Hong Kong look to put decisive stamp on 2019 Asia Rugby Championship without Japan
- With Japan prepping for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Hong Kong get set to take on South Korean and Malaysia
- Without the 11th best team in the world for the second year in a row, Hong Kong look to not only win, but impress in doing so
Hong Kong fly half Matthew Rosslee said winning, and winning decisively, is the definitive goal at this year’s Asia Rugby Championship.
“For a couple years we were head to head with Korea,” said the South African native, who got his first cap for Hong Kong in 2016 against Kenya. “And hopefully this year we can put a little bit of daylight between us and them.”
The men’s 15-a-side squad will kick off their 2019 tournament on Saturday, June 8 at Namdong Asiad Stadium Incheon against South Korea, and then play Malaysia at home at the Hong Kong Football Club on June 15. Last year, Hong Kong were a perfect 4-0 in the 2018 Asia Rugby Championship against South Korea and Malaysia, scoring an impressive 227 points and advancing to a World Cup play-off in the process.
However, perennial Asian powerhouses Japan sat out the tournament, a move they will repeat this year as they focus on various warm-up matches which will include tests against Russia, Ireland, Samoa and Scotland. Prior to 2018, Japan had won the ARC 12 years in a row dating back to 2004.
Hong Kong are ranked 25th according to World Rugby while Korea are 30th and Malaysia sit at 45th. Rosslee said the goal was to become the team who smashed Korea 39-5 in the final game of the 2018 contest at the HKFC. South Korea beat Malaysia twice (52-14; 38-16) in the first two matches of the ARC.
“We’ve got to get back to the level that we were at last year. And with the South China Tigers prep that we had, I think we’re hopeful we’ve even picked it up a level from last year as well.”
Hong Kong took on the South China Tigers, who just finished their first season of Global Rapid Rugby, in a friendly this past weekend at the Aberdeen Sports Complex, winning 32-17. New head coach Andrew Hall said the goal was simple: get his boys one last game fitness test in before June 8, and have a final look at his squad before he starts the roster selection process.
“They tested us in a few areas,” said Hall of the Tigers squad, “which is good, and a handy reminder for us to cover off some things before Korea, so that highlighted some of the priorities for us in the next few weeks. There were no injuries from a full blown hit out and as close to match conditions as we can possibly get, so overall I’m pleased.”
Alexander Post, who slotted in at hooker against the Tigers, reiterated Rosslee’s statement. Without the Cherry Blossoms from the north, the ARC should be theirs for the taking again.
“With Japan not there this is really our opportunity to show everyone that we are a force to be reckoned with in Asia.”
