Hong Kong Union appoints Craig Hammond to spearhead Rugby World Cup qualification campaign
- Two-time defending champions Hong Kong must win postponed Asia Rugby Championship to enter Oceania qualification play-off
- Experienced coach Hammond eyes ‘a third straight win in the ARC, advancing our World Cup qualification and building a winning environment’
The Hong Kong Rugby Union has appointed a new interim head coach to oversee the national men’s 15s Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifying campaign scheduled for the end of the year.
Hong Kong Scottish and former South China Tigers head coach Craig Hammond will take over Andrew Hall’s duties in guiding the side through the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) and subsequent play-offs, which are still postponed indefinitely.
Hammond is extremely familiar with the Union and its men side, having served as assistant to former national coach Leigh Jones, successor Hall, and the now-axed Elite Rugby Programme professional set-up. He is also transitioning from HK Scottish coach to director of rugby, having been with the club since 2012.
“This was a role that I have shown great interest in over the past few years being involved in the set-up and coaching the Tigers and Hong Kong team,” Hammond said
“I have matured a lot as a coach ... from working with Leigh and Andy. I always said if the opportunity to coach Hong Kong was ever there, I would jump on it, so I did. But the way it has turned out with Scottish is really special.”
“It’s a pivotal year with the ARC and World Cup qualification, so stepping into that atmosphere is hugely exciting. Having been involved in the repechage in 2018, I know how much effort the squad has devoted to getting back in that position again. And that means winning the ARC,” the Kiwi said, adding that there are “more than a few unknowns” in the overall rugby calendar.
“We have many talented and smart players already vested in the set-up and more and more quality local-born players coming through. We are expecting as many as eight eligible players from the Premiership by the time the ARC rolls around, so we are confident.
“There is a lot of planning and work to be done yet and it will no doubt be a different beast as a part-time programme and with people moving on, but this changing of the guard can only create opportunities for others going forward,” Hammond said.
“It will take everyone working harder than ever towards the same goal to achieve the markers we want to set: a third straight win in the ARC; advancing out of World Cup qualification; and building a winning environment. It is a big year for Hong Kong rugby and the next few months are really important.”
Hammond cited working next to “great mentor” Jones as an important part of his “challenging and pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone” in various national and club set-ups.
The defending 2018 and 2019 ARC champions would then be put into a home-and-away play-off against the winners of the Oceania Cup – either Tonga or Samoa. If they lose that play-off, they would be seeded in a last-ditch repechage qualifier tournament.
“I’m excited to start creating environments that guys want to be in and compete. I love getting stuck into situations like this and thrive in building teams and cultures capable of performing under pressure,” Hammond said.
