bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Patrick Blennerhassett

Athletes’ careers are defined by statistics, but legends are carved on the grandest of stages. Hong Kong couldn’t ask for a better theatre, starting on Sunday (11pm Hong Kong time). Three games, three wins in the sleepy port city of Marseille, France at the 2019 World Cup Repechage and they’ll punch a historic ticket to next year’s World Cup in Japan.
Each game is going to come down to a few plays, a penalty kick here, a missed pass there, a timely try from an unlikely source. So who should you keep an eye out for now that coach Leigh Jones has finalised his 30-man squad?
Check back on Sunday for the live link to watch the game online via the Hong Kong Rugby Union and, until then, here’s five names to memorise who may become heroes in Marseille.
Max Denmark


Rugby World Cup 2019 repechage: scouting report on Hong Kong’s opponents Kenya, Canada and Germany
It’s quite possible no one was more impressive for Hong Kong’s sevens squad during the Asia Rugby Sevens Series than 19-year-old Max Denmark. A product of Hong Kong’s youth programme, he’s the perfect combination of size and speed at 1.84 metres and 83 kilograms, literally bowling over players and scoring at will. He’s young, hungry, a ferocious tackler and able to force defenders to pay special attention to him.
Alongside veteran Salom Yiu Kam-shing, Hong Kong’s second most capped player, the two make up a terrifying wing combination of size, grit and speed.
Denmark got his first cap in 2017 for the sevens squad during that year’s Asian Sevens Series, and was also a stalwart on the national squad’s U20 XV side. The team has plenty of veteran presence, from captain James Cunningham to hooker Ben Roberts, but if they’re going to win the repechage, they will need the next generation to leap onto the big stage at the right moment. Put money on Denmark making an unforgettable impression.
Casey Stone


How can I watch Hong Kong at the 2019 Rugby World Cup repechage in Marseille? Jones’ team square off against Canada, Kenya and Germany for final spot
The 33-year-old New Zealander burst onto the national scene in his first game of the Premiership season for Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers, scoring three tries and quickly grabbing the attention of Jones. The speedy full back hasn’t let up in a quest for his first cap, and gave Jones no choice in terms of selecting him in the final squad.
He scored a try in Hong Kong’s first warm-up game against the Newport Gwent Dragons Development squad, then followed with three more against a Crawshays RFC invitational XV team in Wales. The normally tight-lipped Jones also openly praised Stone for playing his way onto the team before the squad headed to Europe.
If he continues at this pace, he will give opponents fits all over the field in France, and having a dangerous full back who can kick and run gives Hong Kong yet another weapon. Now he just has to keep catching lightning in a bottle for a few more games.
Liam Slatem/Bryn Phillips


Hong Kong’s date with rugby destiny: mark November 23 on your calendar right now
Scrum half is probably the most underrated position in rugby. It’s usually occupied by a smaller player whose experience lies in digging balls out of scrums and starting everything off with a perfect pass to the fly half, the conduit to the backs.
Slatem looks to be the starter, but newcomer Phillips, who originally hails from Wales, has apparently put a lot of pressure on him.
Slatem, 29, got his first cap in 2017 against Kenya, and plays for Herbert Smith Freehills HKU Sandy Bay in the Premiership. Phillips, 26, is hoping to get his first cap in France, plays for Kerry Hotel Kowloon and also has an exceptional boot, which could be his X factor.
Positional fights can stress out players if they’re not handled right by management, but you can bet Jones, who is meticulous in how he handles each player and their accompanying personality, made sure both got an ample look-in during the warm-up matches, and whoever starts will have a legitimate replacement ready to step in at a moment’s notice.
Ben Rimene


Rugby World Cup 2019: who will win and why it’s good for New Zealand and South Africa to be in the same pool
Surrendering his New Zealand passport to win gold at this year’s Asian Games sounds like the perfect swansong for the 34-year-old, who got his first cap in 2013. So what about an encore?
Rimene isn’t the flashiest of players, but offers a calming influence on and off the field. Nerves will be jangling in France and mistakes will be amplified, so having experienced veterans around to temper an anxious squad will be a godsend.
Rimene, who is entering the final stage of his rugby career, could go out in Hollywood fashion if he ends up scoring a decisive try in Marseille. Then, how about running out against New Zealand, his birth country, next year at the 2019 Rugby World Cup as a potential final cap? Sounds like a storybook ending for one of Hong Kong’s best-respected and highly regarded players.
Here’s hoping he gets a chance to deliver a dagger of a drop kick late in the second half to seal a victory, or squeak through the line to break a deadlocked game in typical Rimene fashion.


Hong Kong sevens head has unfinished business, underlines world and Olympic aims

Rugby 7s royalty Ben Gollings bringing Chennai Bulls to play in Hong Kong

Olympic sevens and World Cup ambition can go hand in hand, Hong Kong rugby bosses say

Hong Kong ready for ‘harsh reality’ of Rugby World Cup, but coach ‘proud’ of progress

Hong Kong China Rugby

Rugby World Cup Repechage 2019: five Hong Kong players who could become heroes in France

Max Denmark hurdles the Dragons defence during one of Hong Kong’s warm-up games before the repechage. Photo: HKRU

Hong Kong skipper Ben Rimene slots a conversion.

Livewire HKCC scrumhalf Liam Slatem's darting runs helped break down the Tigers defence early on.

Hong Kong's Men's Rugby Team Max Denmark (right 2) runs with the ball during a game against Malaysia's Men's Rugby Team during the Asian Rugby Seven Series at the Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley. 14SEP18 SCMP / Edward Wong

Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers vs Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC during Old Mutual International Men's Premiership League 2017 - 2018 round 10 at So Kon Po Sports Ground, Causeway Bay,, Hong Kong, on 1 February 2018, Hong Kong SAR, China. Photo by : Ike Li / Ike Images

Sport

Rugby


Hong Kong has finalised its roster for the repechage
Leigh Jones’ men begin their campaign on Sunday against Germany



Rugby World Cup Repechage 2019: five Hong Kong players who could become heroes in France

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Hong Kong has finalised its roster for the repechage Leigh Jones’ men begin their campaign on Sunday against Germany

Hong Kong has finalised its roster for the repechage

Leigh Jones’ men begin their campaign on Sunday against Germany