Denmark’s women produced a standout performance to claim the Melrose Claymores Sevens title in Hong Kong, overcoming Thailand 17–14 in a tightly contested final.
Played alongside the Hong Kong Sevens on the same pitch and over the same weekend, the Claymores is a three-team invitational tournament on both the men’s and women’s sides. Introduced in 2024, the competition had previously featured only Asian teams, making Denmark’s inclusion—and eventual triumph—all the more notable.
The Danes showed resilience from the outset, opening their campaign with a 14–14 draw against defending champions Hong Kong China. A narrow loss to Thailand followed, but Denmark progressed to the final on points difference.
They made the most of their second chance. In a closely fought final, Denmark got off to a fast start and a 7–0 lead. Thailand responded quickly with a converted try to level the score, but Denmark regained control with two further tries to build a 17–7 advantage. The Danish women held their nerve under late pressure from Thailand to seal a memorable 17–14 victory.
The Claymores trophy, donated by Melrose Rugby Football Club—hosts of the world’s oldest sevens tournament, first played in 1883—adds historic significance to the win, linking the origins of the sport in Scotland with one of its premier stages in Asia.
The victory caps a productive two-week training camp in Hong Kong for the Danish women’s sevens programme, which included both the national team and development players.
“We have had a fantastic couple of weeks here in Hong Kong, and we are incredibly grateful to our official strategic sponsors, Vikinor, without whom this trip would not have been possible,” comments national team coach Nina Vistisen. “We have been able to train together as a team, and the Hong Kong tournament organizers have been gracious and generous with us. Hong Kong has been a tremendous experience for the entire team—winning the Melrose Claymores tournament was the cherry on top.”
With confidence high, Denmark now turn their focus to the Rugby Europe sevens season, the climax of which will be their first-ever participation in the two-legs of the Championship, which take place in Hamburg and Split this coming July.