The USA 7s team is now in Hong Kong after a long flight in. New Head Coach Alex Magleby’s plan was to have the players run some touch once they hit the ground, and then work through the short week leading up to the big tournament.

No one is under any illusions about what task lies before them. They face New Zealand, South Africa and Wales in pool play.

“We’re going to focus on our core tenets,” Magleby told RUGBYMag.com. “We play touch on Monday, then we train Tuesday and Wednesday, and then the captain’s run on Thursday. So there’s not a lot of time. We better have put our time in at the OTC.”

Magleby said the key thing for him the last week or so has been to put the players in situations that test them physically and mentally, to thus allow them to learn to handle those situations. With the team changing each assembly, due to injuries, family issues, and other factors, that has to be done every assembly.

The Eagles will also find some non-tournament-specific activities to do. One will be running a session at the Hong Kong International School, where the players will work with the kids.

“That’s something everyone is looking forward to doing,” said Magleby.