Rugby World Cup 2027: Japan tour gauges Hong Kong’s progress on road to Australia
Players and coaches relishing trip, which features two matches, to see how far they have come since qualifying for 2027 tournament
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 named for the first game on Saturday, and changes then expected the following weekend.
“Our first games after qualifying are really important for us, to know that we are making progress every single day and every single match, so Saturday’s game is quite important in that context,” Douglas said.
Captain Josh Hrstich is carrying a slight knock, and the plan is for the 34-year-old to be carefully managed through the 11-day camp in Fukuoka.
In his absence, Football Club teammate Pierce MacKinlay-West will lead the side in the first game against Skyactivs.