Hong Kong Sevens: France eye first title, and why Australia are banking on Chinese proverb
French captain Paulin Riva aiming to sustain momentum after his team’s achievements last year ‘helped French people discover sevens’
The captain of France’s 2024 Olympic champion heroes, Paulin Riva, has targeted Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens glory to complete a glittering treble of titles.
Inspired by Antoine Dupont, France won last year’s HSBC SVNS Series championship, before striking gold in the Paris Games.
Minus Dupont, the French were narrowly beaten by New Zealand in the Hong Kong final 12 months ago. Since their seismic summer, Benoit Baby has replaced Jerome Daret as head coach, while Dupont and Aaron Grandidier, who was included in the 2023-24 series dream team, are among those who have made way for younger blood.
The imposing 30-year-old Riva, however, is still going strong and hungry for a landmark success at Kai Tak Stadium’s first Hong Kong Sevens.
“I want to [complete the big three], and we want to grow in every tournament,” Riva told the Post. “We have a younger team, with new players and staff, and they want to win a championship, and then, in three years, the Olympics.
“This is the biggest tournament of the season, in the new stadium with a big atmosphere. Everyone wants to play in Hong Kong, it’s the oldest tournament. So it’s very important to try to win here, because we never have.