https://www.scmp.com/rss/519534/feed The men's Rugby World Cup will be held in Australia from October 1 to November 13. Hong Kong qualified for the tournament for the first time after winning the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men's Championship. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Coach Eddie Jones said on Thursday that Japan do not get the respect they deserve on or off the pitch and are out to change minds in Tests against some of the world’s top rugby teams. Japan face Australia in Tokyo this month before travelling to Europe to take on world champions South Africa, Ireland, Wales and Georgia. Japan stunned the Springboks at the 2015 World Cup in Jones’ first spell as head coach, and the team followed that up by reaching the quarter-finals as hosts four years... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/3327647/japan-must-beat-global-giants-earn-rugby-worlds-respect-says-head-coach-eddie-jones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/3327647/japan-must-beat-global-giants-earn-rugby-worlds-respect-says-head-coach-eddie-jones?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:17:49 +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 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 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is famous for rugby because of the enduring appeal of the iconic Sevens tournament, which attracted more than 110,000 fans this year. But excitement is now being generated by the city’s performance in the more traditional 15-a-side game. Hong Kong has qualified for the men’s Rugby World Cup for the first time. It is a big achievement. Hong Kong produced an impressive display in the Asia Rugby Championship, winning all three matches comfortably. Qualification for the World Cup in 2027... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3317871/hong-kongs-hard-won-spot-rugby-world-cup-dream-come-true?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3317871/hong-kongs-hard-won-spot-rugby-world-cup-dream-come-true?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jul 2025 23:15:07 +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 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 In a year when Hong Kong’s men embarked on a groundbreaking South American tour, and the women made their WXV3 debut, the most significant development for rugby in the city unfolded in a block of understated Dublin offices. It was in World Rugby’s Irish headquarters, in August, that the go-ahead was given to grant next year’s Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) winners a place in the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Hong Kong’s men breezed to a fifth straight ARC title in June and it would count as a major shock... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/3292722/busy-2024-hong-kong-rugby-world-cup-announcement-overshadows-field-news?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/3292722/busy-2024-hong-kong-rugby-world-cup-announcement-overshadows-field-news?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:30:14 +0000 Eddie Jones wants Japan to be a top-four ranked team but on Saturday the coach was reminded again how long that could take as he acknowledged the tough physical challenge of playing in the elite after a 52-12 loss to France in the autumn series. It was Australian Jones’ fifth defeat in as many tests since he returned to take charge of the Brave Blossoms and it followed a brutal 64-19 defeat against New Zealand last month. “It was a tough night for us. In the first half we were blown away by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3285946/eddie-jones-pays-tribute-frances-hungry-antoine-dupont-japans-plans-face-reality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3285946/eddie-jones-pays-tribute-frances-hungry-antoine-dupont-japans-plans-face-reality?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Nov 2024 07:00:07 +0000 World Rugby’s decision to hand Asia a direct route to the 2027 World Cup was not the only one they made affecting the game this week, it just got more attention. Of almost equal importance was the soft launch of a change to the residency rules, that could make a big difference to the ability of tier two teams, such as Hong Kong, to compete with those above them. From the start of this month, any player not eligible through birth or otherwise with a “genuine, close, credible and established link... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3274629/international-rugby-residency-ruling-may-give-hong-kong-options-pathway-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3274629/international-rugby-residency-ruling-may-give-hong-kong-options-pathway-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Aug 2024 02:00:18 +0000 Hong Kong captain Josh Hrstich said reaching a Rugby World Cup would be a “dream come true” after the game’s global governing body handed the city’s team a direct route into the tournament. On Tuesday, World Rugby announced a change to the worldwide qualification process for the 2027 World Cup, giving the winners of the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) – which Hong Kong have dominated for the past five years – an automatic spot in the global tournament. Officials also said they were considering... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3274371/hong-kong-handed-direct-route-2027-rugby-world-cup-governing-body-tweaks-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3274371/hong-kong-handed-direct-route-2027-rugby-world-cup-governing-body-tweaks-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Aug 2024 14:55:50 +0000 World Rugby has named Australia as host nation of the 2027 men’s and 2029 women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments. At its annual meeting in Dublin, the World Rugby Council confirmed that Australia would have hosting duties for a third men’s World Cup – after previous tournaments in 1987 and 2003. Hosting the women’s tournament in 2029 will be a first. Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan said it was a historic day for the sport in Australia. “We’re beyond thrilled to be welcoming not one, but... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3177613/australian-named-host-2027-mens-and-2029-womens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/international-rugby/article/3177613/australian-named-host-2027-mens-and-2029-womens?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 May 2022 06:04:38 +0000