https://www.scmp.com/rss/507483/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Were it not for being expressly told that his uncooperative body would no longer allow him to play rugby, Anthony Watson would still be electrifying audiences in the autumn of a stellar career. Capped 56 times by England and a World Cup finalist in 2019, Watson was 30 when he succumbed last year to the back injury that had plagued him for the previous 12 months. It would be understandable if he harboured more than a trace of regret but for Watson the “clean break” from life as an exceptional... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3351360/ex-england-star-anthony-watson-backs-hong-kong-show-they-belong-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3351360/ex-england-star-anthony-watson-backs-hong-kong-show-they-belong-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Rugby Australia (RA) announced a record surplus Wednesday on the back of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour, saying it would enable a sustainable future for the sport after years of losses. RA Chief Executive Phil Waugh said the “record operating surplus” of A$70 million (US$50 million) had injected fresh confidence into the 15-man game ahead of hosting next year’s men’s Rugby World Cup. “We are delivering on our promise to reset the game’s finances, restore pride and set a new strategic... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3350957/rugby-australia-eyes-brighter-future-british-irish-lions-tour-brings-cash-windfall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3350957/rugby-australia-eyes-brighter-future-british-irish-lions-tour-brings-cash-windfall?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:30:51 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Hong Kong could be invited to compete with the big guns in their own flagship Sevens within three years, but the city team have only sporting meritocracy to blame for their current lack of competitive opportunities, according to a senior World Rugby figure. Following a restructure for the current campaign, Hong Kong’s semi-final elimination from the third-tier HSBC SVNS 3 in January left them with a blank calendar until October’s Asian Games, save for their exhibition Melrose Claymores... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350770/get-better-or-stay-sevens-circuit-wilderness-rugby-chief-tells-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3350770/get-better-or-stay-sevens-circuit-wilderness-rugby-chief-tells-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie on Tuesday named his back room team to take New Zealand through to next year’s Rugby World Cup, retaining one old face but turning mostly to former assistants from his successful club coaching career. The 62-year-old former Wallabies coach Rennie has been tasked with whipping New Zealand into shape for next year’s World Cup in Australia following a scathing 2025 performance review and a rumoured player revolt against previous head coach Scott Robertson. New... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3347750/new-zealand-coach-dave-rennie-shakes-back-room-team-2027-rugby-world-cup-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3347750/new-zealand-coach-dave-rennie-shakes-back-room-team-2027-rugby-world-cup-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:00:12 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport South Africa’s rugby sevens men’s team won an HSBC SVNS series tournament for the second time this season when they beat overall leaders Fiji 21-19 in Perth on Sunday. The Blitzboks, who also won their home Cape Town leg in December, last won in Australia more than a decade ago, but they made up for lost time with an exciting and hard-fought victory that cut the Fijians’ lead in the series to just four points. Fiji now have 70 points after four of the six legs, while the South Africans are on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3342843/hsbc-svsn-perth-new-zealand-women-win-again-south-africas-blitzboks-halt-fijian-momentum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3342843/hsbc-svsn-perth-new-zealand-women-win-again-south-africas-blitzboks-halt-fijian-momentum?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:57:14 +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 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Eddie Jones said on Tuesday that next year’s Rugby World Cup schedule gives smaller teams a “fair” chance of upsetting the sport’s big boys as he plots another shock with Japan. Organisers unveiled the fixture list for the tournament in Australia in 2027, with the event featuring 24 teams for the first time and giving all sides roughly a week between matches. The tournament opens on Friday, October 1, with the hosts playing debutants Hong Kong at Perth Stadium. Jones was in charge when Japan... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3342209/japan-coach-eddie-jones-says-rugby-world-cup-schedule-fair-helps-small-teams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3342209/japan-coach-eddie-jones-says-rugby-world-cup-schedule-fair-helps-small-teams?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:16:53 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The British and Irish Lions women’s team announced on Wednesday they will play five matches in New Zealand, including three Black Ferns Tests, during their first ever tour in September 2027. The tour was first announced in January 2024 with confirmation of the match schedule and host cities to be confirmed. Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch have now been confirmed to host matches, with the Lions playing tour matches against a Black Ferns XV and an invitational... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3340650/british-and-irish-lions-womens-team-announce-fixture-list-tour-new-zealand-2027?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3340650/british-and-irish-lions-womens-team-announce-fixture-list-tour-new-zealand-2027?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:45:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse New Zealand fired coach Scott Robertson on Thursday less than two years before the Rugby World Cup, after a scathing 2025 performance review and rumours of a player revolt. The 51-year-old led the team to 20 wins in 27 matches, below powerhouse New Zealand’s expectations, while showing little improvement during his two years in charge. New Zealand Rugby’s internal review of performance found strong criticism from senior All Blacks, including a suggestion that star player Ardie Savea could walk... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3339948/all-blacks-fire-coach-robertson-less-two-years-world-cup-after-scathing-review?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3339948/all-blacks-fire-coach-robertson-less-two-years-world-cup-after-scathing-review?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:04:17 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Africa started and finished ‌2025 as the world’s No 1-ranked side, and their extraordinary depth and monstrous scrum suggest they will be the team to beat at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The Springboks retained the Rugby Championship title, inflicted a record test defeat on old foes New Zealand, completed comprehensive wins in France and Ireland, and racked up a record score against an ailing Wales side in Cardiff. It was not a perfect 12 months, however, with a second-half... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3337680/year-rugby-south-africa-dominate-france-win-six-nations-england-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3337680/year-rugby-south-africa-dominate-france-win-six-nations-england-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 08:00:09 +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 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Coach Eddie Jones on Monday warned his Japan players they had to bulk up and train harder if they wanted to compete on rugby’s world stage after another bruising European tour. Jones’ side were thrashed by South Africa and Ireland before losing narrowly to Wales and eking out a last-gasp win over Georgia. The tour completed Jones’ second year back in charge of Japan and followed heavy defeats to England, New Zealand and France in 2024. The feisty Australian said he wanted to see candidates for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3333971/coach-eddie-jones-tells-his-japanese-rugby-players-beef-after-bruising-tour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3333971/coach-eddie-jones-tells-his-japanese-rugby-players-beef-after-bruising-tour?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:00:11 +0000 Associated Press,SCMP Sport Associated Press,SCMP Sport Samoa became the 24th and last team to qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup after a hard-fought 13-13 draw with Belgium in Dubai on Tuesday. They topped the final qualification tournament table with 12 points, one ahead of Belgium by virtue of having an extra bonus point. The other teams in the tournament were Namibia and Brazil. Now they have qualified, Samoa will join the likes of Hong Kong, who are first-time qualifiers after beating South Korea in July. Manu Samoa have played in every World... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3333384/samoa-last-team-reach-2027-rugby-world-cup-after-winning-qualifying-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3333384/samoa-last-team-reach-2027-rugby-world-cup-after-winning-qualifying-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 07:32:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Rugby chiefs on Monday officially launched the Nations Championship, a global competition featuring 12 of the strongest teams that will crown a winning nation and decide the sport’s dominant hemisphere. Organisers said that the new biennial tournament signalled a “watershed moment for rugby union, years in the making”, and would transform the two existing international playing windows, in July and November. The Nations Championship, which starts in July 2026, will replace ad hoc tours and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3333144/rugby-chiefs-unveil-watershed-nations-championship-crown-top-team-hemisphere?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3333144/rugby-chiefs-unveil-watershed-nations-championship-crown-top-team-hemisphere?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters Belgium are one game away from a first-ever Rugby World Cup finals appearance, having set up a deciding match against Samoa on Tuesday in the final qualification tournament in Dubai for the 2027 finals in Australia. It would be an upset were Belgium to overcome Samoa, twice World Cup quarter-finalists, but the “Diables Noirs” have already eliminated another perennial contender, Namibia, and emerged as a rapidly improving outfit. The four-team qualifiers in Dubai decide which team fills the 24th... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3332942/belgium-brink-surprise-rugby-world-cup-place-must-beat-samoa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3332942/belgium-brink-surprise-rugby-world-cup-place-must-beat-samoa?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 15:00:12 +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 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 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 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 Associated Press Associated Press Eight of rugby’s most powerful nations have announced international bans for any players who join the breakaway R360 organisation, which intends to launch a multi-city series next year. England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, France, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia have written a joint letter in which they urge men’s and women’s players to think carefully before accepting offers from the R360. Representatives of the R360 reportedly have approached leading rugby union and rugby league players... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3328216/major-rugby-nations-unite-say-they-will-ban-players-who-join-rebel-series-r360?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3328216/major-rugby-nations-unite-say-they-will-ban-players-who-join-rebel-series-r360?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:23:04 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Lewis Moody, the former England rugby captain and 2003 World Cup winner, has been diagnosed with ALS, also known as motor neurone disease. The 47-year-old Moody said he had “a bit of muscle wasting in the hand and the shoulder” but described them as “minor symptoms”. “I feel fit and well in myself and I’m focused on staying positive, living life and dealing with the changes I will experience as they come,” he said in a statement. Moody was given the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis two... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3328022/former-england-rugby-captain-lewis-moody-diagnosed-als-or-motor-neurone-disease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3328022/former-england-rugby-captain-lewis-moody-diagnosed-als-or-motor-neurone-disease?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 11:00:08 +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 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 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 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 Associated Press Associated Press Rookie Leroy Carter was still coming to terms with his inclusion in the All Blacks squad to play in Argentina in the opening rounds of the Rugby Championship when he made the shocking discovery: “The dog ate my passport.” The utility back with the Hamilton-based Chiefs was one of four uncapped players included in Scott Robertson’s Championship squad. The phone call from Robertson telling him of his selection had come as a massive surprise. Carter was rushing to get things together for the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3321062/dog-mauled-my-passport-family-pooch-mars-newcomers-all-blacks-call?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3321062/dog-mauled-my-passport-family-pooch-mars-newcomers-all-blacks-call?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Aug 2025 07:30:08 +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 Josh Ball Josh Ball Three years ago, Tom Hill was contemplating a one-and-only shot at qualifying for a Rugby World Cup. In his 30s, the Australian-born centre considered the 2022 global repechage tournament in Dubai to be a singular chance to reach the pinnacle of his sport, having already committed five years to doing so. Days before the team flew to the Middle East, Hill told the Post he would not “get another shot in four years’ time – this is it”. “I think most [of the squad] are like that, some of the younger... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3317120/hong-kong-heros-emotional-journey-2027-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3317120/hong-kong-heros-emotional-journey-2027-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:18 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong’s men made history in Incheon on Saturday, qualifying for the Rugby World Cup for the first time – now the real work begins. A 70-22 victory over South Korea sealed a sixth consecutive Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship title and booked a spot at the global tournament in Australia in 2027. Hong Kong will be only the second team from Asia to play in the World Cup after ever-present qualifiers Japan, who have already qualified for 2027 after finishing third in their pool at the 2023... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3317105/hong-kong-have-finally-made-it-rugby-world-cup-now-real-work-begins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3317105/hong-kong-have-finally-made-it-rugby-world-cup-now-real-work-begins?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jul 2025 00:00:22 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara An instruction to spend an afternoon in the watering hole for work was a fair clue that Saturday was a unique day for Hong Kong sport. “A historic moment for Hong Kong rugby and for Hong Kong,” concluded Brett Free, an independent director of Hong Kong, China Rugby (HKCR). Free was among around 30 people who gathered in The Globe, in Central, to watch the city team pulverise South Korea and qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. After only two minutes, the rumbling cheers as Matt Worley surged... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3317097/huge-achievement-hong-kong-fans-gather-cheer-heroes-2027-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3317097/huge-achievement-hong-kong-fans-gather-cheer-heroes-2027-rugby-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 12:00:15 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong’s men made history in Incheon on Saturday, qualifying for the Rugby World Cup for the first time. A 70-22 victory over South Korea sealed a sixth consecutive Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship title and booked a spot at the global tournament in Australia in 2027. Three years ago, Hong Kong escaped with a narrow 23-21 victory, thanks to Gregor McNeish’s final kick of the game. This time, they had run in three tries midway through the first half and were 39 points clear at the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3317080/hong-kong-men-make-history-qualify-rugby-world-cup-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3317080/hong-kong-men-make-history-qualify-rugby-world-cup-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 07:51:34 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong have come through a final training session in South Korea unscathed, and go into their final game of the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship on Saturday at full strength. There is no hiding what is at stake. Win, and they qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Australia, and captain Josh Hrstich said it was something he had been dreaming about for a long time. The 35-year-old called the prospect of reaching the pinnacle of the sport “a dream come true” and said it was “really hard to put... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3316989/hong-kong-ready-finally-make-rugby-world-cup-dream-reality-says-skipper-josh-hrstich?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3316989/hong-kong-ready-finally-make-rugby-world-cup-dream-reality-says-skipper-josh-hrstich?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:30:09 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong’s road to the 2027 Rugby World Cup is simple: win against South Korea on Saturday, and they are in. Three wins from three in the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship will mean it’s job done. Lose, and that’s where it could get complicated, especially when you factor in bonus points, which are awarded for scoring four tries or for losing by less than seven points. South Korea, with seven points, go into the match only three behind Hong Kong. So, here are the potential scenarios if the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3316871/rugby-world-cup-2027-how-hong-kong-can-reach-tournament-win-lose-or-draw-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3316871/rugby-world-cup-2027-how-hong-kong-can-reach-tournament-win-lose-or-draw-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 05:30:08 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball It is hard to ignore the prize that awaits the winner of Saturday’s final game of this year’s Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship, but that is just what Hong Kong head coach Andrew Douglas would like his team to do. Victory for either Hong Kong or South Korea on Saturday would most likely mean a place in the 2027 World Cup, and Douglas, who has tweaked his squad again for the most important game in the city’s history, wants his players to enjoy the moment. With families, friends and a healthy... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3316595/hong-kong-coach-eyes-complete-performance-he-tweaks-squad-rugby-world-cup-decider?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3316595/hong-kong-coach-eyes-complete-performance-he-tweaks-squad-rugby-world-cup-decider?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:00:09 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Having the opportunity to qualify for a Rugby World Cup is not a new scenario for Hong Kong’s men – being this close to the promised land is. Saturday’s equation is frighteningly simple: beat South Korea in the final round of the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship and they will be part of the 2027 tournament in Australia. It would be the first time the city’s men had ever reached such heights, after the women did so in 2017. Given Hong Kong’s utter domination of the competition since 2018,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3316521/hong-kong-vow-grab-rugby-world-cup-spot-and-avoid-repechage-roller-coaster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3316521/hong-kong-vow-grab-rugby-world-cup-spot-and-avoid-repechage-roller-coaster?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:30:08 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong’s men are one win from qualifying for a World Cup for the first time, after a comfortable 78-7 victory over Sri Lanka at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground on Sunday. A dominant forward display was more than enough to overcome some sloppy mistakes against a team returning to the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship for the first time in more than a decade. Luke van der Smit’s hat-trick of tries from No 8 and his man-of-the-match award rather summed up a game that was largely over from the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3315393/hong-kong-one-win-rugby-world-cup-spot-after-rout-sri-lanka?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3315393/hong-kong-one-win-rugby-world-cup-spot-after-rout-sri-lanka?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 10:35:33 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Sri Lanka captain Tharinda Ratwatte said his side were coming to “make some noise” ahead of their Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship clash with Hong Kong on Sunday. Back in the top tier of the competition after more than a decade, the Tuskers are considered significant underdogs for the game at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground against a Hong Kong side who are unbeaten in the championship since 2018. But after hammering Malaysia 59-19 in a promotion play-off, and running South Korea close in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3315343/sri-lanka-ready-make-some-noise-asia-rugby-clash-hong-kong-ratwatte-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3315343/sri-lanka-ready-make-some-noise-asia-rugby-clash-hong-kong-ratwatte-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:14 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong have made six changes to their side for Sunday’s Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship clash against Sri Lanka, with most in the pack, as head coach Andrew Douglas looks for some “bang”. While there are a couple of enforced switches, with prop Keelan Chapman and wing Max Denmark both carrying knocks, Douglas also has an opportunity to take a look at some players in a game at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground that Hong Kong are expected to win. With that in mind, Alessandro Nardoni, named... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3315193/hong-kong-make-6-changes-asia-rugby-championship-clash-sri-lanka?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3315193/hong-kong-make-6-changes-asia-rugby-championship-clash-sri-lanka?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 07:00:32 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong will make changes to the squad that beat the United Arab Emirates so convincingly last weekend in their opening Asia Rugby Championship match – despite not knowing much about Sunday’s next opponents, Sri Lanka. While not “changing for the sake of changing”, head coach Andrew Douglas said the likes of No 8 Luke van der Smit could return to the match-day 23, as his side take an approach with “a bit more bang” than they employed in the 43-10 win in Dubai. Flanker Pierce MacKinlay-West,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3314970/asia-rugby-championship-hong-kong-seek-more-bang-kai-tak-clash-sri-lanka?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3314970/asia-rugby-championship-hong-kong-seek-more-bang-kai-tak-clash-sri-lanka?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:30:12 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Frustration is not the overriding emotion you would normally expect on the back of a convincing 43-10 win, but then Hong Kong men’s head coach Andrew Douglas has exacting standards. The Kiwi watched his side ultimately cruise past the United Arab Emirates in their opening Asia Rugby Championship fixture at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai on Saturday, but was not exactly thrilled with how they put together a six-try performance. He had a point. A sloppy opening 10 minutes, which might generously have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3314483/asia-rugby-championship-douglas-frustrated-hong-kongs-winning-start-world-cup-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3314483/asia-rugby-championship-douglas-frustrated-hong-kongs-winning-start-world-cup-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Jun 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball A lot has happened since Max Denmark last pulled on a 15s jersey for Hong Kong in 2018. An ever-present in the city’s sevens side, Denmark has accumulated Asian Games gold medals, regional dominance and some painful near misses in the bid to get the men’s team to the highest level. Throughout it all there have been tries – lots and lots of tries. There were three alone in a 31-7 rout of China during the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in March. The 25-year-old also has two from eight previous Test... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3314388/max-denmark-aims-transfer-his-hong-kong-sevens-x-factor-citys-15s-world-cup-quest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3314388/max-denmark-aims-transfer-his-hong-kong-sevens-x-factor-citys-15s-world-cup-quest?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Jun 2025 01:30:11 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong have named a much-changed squad for their first Asia Rugby Championship game in Dubai this weekend, with Andrew Douglas calling it his “most challenging squad selection” as head coach. With the city’s sevens players making themselves available for the tilt at a fifth consecutive title, which this year comes with a place in the 2027 World Cup, Douglas’ team is unrecognisable from the one that beat the United Arab Emirates 52-5 in last year’s competition. There are 12 changes from that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3313978/hong-kong-rugby-coach-overhauls-squad-world-cup-qualifying-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3313978/hong-kong-rugby-coach-overhauls-squad-world-cup-qualifying-push?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jun 2025 07:45:50 +0000