Eddie Jones open to Hong Kong players in Japan-based Super Rugby franchise
Hong Kong could field players in the new Japan-based Super Rugby franchise according to Brave Blossoms' coach Eddie Jones - but it will depend on how the team perform in their inaugural season next year.
Hong Kong could field players in the new Japan-based Super Rugby franchise according to Brave Blossoms' coach Eddie Jones - but it will depend on how the team perform in their inaugural season next year.
Jones, who was in town at the weekend for the Asia Rugby Championship, revealed that "opportunities for players from Hong Kong" could present themselves in the future and that he would not be disinclined to pick any player who had sufficient talent.
"It could open up opportunities for players from Hong Kong to join the team," Jones said. "Super Rugby is professional so I will be on the look out for the best players. While the bulk of the team will be from Japan that is not to say there [are] no opportunities for others."
Depending on how we go, we could be looking for players from Hong Kong, South Korea or Singapore ... over the next two to three years
Two new regional franchises, one based in Japan and one in Argentina, will join Super Rugby next season when the number of teams in the southern hemisphere's elite competition grows from 15 to 18 teams.
The new franchises will play alongside six other teams in the South African conference, which will field one additional homegrown outfit next season.
The Australian and New Zealand conferences will host the other 10 teams for the preliminary round of what is widely regarded as the world's best club competition.
"Depending on how we go, we could be looking for players from Hong Kong, South Korea or Singapore, probably not at the moment, but definitely over the next two to three years," said Jones, who as director of rugby will be the coach of the new Japan franchise.
Dai Rees, Hong Kong Rugby Football Union general manager of performance rugby, said: "Right now all our focus is on promoting and protecting our own Premiership, but there would be benefits from having our players involved in Super Rugby."
