Rugby World Cup 2027: how Hong Kong can reach tournament, win, lose or draw in South Korea

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 hosts prevent a Hong Kong victory in Incheon.

• Hong Kong blow it. South Korea win, earning them four points, and finish on either 11 points to Hong Kong’s 10 (if neither side get a bonus point), or 12 points to Hong Kong’s 11 (with both sides getting one). The Koreans leapfrog Hong Kong into first and reach the World Cup.

• Hong Kong blow it, part 2. South Korea win, but Hong Kong get one more bonus point than them and the sides finish on 11 or 12 apiece. In this instance, head-to-head is the tiebreaker, so Korea go to the World Cup.

• Hong Kong get away with it. South Korea win, but do not add a four-try bonus point, while Hong Kong score four tries in a narrow loss to manage two bonus points. Hong Kong finish top, by 12 points to 11, and claim the World Cup spot. Unlikely, but possible.

• It’s a draw. Both sides get two points, leaving the Koreans short no matter how many bonus points they score.

Now that’s all cleared up, what happens if Hong Kong don’t top the table, you may ask?