Hong Kong sevens ace was sent a devastating email. Now he’s fit to take on the world
Seb Brien aims to put city top of pile again in Asia before chasing place in global elite – even if getting there just became tougher
Seb Brien has said the chance to remain best in the region is all the incentive Hong Kong need as they begin the Asia Rugby Sevens Series. It is just as well: there is further to climb to reach the global elite this time.
Not that Brien lacks motivation, having battled back from a serious injury suffered last year and managed to start a business and get married during his enforced downtime.
Now he is returning to action for the city’s men, who start this year’s Asian competition in Hangzhou this weekend.
Success in the series, which Hong Kong have won in three of the past four seasons, previously put a team in contention for World Series qualification via the Challenger Series. Brien said a longer qualifying route introduced this year was “tough and disappointing”.
“The Challenger Series meant so much, but now we’ve dropped further down,” Brien said. “It’s a dream for the whole squad [to reach the elite series]. Before, we were there or thereabouts; now, we have a lot to do.”
Hong Kong must win the two-leg Asian series to reach January’s single-leg HSBC SVNS 3, then be in the top two of that to get into the three-leg SVNS 2.