https://www.scmp.com/rss/323792/feed The Hong Kong Cup of Nations is a fifteens rugby tournament which in 2017 featured four national sides – Hong Kong, Russia, Chile and Kenya. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Hong Kong held on for a 40-30 win over Kenya to capture second place in the 2017 Cup of Nations tournament on Saturday night at Hong Kong Football Club. After a scare from the hosts in the opening round [a 16-13 win], Russia cruised past Kenya in round two and dispatched Chile earlier on Saturday, 42-11, to claim their third straight Cup of Nations title. Hong Kong jumped out to a convincing lead in the finale after tries from winger Conor Hartley and flanker Toby Fenn and a conversion and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2120534/hong-kong-hold-win-over-kenya-cup-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2120534/hong-kong-hold-win-over-kenya-cup-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Nov 2017 13:56:53 +0000 Hong Kong are expected to name a strong squad for the finale of the Cup of Nations 2017 against Kenya on Saturday at Hong Kong Football Club, starting at 5pm. The tie is the third meeting between the two sides this year after Hong Kong drew (19-19) with the Africans before edging them in the second test, 43-34, in August in Nairobi. The Kenyans will line up a similar squad as that of the second test in Nairobi earlier this year, according to Hong Kong coach Leigh Jones. “It is pretty much the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2120396/hong-kong-coach-leigh-jones-name-strongest-squad-face-kenya-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2120396/hong-kong-coach-leigh-jones-name-strongest-squad-face-kenya-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Nov 2017 09:16:23 +0000 He played a prominent role in Hong Kong’s 13-6 win over Chile in the Cup of Nations at King’s Park on Tuesday night and Sam Purvis says the transition into the national set-up has been a ‘walk in the park’. Not that the 28-year-old is suggesting the playing side of things is easy, but rather that he’s been welcomed with open arms since joining the team in Kenya in August. “I first became part of it on the Kenya trip, so I was a bit daunted to be fair because all of the boys are full-time,” he... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2119915/international-rugby-walk-park-sam-purvis-hong-kong-grind-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2119915/international-rugby-walk-park-sam-purvis-hong-kong-grind-out?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Nov 2017 14:09:44 +0000 Leigh Jones has made 13 changes to his starting 15 for Tuesday’s match against Chile in the Cup of Nations and is eager to see 25-year-old fly half Jack Neville in action from the get-go. Neville debuted off the bench in Hong Kong’s 16-13 loss to Russia in the opening round of the tournament on Friday and was impressive in the recent Asia Rugby Sevens Series. “Jack is a proven commodity as a 10 so it will be nice to have a look at him,” Jones said. “The selection is about having a look at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2119689/jack-neville-steer-ship-hong-kong-coach-leigh-jones-rings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2119689/jack-neville-steer-ship-hong-kong-coach-leigh-jones-rings?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:15:30 +0000 A bitterly disappointed coach Leigh Jones was quick to look at the bigger picture despite Hong Kong’s heartbreaking 16-13 loss to Russia in the Cup of Nations at King’s Park on Friday night. It was a last-minute penalty that sunk a gallant Hong Kong, but for Jones the progress his side has made since going down to Russia 27-0 a year ago is the most important thing ahead of next year’s World Cup qualifying. “We’re growing, we can afford to lose tonight, we can afford to lose Tuesday and we can... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2119392/hong-kong-suffer-heartbreaking-loss-russia-results-dont-matter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2119392/hong-kong-suffer-heartbreaking-loss-russia-results-dont-matter?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Nov 2017 14:30:45 +0000 Almost a year to the day since he watched on from the sidelines as Hong Kong went down to Russia, Nick Hewson will captain his side in his 50th test as the Cup of Nations kicks off on Friday. Russia are again the opponent and 33-year-old Hewson says being left out provided the motivation he needed to keep putting in the hard yards. “I’ve been working harder, I was disappointed last year when I didn’t get selected,” he said. “It was just one of those times where you have got to go back and focus... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2119184/i-would-take-win-over-50th-cap-says-hong-kong-milestone-man?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2119184/i-would-take-win-over-50th-cap-says-hong-kong-milestone-man?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Nov 2017 09:15:30 +0000 A week that started with a positivity that grew into genuine optimism for Hong Kong ended with a 27-0 loss to Russia in the Cup of Nations decider at Hong Kong Football Club on Saturday. Hong Kong coach Leigh Jones was far from dismayed by the result and is confident there has been “significant improvement” in his side despite the lopsided scoreline, but admitted Hong Kong still lack the game-breakers they long for. “It’s well documented that we lack those type of momentum players to give us go... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2047577/hong-kong-cry-out-game-breaker-cup-nations-again-ends-heavy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2047577/hong-kong-cry-out-game-breaker-cup-nations-again-ends-heavy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Nov 2016 13:30:30 +0000 The time is now for Hong Kong, with coach Leigh Jones calling for his side to stand up and make history by knocking off a tier two side in Saturday’s Cup of Nations decider against Russia. Russia have at times looked tired during a below-par week and Jones is hoping he has picked a side that can make a “huge statement”. “I think it would make history,” he said. “I attended a course in Stellenbosch [South Africa] some months ago, I know what resources are being pumped into tier two rugby. “World... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2047332/hong-kong-ready-make-history-says-leigh-jones-ahead-crunch-russia-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2047332/hong-kong-ready-make-history-says-leigh-jones-ahead-crunch-russia-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Nov 2016 11:00:45 +0000 Captain Nick Hewson is confident Hong Kong are significantly better placed to challenge for overall victory in the Cup of Nations now than they were 12 months ago. After returning to the side in a convincing 34-11 win over Zimbabwe on Tuesday night at King’s Park, Hewson was quick to turn his attention to Saturday’s series decider against Russia. “We can go in with a bit of confidence but it’s another step up playing Russia,” he said. “We are well ahead of last year. We are creating more plays,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2046271/hong-kong-captain-nick-hewson-eyes-russia-thomas-lamboley-stars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2046271/hong-kong-captain-nick-hewson-eyes-russia-thomas-lamboley-stars?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:00:30 +0000 Eighteen-year-old winger Marcus Ramage is one of three players set to debut for Hong Kong in Tuesday’s Cup of Nations match with Zimbabwe. He joins Valley number eight Thomas Lamboley and Hong Kong Cricket Club hooker Ben Roberts as the total number of new faces seen in the tournament rises to eight. Born in Hong Kong, Ramage – whose twin brother Gregor is in the Hong Kong under 20 squad – returned to the city this year from Britain to play for Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish. An impressive start... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2045815/hong-kong-coach-leigh-jones-rings-changes-cup-nations-clash-zimbabwe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2045815/hong-kong-coach-leigh-jones-rings-changes-cup-nations-clash-zimbabwe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Nov 2016 10:30:00 +0000 If you had told Will Eversfield as recently as four months ago he’d be playing 80 minutes in the second row for Hong Kong in a 51-5 drubbing of Papua New Guinea, he wouldn’t have believed you. Far from it. But, after only moving to Hong Kong in July to play for the Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers, he did all of that and more on Cup of Nations opening night on Friday. Eversfield was born in Hong Kong but moved to London three years later and was there until the Tigers came calling in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2045260/newcomer-will-eversfield-thrives-full-shift-hong-kongs-51-5-drubbing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2045260/newcomer-will-eversfield-thrives-full-shift-hong-kongs-51-5-drubbing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Nov 2016 15:15:45 +0000 At first glance, it would seem Papua New Guinea replacing Portugal in the Cup of Nations lowers the quality of the competition. PNG are ranked 69th in the world, whereas Portugal, who competed in last year’s tournament, sit 29th. On those statistics alone it would be fair to conclude that the competition is not as strong. The move to bring in PNG appears to go against everything the Hong Kong Rugby Union has been working towards at a time when it is continually reiterating how important it is to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2045126/papua-new-guineas-inclusion-cup-nations-all-part-hong-kong-rugby-unions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2045126/papua-new-guineas-inclusion-cup-nations-all-part-hong-kong-rugby-unions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Nov 2016 05:45:30 +0000 Ed Rolston – actor, writer, rugby player. It’s not your typical resume and Rolston will add Hong Kong captain to that list when he leads the side for the first time against Papua New Guinea in the Cup of Nations on Friday. It will be another milestone in a journey that has been anything but ordinary. He represented Hong Kong at 17, went on to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup for English Premiership club Leicester and then took a three-and-a-half year break from the sport. “I did a drama degree at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2044704/first-time-hong-kong-captain-ed-rolston-ready-write-his-own-script-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2044704/first-time-hong-kong-captain-ed-rolston-ready-write-his-own-script-after?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Nov 2016 02:45:15 +0000 With Hong Kong’s 2019 World Cup qualification path set to run through the Oceania region, coach Leigh Jones is relishing the addition of Papua New Guinea to this year’s Cup of Nations. The round-robin tournament, also featuring Zimbabwe and defending champions Russia, kicks off on Friday and will see Jones’ side play three games in nine days. “It’s great exposure to the northern hemisphere style of rugby – Russia are going to be very strong and very powerful – and then with PNG and Zimbabwe... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2044452/papua-new-guineas-addition-cup-nations-can-make-players-more-rounded?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2044452/papua-new-guineas-addition-cup-nations-can-make-players-more-rounded?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Nov 2016 10:15:45 +0000 In the crowd as Football Club went down to Valley by seven points in the HKRU Premiership on Saturday, Jamie Hood has put his hand up to play for Hong Kong in the Cup of Nations starting next week. Back in the city while Japan’s Top League breaks during the international window, veteran international Hood can’t wait to play with his best mates again. “I’m going back to Japan for a camp so I’ll miss the first test but I’ve been training with Hong Kong this week to try and get into the team for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2043328/im-hong-kongs-cup-nations-tilt-says-japan-based-jamie-hood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2043328/im-hong-kongs-cup-nations-tilt-says-japan-based-jamie-hood?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Nov 2016 12:15:45 +0000 A tough opening six rounds of the HKRU Premiership will ensure Hong Kong are ready to fire in the Cup of Nations, according to Kowloon flanker James Cunningham. Hong Kong take on Zimbabwe, Russia and Papua New Guinea in the round robin tournament starting next week and Cunningham, who debuted in last year’s series, is confident the side is well placed. “Personally I think the local competition has been a lot more competitive this year than last year,” he said. “Last year was only my first year... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2043009/tough-start-premiership-has-hong-kong-primed-cup-nations-says-james?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/2043009/tough-start-premiership-has-hong-kong-primed-cup-nations-says-james?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Nov 2016 06:00:15 +0000