
Vancouver Finish: 14
Current Rank: 15
In: Siosifa Lisala, Jone Naikabula
Out: Ryota Kano, Kento Matsui

Roster: Jon-Moon Han, Kosuke Hashino, Siosifa Lisala, Jone Naikabula, Masahiro Nakano, Rikiya Oishi, Dai Ozawa (capt.), Katsuyuki Sakai, Kameli Soejima, Patrick Stehlin, Dallas Tatana, Yoshiaki Tsurugasaki, Hironori Yatomi (reserve)

NEW ZEALAND

Head Coach: Scott Waldrom
Vancouver Finish: 5
Current Rank: 4
In: Tim Mikkelson, Joe Ravouvou, Regan Ware
Out: Ambrose Curtis, Tone Ng Shiu, Sherwin Stowers

Roster: Dylan Collier, Sam Dickson, DJ Forbes (capt.), Iopu Iopu-Aso, Trael Joass, Vilimoni Koroi, Tim Mikkelson, Sione Molia, Joe Ravouvou, Isaac Te Tamaki, Beaudein Waaka, Regan Ware, Andrew Knewstubb (reserve)

WALES

Head Coach: Gareth Williams
Vancouver Finish: 9
Current Rank: 9
In: Billy McBryde, Jared Rosser, Morgan Williams
Out: Stefan Andrews, Lloyd Lewis, Tom Williams

Roster: Cory Allen, James Benjamin, Sam Cross, Ethan Davies, Lloyd Evans, Owen Jenkins, Luke Morgan, Ben Roach, Jared Rosser, Adam Thomas, Luke Treharne (capt.), Morgan Williams, Billy McBryde (reserve)

 

POOL D

ARGENTINA

Head Coach: Santiago Gómez Cora
Vancouver Finish: 6
Current Rank: 7
In: Santiago Álvarez, Lautaro Bazán
Out: Luciano González Rizzoni, Joaquín Riera

Roster: Renzo Barbier, José Barros Sosa, Lautaro Bazán, Lucas Belloto, Felipe del Mestre, Bautista Delguy, Fernando Luna, Nicolás Menéndez, Matías Osadczuk, Gastón Revol (capt.), Javier Rojas, Franco Sábato, Santiago Álvarez (reserve)

RUSSIA

Head Coach: Andrei Sorokin
Vancouver Finish: 16
Current Rank: 14
In: Ilya Babaev, Yuri Gostyuzhev, Vladimir Ostroushko
Out: Patris Peki, Roman Roshchin, Alexander Yanyushkin

Roster: Ilya Babaev, Stanislav Bondarev, German Davydov, Eduard Filatov, Yuri Gostyuzhev, Alexei Kapalin, Ivan Kotov, Vladislav Lazarenko, Vladimir Ostroushko (capt.), Vladislav Sozonov, Dimitri Sukhin, Vitali Zhivatov, Timur Urazakov (reserve)

SCOTLAND

Head Coach: Callum McRae
Vancouver Finish: 13
Current Rank: 8
In: Darcy Graham, Grayson Hart, Blair Kinghorn, Robbie Nairn
Out: Glenn Bryce, Gregor Hunter, Fraser Lyle, Scott Riddell

Roster: Bobby Beattie, Hugh Blake (capt.), Jamie Farndale, Dougie Fife, James Fleming, Darcy Graham, Grayson Hart, Blair Kinghorn, Ally Miller, Joe Nayacavou, Mark Robertson, Scott Wight, Robbie Nairn (reserve)

USA

Head Coach: Mike Friday
Vancouver Finish: 4
Current Rank: 5
In: Mike Te’o, Anthony Welmers
Out: Pat Blair, Walt Elder

Roster: Perry Baker, Danny Barrett, Andrew Durutalo, Madison Hughes (capt.), Martin Iosefo, Matai Leuta, Folau Niua, Ben Pinkelman, Mike Te’o, Stephen Tomasin, Maka Unufe, Anthony Welmers, Malon Al-Jiboori (reserve)