Hong Kong start Nations Cup campaign against Samoa with plenty to prove
Match in Chile is the start of six games for the city side to try to establish credibility ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia
Hong Kong begin their Nations Cup campaign against Samoa on Saturday in Chile, the start of six games that will either establish the side’s credibility ahead of next year’s World Cup, or give further ammunition to those who believe they do not belong.
Samoa, meanwhile, come into the contest on the back of a winless 2025 and with plenty to prove after conceding more tries than they scored last year.
Both sides will be without their regular captains. In Josh Hrstich’s absence, Pierce Mackinlay-West will lead out Hong Kong for the second straight game, having done so in the warm-up win over Waikato.
The Pacific Islanders have turned to Miracle Fai’ilagi to guide an inexperienced side that will be without regular skipper Theo McFarland or Benetton fly-half Jacob Umaga, who is serving a four-match ban.
In a rejigged pack, Mackinlay-West will start in his usual position at flanker, with Tyler McNutt on the opposite side of the scrum and James Sawyer moving to No 8. In the front row, the recently returned Keelan Chapman will start at tight-head, with Rory Cinnamond at loose-head and Harry Baron at prop.
Kyle Sullivan will partner Max Murphy in the second row, with head coach Logan Asplin acknowledging the size and weight advantage held by the Samoans.
