A Year 13 Kellett student, Maurits Kennes, represented the Hong Kong U18 boys' Rugby Sevens team at the recent Asian Games held in Taipei.
The 2023 Asia Sevens Championship, at the Taoyuan Arena in Taipei, featured 12 teams, playing over two days. Hong Kong reached the final, losing out to the United Arab Emirates 12-5.
"In the final game, the HK team felt the pressure as UAE were the favourites. Despite the cold weather and rain, the players remained resilient, we persevered, we kept playing our game," reflected Maurits.
Expressing his admiration, Jamie Hood, Head of Rugby at Kellett School and former HK Sevens captain, commented, “Maurits has grown in confidence and ability over his time at Kellett he is now a leader in the squad and it is no surprise to see him competing on the international stage.”
When asked for advice for aspiring athletes, Maurits remarked, “Know your strengths. For me it was as much about working off the pitch than on the pitch, hitting the gym and doing what you need to do to get better, focusing on areas that you're not good at.”
Maurits emphasized the significance of rugby culture in Hong Kong and how competing at the games brought the Hong Kong U18’s team closer together.
The journey to secure a place in the Hong Kong’s U18s team demands dedication, skill, and unwavering commitment. We are immensely proud of Maurits and his hard work and perseverance, which earned him a spot among Hong Kong's finest young rugby players.
