“You have to be at a top level every day, and as soon as you lose the fight in you, you are in a bit of trouble,” Woodward said. “I think a lot about when I will stop. It is hard on the body, and there is no real let-up.
“I am in my last season, or seasons, but … I still enjoy training, and have the appetite to improve and keep my place in the team.
“We make a lot of sacrifices, but a work day for us is being outside and training at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, and you cannot beat that.”
The next Asian Games in 2026, when Hong Kong will target a third straight title, will be a “bridge too far” for Woodward. He retains hopes of Olympic qualification this year, via June’s repechage tournament in Monaco.
Hong Kong are also in contention for the top-four Challenger Series spot that would book a ticket to the Madrid-staged Grand finals, where promotion to the elite HSBC SVNS Series is up for grabs.
The closing Challenger Series leg is in Munich next month, but Woodward insisted there was no question of using the home event as a warm-up, even though the hosts are limited to playing China and Japan in the secondary Melrose Claymores competition, with no wild card places available in the main 12-team draw.
Preparing for his seventh Hong Kong Sevens, Woodward said: “We have picked a squad to win, and are taking it very seriously.
“I really liked the wild-card format, and thought it was what made sevens special. Playing those top teams is class, and what you aspire to. But we are still playing for Hong Kong, it will be competitive and fun. And [no wild cards] gives you extra incentive to reach the World Series, through the Challenger Series.”
Woodward is steeped in Hong Kong Sevens tradition. He watched as a schoolboy from the South Stand, “when under-18s were allowed”, before university days involved partying in the same location, dressed variously as a member of the Wildcats basketball team, from the film High School Musical, and a Cub Scout.
“I love everything around it, people messaging in the lead-up, and the rugby 10s in the days before,” Woodward said.
“Hong Kong kids come back from university, or abroad, with the aim of playing in the sevens. Other sports in Hong Kong do not have an event where they receive so much support. The fact we get it once every year is quite cool.”
Woodward rated the atmosphere at last year’s sevens, when Hong Kong won the Shield competition, as the best he has experienced.
“There was a big local crowd, which was brilliant,” he said. “Overseas fans cheer for Hong Kong, too, which gives us a bit of extra juice.”
Woodward will be at next year’s sevens at Kai Tak, either as a player or supporter, and he is certain the “craving for major sports events in Hong Kong” will smooth the transition to the new venue.
“The union does a superb job running the tournament, and now they have a state-of-the-art stadium at their disposal, I think it will be even better,” he said.
“At some point in future I will be planning my fancy dress for the sevens, and being a fan in the new stadium will be cool.”
