https://www.scmp.com/rss/507482/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong will host another significant rugby tournament this year, with the game’s global governing body awarding the city the WXV Challenger in September. The two-week tournament, featuring some of the best women’s teams in the world, including Hong Kong, is expected to be held at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground. Announcing the decision on Sunday on the sidelines of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson called the WXV a “very, very important competition” for his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3350611/world-rugby-boss-robinson-hails-hong-kongs-global-influence-wxv-announcement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3350611/world-rugby-boss-robinson-hails-hong-kongs-global-influence-wxv-announcement?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:09:38 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Revenge was the word on the lips of the Hong Kong players after they paid the price for an untidy performance in their 14-7 loss to Japan at a partisan Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday. Unless China inflict a fairly heavy beating on Japan early on day three of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, these two teams are poised for a speedy rematch in Sunday afternoon’s Melrose Claymores final. And the prospect of a quick-fire second shot at their arch-rivals swiftly erased the stench of defeat for the city... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350583/hong-kong-eye-revenge-after-japan-shock-partisan-kai-tak-stadium-crowd?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350583/hong-kong-eye-revenge-after-japan-shock-partisan-kai-tak-stadium-crowd?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Haruka Uematsu said she felt as though she was in a dream standing on the pitch at Kai Tak Stadium after being called on in a 24-12 loss to Thailand during the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens on Saturday. There was double delight for debutant Uematsu, who scored late on in front of a raucous South Stand in her side’s Melrose Claymores defeat. “The moment I was called upon, I knew I had to clear my mind so that I could stay focused and listen only to my teammates’ voices in a very noisy stadium,”... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3350578/cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens-dreamlike-debut-haruka-uematsu-despite-thailand-loss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3350578/cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens-dreamlike-debut-haruka-uematsu-despite-thailand-loss?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Aden Ekanayake acknowledged careers were on the line at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, but challenged his Australia team “to stay on the winning train” and dispel any relegation fears. The bottom four finishers in the three-leg HSBC SVNS World Championship, which is beginning with the Hong Kong tournament, will be condemned to impoverished second-tier rugby next season. But the towering 21-year-old figure of Ekanayake said his team, who finished third in the regular season standings, should... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350534/australia-star-acknowledges-players-careers-line-cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350534/australia-star-acknowledges-players-careers-line-cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:19 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Rory Stewart-Cox said Hong Kong would aim to “lay down a marker” when they meet Asian Games hosts Japan at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday. Earning his third cap, Stewart-Cox scored the pick of Hong Kong’s six tries on Friday as the city team began their Melrose Claymores campaign with a 36-14 demolition of overmatched China. Evading four challenges as he sprinted half the length of the pitch, Stewart-Cox touched down to banish the frustration of an injury-hit past six months. “It’s been an... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350536/cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens-hosts-aiming-put-down-asian-games-marker-against-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350536/cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens-hosts-aiming-put-down-asian-games-marker-against-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:00:17 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Out of public view beneath Kai Tak Stadium’s South Stand, Germany’s players huddled around Pablo Feijoo and listened to the head coach tell them they should not be surprised by the speed and ferocity they had just encountered. Among those listening to the Spaniard address his squad in English following their 42-5 defeat by Fiji was Niklas Koch, the captain who combines trying to put rugby on the map in a football-crazy country with working as a policeman. Stepping away from the debrief, he... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350485/cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens-german-star-combining-rugby-police-duties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350485/cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens-german-star-combining-rugby-police-duties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:00:09 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport After all the talk, and there has been plenty, it’s finally time for the serious business of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens to get started – and while the players work hard, the fans are undoubtedly going to play hard. For the teams, it’s the opening leg of the newly created HSBC SVNS World Championship. Points have been reset, sides have been added, and the sprint to the finish in Bordeaux in June begins today. South Africa won the men’s regular season title, and in much less of a shock, New... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3350388/cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens-all-eyes-blitzboks-black-ferns-early-day-1?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3350388/cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens-all-eyes-blitzboks-black-ferns-early-day-1?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:00:34 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara South Africa captain Impi Visser believes World Rugby’s “confusing” closed-shop sevens model has stunted the sport’s growth. The elite HSBC SVNS Series was cut from 12 to eight teams this season, although for three concluding World Championship legs, which begin with this week’s Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, the numbers are back up to 12. The streamlining has had a damaging knock-on effect, with second-tier teams limited to three competitive tournaments, unless they gained promotion to feature... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350185/south-africa-captain-impi-visser-believes-changes-sevens-format-confusing-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350185/south-africa-captain-impi-visser-believes-changes-sevens-format-confusing-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:18:23 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Jevon Groves has a “burning desire” to help Hong Kong make their Olympic sevens qualifying breakthrough, but the head coach said he would review his future following the 2028 Games cycle. The city team contested a full-blooded friendly training match against Fiji at Football Club on Wednesday as part of their preparations for the exhibition Melrose Claymores tournament, which will also feature Japan and China, at next week’s Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. It is illustrative of the increasingly... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3349400/hong-kong-7s-coach-has-desire-olympics-first-targets-kai-tak-asian-games-double?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3349400/hong-kong-7s-coach-has-desire-olympics-first-targets-kai-tak-asian-games-double?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Fresh from being honoured at the Hong Kong Coaching Awards last weekend, Paul John said he still had unfinished business as head of the city’s sevens programme. Into his 10th year in the role, John was rewarded with the best team coach prize after Hong Kong’s men claimed National Games gold and strolled to Asia Rugby Sevens Series success in 2025. This year began on a low note, however, when the city team narrowly lost an HSBC SVNS 3 semi-final to Canada, costing them promotion to the second... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3347627/hong-kong-sevens-head-has-unfinished-business-underlines-world-and-olympic-aims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3347627/hong-kong-sevens-head-has-unfinished-business-underlines-world-and-olympic-aims?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong rugby bosses believe they can be successful on several fronts over the next 18 months, despite a relatively small player pool and the setting of some ambitious targets. While preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup are likely to dominate the headlines for the next year and more, the city’s men also have their eyes on retaining their Asian Games sevens title and reaching the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Officials have spent the past six months thrashing out what that entails in terms of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3343190/olympic-sevens-and-world-cup-ambition-can-go-hand-hand-hong-kong-rugby-bosses-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3343190/olympic-sevens-and-world-cup-ambition-can-go-hand-hand-hong-kong-rugby-bosses-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:42:38 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong head coach Logan Asplin is under no illusions as to the “harsh reality” his side will face over the next 18 months as they prepare for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The tournament’s opening game against Australia on October 1, followed by Chile and then the All Blacks two weeks later, will be preceded this year and next by Test matches against higher-ranked opposition in the Nations Cup and as many training games as can be arranged before the main event. The side’s South American rivals in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3342396/hong-kong-ready-harsh-reality-rugby-world-cup-coach-proud-progress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3342396/hong-kong-ready-harsh-reality-rugby-world-cup-coach-proud-progress?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:02:41 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong head coach Logan Asplin said he was as surprised as anyone to learn his team had been handed the daunting task of facing Australia in the opening game of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Asplin also acknowledged that the neutral supporter would not necessarily “go out of their way” to watch what promises to be a singularly one-sided affair. Officials released the match schedule on Tuesday, pitching the game in Perth on Friday, October 1, between debutants ranked No 22 in the world and a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3342163/hong-kong-face-australia-opening-game-2027-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3342163/hong-kong-face-australia-opening-game-2027-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:44:46 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Hong Kong have suffered more rugby sevens heartbreak, surrendering a late lead to lose 24-19 to Canada in sudden-death extra time of their crunch HSBC SVNS 3 semi-final on Sunday. Head coach Jevon Groves’ side were 19-14 in front with 60 seconds remaining in Dubai, only for an Adam Doane try to draw Canada level. Thomas Isherwood missed the conversion, but gained almost immediate redemption when he crossed for the winning score two minutes into the additional period. As a result of World Rugby’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3340325/hong-kongs-sevens-heartbreak-world-rugby-meddling-plunges-beaten-city-team-void?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3340325/hong-kongs-sevens-heartbreak-world-rugby-meddling-plunges-beaten-city-team-void?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 10:29:19 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara An emotional Tsang Sin-yan said she felt “alive” on her return to competitive rugby for Kowloon on Saturday, 18 months after the lock forward was diagnosed with cancer. Hong Kong international Tsang completed 80 minutes as her team staged a stunning late fightback, scoring three unanswered tries to beat Causeway Sandy Bay 41-36 for a first Premiership victory of the season. After collapsing at home in June 2024, following two months of living with severe chest pain, Tsang was found to be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/3340275/hong-kong-rugby-star-tsang-sin-yan-feels-alive-after-winning-return-cancer-ordeal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/3340275/hong-kong-rugby-star-tsang-sin-yan-feels-alive-after-winning-return-cancer-ordeal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:00:04 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Harry Sayers spent large parts of his Christmas break in Sri Lanka outrunning stray dogs and dodging flying cricket balls, after Hong Kong’s rugby players pledged to retain optimum condition for their crunch HSBC SVNS 3 campaign this month. In a classic boom-or-bust scenario, the city’s sevens side must reach the final of the eight-team tournament in Dubai on January 17 and 18 to advance to the next division, a three-leg competition that holds the keys to the inaugural HSBC SVNS World... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3339037/hong-kong-star-outruns-dogs-dodges-cricket-balls-sri-lanka-crunch-7s-series?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3339037/hong-kong-star-outruns-dogs-dodges-cricket-balls-sri-lanka-crunch-7s-series?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong’s men will begin their bid to join the rugby sevens elite with pool games against Samoa, Tonga and Colombia at the HSBC SVNS 3 in Dubai next month. The National Games gold medallists must win two of those encounters to make the semi-finals in an eight-team tournament that has Belgium, Canada, Italy and Madagascar in Pool B. Only the finalists will progress to the next stage, HSBC SVNS 2, which will be held in Kenya, Uruguay and Brazil over three weekends in February and March. Over... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3337012/hong-kong-men-begin-quest-join-7s-elite-against-samoa-tonga-colombia-hsbc-svns-3?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3337012/hong-kong-men-begin-quest-join-7s-elite-against-samoa-tonga-colombia-hsbc-svns-3?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong will pack in as many as 22 matches before the 2027 Rugby World Cup as they trade in their status as Asian heavyweights to try to hold their own as global minnows. Opportunity will have to be balanced with damage limitation when the city’s men make their tournament debut, after Wednesday’s draw landed them daunting Pool A tangles with the giants of New Zealand and hosts Australia, but also a potentially winnable encounter with Chile. And preparation for those differing challenges comes... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3335222/rugby-world-cup-2027-can-hong-kong-close-gap-facing-wallabies-all-blacks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3335222/rugby-world-cup-2027-can-hong-kong-close-gap-facing-wallabies-all-blacks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:41:44 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong have been handed the toughest possible draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, after being placed in Pool A alongside Australia, the hosts, and New Zealand. It was also the one the squad had been dreaming about, and which centre Tom Hill, an Australian by birth, apparently predicted the night before they watched by video link on Wednesday as the six pools of four teams apiece were drawn in Sydney. A group of players and coaches with more than a passing connection to the All Blacks cheered... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3335056/2027-rugby-world-cup-draw-hong-kong-get?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3335056/2027-rugby-world-cup-draw-hong-kong-get?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:26:45 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong’s men will discover their 2027 Rugby World Cup opponents on Wednesday, giving them little less than two years to prepare for the biggest games in the city’s history. With the 24 teams for an expanded tournament now set, all that remains to be seen is who will await Logan Asplin’s side in Australia. So, here is everything you need to know about the draw and what happens next. When is the draw and how can I watch it? The draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup will take place in Sydney at 8pm... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3334830/2027-rugby-world-cup-draw-when-it-how-do-i-watch-who-could-hong-kong-play?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3334830/2027-rugby-world-cup-draw-when-it-how-do-i-watch-who-could-hong-kong-play?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:03:42 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Domestic rugby will return to Hong Kong next week after an international break of varying fortunes for the city’s men and women, and for both it represents the next step in differing paths to their respective World Cups. The men have already secured a place at the 2027 edition in Australia, but a 58-12 defeat at the hands of Portugal in their only Test of the autumn almost a fortnight ago was a salutary lesson in how far they still have to go. Hong Kong’s women, meanwhile, began their journey to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3334367/hong-kong-rugby-players-eye-differing-world-cup-road-maps-club-season-resumes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3334367/hong-kong-rugby-players-eye-differing-world-cup-road-maps-club-season-resumes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:00:14 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Liam Herbert said Hong Kong had set themselves the objective of returning to Kai Tak Stadium in the main Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens draw next year, after they claimed National Games gold at the 50,000-capacity venue on Friday. In a topsy-turvy final against Shandong, the city team slipped from 12-0 up to 14-12 behind with four minutes left. They mustered a grandstand finale, crossing twice to win Hong Kong’s first team sport gold from a China Games. Herbert said his side had placed a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3332936/hong-kong-target-major-rugby-7s-breakthrough-after-national-games-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3332936/hong-kong-target-major-rugby-7s-breakthrough-after-national-games-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 04:00:23 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Max Denmark savoured a “beautiful” historic night after Hong Kong beat Shandong 26-19 in a rip-roaring National Games rugby sevens final at Kai Tak Stadium. The city team were given a mighty scare when Shandong recovered from 12-0 down to lead 14-12 with only four minutes remaining. When Hong Kong needed a hero, Julien Bourron answered the call. With barely two minutes to play, Bourron barrelled through fierce resistance to score under the posts, before gathering himself to kick the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3332882/hong-kong-savour-beautiful-historic-national-games-rugby-sevens-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3332882/hong-kong-savour-beautiful-historic-national-games-rugby-sevens-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:01:14 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong’s rugby players have an opportunity to “put themselves on the map” this weekend with a “memorable” win over Portugal, head coach Logan Asplin said on Thursday. The first official Test of the city’s autumn, after warm-up games against Japan A and ACT Brumbies, pits them against a side ranked four places higher and who beat them convincingly in the 2023 World Cup repechage tournament three years ago. But Portugal come into the match on the back of a humbling 26-8 loss at home to Uruguay... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3332703/hong-kong-rugby-team-hope-memorable-win-over-portugal-first-test-autumn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3332703/hong-kong-rugby-team-hope-memorable-win-over-portugal-first-test-autumn?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 01:00:23 +0000 Tom Bell Tom Bell Hong Kong’s men’s rugby sevens team will play for National Games gold on Friday – and warned after Thursday’s semi-finals that they want to claim it in style. Perfection was the target once they had swept past Jiangsu 33-19 to warm a sparse crowd at Kai Tak Stadium, on a day when the city’s women also put on a statement performance. Their resurgence came too late to salvage their medal hopes. They will contest fifth place on Friday after their day two recovery left them agonisingly short of a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3332698/national-games-rugby-sevens-hong-kong-1-win-gold-and-want-perfection-too?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3332698/national-games-rugby-sevens-hong-kong-1-win-gold-and-want-perfection-too?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:00:20 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Hong Kong rugby sevens new boy Matthew Rickard said he barely slept before he marked the opening day of the National Games tournament with a dream first home international appearance. The city’s men saw off spirited Shandong 24-12 and then ran in 50 unanswered points against overmatched Tianjin to all but confirm their spot in Thursday’s semi-finals. It was a much tougher day for the women, who went down 31-12 to a Shandong side that featured a number of China national team players, then left a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3332547/hong-kong-new-boys-national-games-dreams-come-true-after-sleepless-night?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3332547/hong-kong-new-boys-national-games-dreams-come-true-after-sleepless-night?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:53:47 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Although it would be an exaggeration to say that rugby sevens is fighting for its life, this is a sport in urgent need of care and attention. World Rugby’s attempt to apply a healing hand this year resulted in the sort of messy outcome that one would expect if a hospital handed its surgical instruments to the porter. In slashing the number of core World Series teams from 12 to eight and introducing a convoluted and labyrinthine qualifying process for its new World Championships, the global... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3332150/hong-kong-rugby-delicate-balancing-act-it-hunts-olympic-games-world-cup-spots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3332150/hong-kong-rugby-delicate-balancing-act-it-hunts-olympic-games-world-cup-spots?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:14 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Head coach Jevon Groves has called on his senior stars to “inspire the next generation”, after Hong Kong declared their hand for the National Games rugby sevens at Kai Tak Stadium this week. A formidable-looking 13-strong men’s squad will be spearheaded by James Christie and Seb Brien, the co-captains, wing wizard Max Denmark and evergreen Cado Lee Ka-to. And ahead of what could prove a last sevens hoorah for some key figures, given the city’s 15s team’s qualification for the 2027 Rugby World... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3332234/hong-kong-rugby-sevens-teams-named-national-games-asked-inspire-generation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3332234/hong-kong-rugby-sevens-teams-named-national-games-asked-inspire-generation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 11:57:53 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball For 40 minutes on Saturday, Hong Kong went toe to toe with the ACT Brumbies, matching their Australian rivals at every step. Then the wheels fell off. Tied 21-21 at half-time at Football Club, Hong Kong conceded 28 unanswered points after the break and eventually lost 63-31 to their Super Rugby opponents. But while the scoreline reflects another heavy loss, there were far more positives to take from the performance than in the 59-14 defeat to Japan a week ago. The pack, with a new front row and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3332057/hong-kong-rugby-team-keep-reins-act-brumbies-second-half-stampede?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3332057/hong-kong-rugby-team-keep-reins-act-brumbies-second-half-stampede?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 12:13:26 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong host ACT Brumbies on Saturday still searching for the combinations that will carry the team into the 2027 Rugby World Cup. A week on from the disappointing loss to Japan A, Andrew Douglas has opted for a new front row, a change at fly-half and centre, and a fresh face among the replacements for the game against the Australian side at Football Club. The game comes just days after Luke van der Smit, the No 8, made his failed drugs test public, and on the back of a perfomance against... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/3331955/hong-kong-face-act-brumbies-seeking-signs-progress-road-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/3331955/hong-kong-face-act-brumbies-seeking-signs-progress-road-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 09:41:09 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong rugby player Luke van der Smit has been sacked after failing a drugs test during his team’s World Cup qualifying campaign this summer, and is facing a years-long ban from the sport. Sources said the No 8 tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance immediately after his side’s 70-22 victory over South Korea on July 5, a win that secured Hong Kong’s place at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Van der Smit, who came off the bench in the Asia Rugby Championship clash and scored the last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3331286/hong-kong-rugbys-luke-van-der-smit-faces-ban-after-failing-drugs-test-during-world-cup-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3331286/hong-kong-rugbys-luke-van-der-smit-faces-ban-after-failing-drugs-test-during-world-cup-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 05:11:54 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Co-captain James Christie has said it would be a “huge honour” to lead Hong Kong in the National Games next month, before he hunkers down for an austere Christmas ahead of his team’s next challenge. Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium will stage the Games’ three-day rugby sevens tournaments from November 12. On their return to the competition after a 12-year absence, the hosts’ men are in a pool with Shandong, Tianjin and Inner Mongolia. “It’s a huge honour being back in the National Games, especially... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3330798/hong-kong-rugby-star-enjoy-national-games-honour-christmas-denial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3330798/hong-kong-rugby-star-enjoy-national-games-honour-christmas-denial?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 04:00:14 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara As one of the city’s sporting poster boys, Max Denmark has embraced the “grand scale” of next month’s National Games, and is relishing the prospect of watching his mainland sprinting idols duelling for gold. Before he can turn his gaze to the Guangdong Olympic Stadium, however, the Hong Kong rugby sevens flier will focus on the “tough and interesting challenge” that awaits his team over three days at Kai Tak Stadium. Denmark has two Asian Games gold medals, from 2018 and 2023, but this year... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3330332/hong-kong-rugby-sevens-star-max-denmark-relishing-grand-scale-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3330332/hong-kong-rugby-sevens-star-max-denmark-relishing-grand-scale-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 02:00:13 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Liam Herbert was once “booted out” of Hong Kong’s youth rugby programme. Courted by football clubs in England following a series of trials, he ran for the hills. “I’d been homesick and was calling my parents, telling them I wanted to get out,” Herbert said. “I came back and they were fuming, they told me, ‘You idiot, get on with it’.” Showing an aptitude for understatement to match the talent and physicality that have made him one of Hong Kong’s outstanding rugby sevens players, Herbert added:... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3329778/how-liam-herbert-went-wasteman-hong-kong-key-man-national-games-rugby-7s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3329778/how-liam-herbert-went-wasteman-hong-kong-key-man-national-games-rugby-7s?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 00:00:12 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong got the reality check their Rugby World Cup preparations probably needed from Japan A on Friday, not that it lessened the disappointment for Andrew Douglas. The visitors, who lost by more than 60 points to their Australian counterparts last week, handed out a drubbing of their own at Kai Tak Stadium, running in nine tries in a 59-14 victory. Yuya Hirose got the rout started in the fourth minute, and it was largely one-way traffic from there on out. The centre scored a brace, with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3330272/hong-kong-handed-9-try-rugby-world-cup-reality-check-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3330272/hong-kong-handed-9-try-rugby-world-cup-reality-check-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:30:09 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong have named a largely experimental side for their clash with Japan A on Friday, the first real challenge of the city’s Rugby World Cup era. A new-look second row, a new combination behind the scrum, and two new wings are among the changes that give the team a very different look to that which won the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) in July. Of the 23-man squad, there are five fresh faces, including Max Murphy, who comes in at lock alongside the returning Kyle Sullivan. There is another... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3330035/hong-kong-name-side-eye-rugby-world-cup-future-japan-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3330035/hong-kong-name-side-eye-rugby-world-cup-future-japan-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 07:15:02 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Andy Vilk has said his Hong Kong players would take time to absorb the hammer blow of missing HSBC SVNS 3 qualification before gathering themselves for an assault on National Games glory. On Sunday, the city women’s team lost a make-or-break Asia Rugby Sevens Series third-place play-off 10-5 against Thailand in Sri Lanka. Hong Kong finished level on points with the Thais after the two-leg series, but their opponents advanced, along with Japan and China, because of their superior head-to-head... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3329822/hong-kong-absorbing-asian-series-hammer-blow-national-games-medal-assault?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3329822/hong-kong-absorbing-asian-series-hammer-blow-national-games-medal-assault?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 01:00:30 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After Chong Ka-yan had scored one of the most important tries in the history of Hong Kong women’s sevens rugby, she was overcome with emotion. “I knew it would be a stunning moment to stand on the podium, but it shocked me how beautiful it was, seeing the crowd and hearing them cheering … my dad was also in the stands,” Chong said of the moment she received her Asian Games bronze medal in Hangzhou after Hong Kong’s tense 7-5 third-place victory over Thailand two years ago. “You remember the work... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3329765/wispy-try-machine-chong-ka-yan-heartbeat-hong-kong-team-national-games-rugby-7s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3329765/wispy-try-machine-chong-ka-yan-heartbeat-hong-kong-team-national-games-rugby-7s?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 23:00:13 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport A much-changed Hong Kong slipped to a 28-21 defeat against Mazda Hiroshima Skyactivs on Saturday, with head coach Andrew Douglas “pretty happy” with what he saw from a side including six debutants. Wing Dylan McCann, young scrum-half Eric Chui Wai-lap and forward Max Murphy all made a strong impression in Fukuoka, as did veteran lock Kyle Sullivan, whom Douglas singled out for his “outstanding” performance. Tied 21-all at half-time, the home side, who play their rugby in League One, got the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3328694/hong-kong-rugby-coach-pretty-happy-new-look-side-despite-narrow-loss-japan-club?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3328694/hong-kong-rugby-coach-pretty-happy-new-look-side-despite-narrow-loss-japan-club?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Oct 2025 08:43:07 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong’s men travelled to Japan on Friday, ready to put nine weeks of pre-season training to the test in two “really important games” against professional opposition. Matches against Mazda Hiroshima Skyactivs and LeRIRO Fukuoka will give head coach Logan Asplin and director of rugby Andrew Douglas the chance to see how far the squad have come since qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Most of the 35 players Hong Kong China Rugby has signed to contracts will make the trip, with 25 players... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3328592/rugby-world-cup-2027-japan-tour-gauges-hong-kongs-progress-road-australia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3328592/rugby-world-cup-2027-japan-tour-gauges-hong-kongs-progress-road-australia?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Oct 2025 01:00:16 +0000 SCMP Sport,Agencies SCMP Sport,Agencies Hong Kong will learn the identity of their first-round opponents at an expanded Rugby World Cup 2027 when the draw for the tournament is held on December 3, organisers said on Wednesday. Hosts Australia will kick off the six-week-long event at Perth Stadium in Western Australia on October 1, against a team to be determined. The event will end on November 13, with the final at Sydney’s Olympic stadium, which also hosted the climax of the 2003 tournament. All 24 qualified teams in the expanded... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3327528/rugby-world-cup-2027-hong-kong-know-identity-first-round-opponents-december-draw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3327528/rugby-world-cup-2027-hong-kong-know-identity-first-round-opponents-december-draw?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:27:42 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Roshini Turner has said a reality check delivered at last year’s WXV3 tournament, coupled with her burning desire to reach the 2029 Rugby World Cup with Hong Kong, prompted her “trailblazing” move to English giants Saracens. The second row has made three PWR Cup appearances off the bench after “flipping my life upside down” to relocate in July. Saracens play Exeter Chiefs in the semi-finals on Sunday. Hong Kong were soundly beaten by Fiji and the Netherlands, either side of a win over... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/3327282/hong-kong-rugby-trailblazer-launching-english-premiership-career-aid-world-cup-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/3327282/hong-kong-rugby-trailblazer-launching-english-premiership-career-aid-world-cup-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 01:00:13 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong have named a 35-man squad for a tour of Japan next month, with some new faces and old heads among those handed contracts for the next stage of the team’s preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. There were some surprising omissions too, and of the 23 players who beat South Korea in July to secure the historic spot in Australia, 12 will not take part in the training camp matches against Mazda Hiroshima Skyactivs and LeRIRO Fukuoka, or the clash with Japan A at Kai Tak Stadium. And... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3327117/new-faces-old-heads-and-surprising-omissions-hong-kong-mens-rugby-squad-japan-camp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3327117/new-faces-old-heads-and-surprising-omissions-hong-kong-mens-rugby-squad-japan-camp?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:00:16 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Head coach Jevon Groves has been given access to all his big guns as Hong Kong target a golden return to National Games rugby sevens action in November. The city’s qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, coupled with a sevens restructure that cut Hong Kong further adrift from elite status, raised the possibility that some players would focus solely on the global tournament. But Groves will have first pick of Hong Kong’s talent for next month’s Asia Rugby Sevens Series leg in Sri Lanka, which... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3326749/hong-kong-roll-out-rugby-sevens-big-guns-quest-national-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3326749/hong-kong-roll-out-rugby-sevens-big-guns-quest-national-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 04:30:07 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia was the easy part; now the hard work begins for Hong Kong head coach Logan Asplin. Faced with the prospect of taking on the world’s best sides in one of the biggest sporting occasions there is, the New Zealander must build a team capable of holding their own. The first step has been to sign 26 players in the city to full-time contracts. Overseas stars have been brought in, the nucleus of the squad that won the Asia Rugby Championship kept... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3326693/rugby-world-cup-2027-journey-begins-hong-kong-aim-get-speed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3326693/rugby-world-cup-2027-journey-begins-hong-kong-aim-get-speed?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:30:09 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Only nine years after she was inspired by her brother to begin playing rugby, Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana has set her sights on being a key part of Hong Kong’s Olympics quest. Her journey will resume this weekend when she returns to Hong Kong colours for the first leg of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series in Hangzhou. Hong Kong-born Mba Oyana spent the first 10 years of her life in Hangzhou’s neighbour, Shanghai. Coming back to Hong Kong, her sporting passions were handball and track running. But when her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3325986/olympic-rugby-dream-starts-hangzhou-hong-kongs-shanghai-raised-mba-oyana?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3325986/olympic-rugby-dream-starts-hangzhou-hong-kongs-shanghai-raised-mba-oyana?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 23:45:08 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Women’s rugby got a global boost on Thursday, when officials announced the creation of a new series featuring the world’s best 18 teams. In a press conference in the UK, officials said the new WXV Global Series would be played between 2026 and 2028, with more than 100 matches also providing a pathway to the 2029 World Cup in Australia. Nations will be split into two groups, with the top 12 playing each other in a home-and-away format, while those ranked 13 to 18, which includes Hong Kong, will... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3326037/new-global-womens-rugby-series-adds-100-matches-calendar-hong-kong-second-tier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3326037/new-global-womens-rugby-series-adds-100-matches-calendar-hong-kong-second-tier?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:30:08 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong will take on Japan A at Kai Tak Stadium in October, as the city’s men begin their two-year journey to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Already home to the city’s famous Sevens tournament, the XVs team will make their debut at the 50,000-seat venue, as will members of the men’s and women’s development squads in a pre-match exhibition. The game on October 24 will be the last of three games Hong Kong play against Japanese opposition that month. A training camp in Japan beforehand... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3323427/hong-kong-take-japan-first-mens-rugby-kai-tak-stadium?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3323427/hong-kong-take-japan-first-mens-rugby-kai-tak-stadium?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 04:00:16 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Little more than six weeks after qualifying for a men’s Rugby World Cup for the first time, Hong Kong have changed their head coach. After leading the city’s successful Asia Ruby Championship campaign to reach the 2027 tournament in Australia, Andrew Douglas is to focus on his role as head of technical rugby, with assistant Logan Asplin making the step up. Douglas had been juggling both positions since being appointed in 2023, but will now take on an expanded role that includes overseeing a new... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3322189/hong-kong-make-change-head-coach-6-weeks-after-qualifying-2027-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3322189/hong-kong-make-change-head-coach-6-weeks-after-qualifying-2027-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 06:00:17 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong fans wanting to follow the historic journey of the city’s team at the 2027 Rugby World Cup can now register their interest in buying tickets, while a range of special packages go on sale from Wednesday. More than 2.5 million tickets will be available for the tournament in Australia, with adult tickets priced from A$40 (HK$205) for pool matches and 1 million seats on sale for less than A$100. Children’s tickets start at A$20, with those younger than two getting in for free. Supporters... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/3319944/rugby-world-cup-2027-how-watch-hong-kongs-matches-australia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/3319944/rugby-world-cup-2027-how-watch-hong-kongs-matches-australia?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 05:29:36 +0000