HKCR SET SQUAD FOR SAMOA AT WORLD RUGBY NATIONS CUP

Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) has named the squad for the opening match of the World Rugby Nations Cup 2026 against Samoa, ranked 20th in the world.  

HKCR will play Samoa in the first meeting between the two unions at 15.00 on 4 July at the Estadio Nacional in Chile (03.00 Hong Kong time on Sunday, 5 July). 

The named squad is primarily the same as the team that beat a Waikato NPC squad 24-22 last week in New Zealand, with head coach Logan Asplin and the selectors making few changes from the friendly.  

“We picked what we believe to be a combination of a team in form, but also a team that are obviously best prepared to play against the threats of Samoa, both sides of the ball. Obviously, that means some changes and some new combinations. At the same time, the way that we want to play this game is centred around it,” said Asplin.

Former HKCR sevens representative Pierce Mackinlay-West will captain the side for a second straight outing from openside flanker after leading the group against Waikato.

“That Waikato game was really important,” said Mackinlay-West. 

“It was a good physical test in pretty tough conditions, and it was good preparation against top opposition. It was also good to get some experience leading the team there. We have many experienced leaders, so it is not just a one-man job. It is a team effort,” said Mackinlay-West.

In the forwards, Keelan Chapman joins the front row at tight-head prop, replacing Zac Cinnamond from the Waikato warm-up, while Kyle Sullivan moves into the starting XV at lock replacing James Rivers.  Rory Cinnamond and hooker Harry Baron retain their spots in the front row. Kyle Sullivan will partner with Max Murphy, who started against Waikato, in the second row.  Positional shifting in the backrow sees Tyler McNutt move from No.8 to blindside flanker, with James Sawyer moving to the No.8 spot for Samoa.  

“It is a robust back row, albeit on the smaller side if you look at their Samoan counterparts, said Asplin, who added that: “what it lacks in size, it makes up in competitiveness, grit and toughness. Those three are guys that I am backing to go some big minutes.”

In the backline Jack Combes retains his spot at scrumhalf after coming through his first game back from injury against Waikato.  The most notable change to the backline is the addition of Joe Barker as starting fly-half, and the move of Matteo Avitabile from flyhalf to inside centre for Samoa, pushing Isaac Campbell-Wu to the bench. 

It is a statement of HKCR’s intention to take the game to Samoa.

“Having the steady hand of Joe Barker is awesome, while Matteo is a young, urgent athlete that we can move into slightly wider channels or also play as a dual pivot – giving us more capabilities to move the ball and additional kick options as well. Both guys are really, really good defenders along with their attacking attributes,” said Asplin.

Former Hong Kong U20s captain Max Threlkeld has played his way into a start at outside centre with his direct running style, while Marcus Ramage, who started in the centres against Waikato, moves back to his customary spot at wing.  He is joined in the back three by sevens crossover star Harry Sayers and Paul Altier at fullback. 

HKCR have opted for more forwards’ depth on the bench with a 5/3 split in the reserves. Alex Post, James Holmes, and Sunia Fameitau are named front row reserves, while recent debutants Lachlan Doheny and Dana Fourie add depth. Campbell-Wu, scrumhalf Eric Chui Wai Lap and back three threat Matt Worley are the reserve backs.

Doheny and Campbell-Wu are in line to earn their first caps for Hong Kong against Samoa.

HKCR will face a reliably physical challenge from a Samoa XV that has been to every Rugby World Cup since the first in 1991 but has been inconsistent of late.  

Samoa is 2-1-2 in their last five testmatches dating back to 2025, with a loss and a draw against Chile (also playing in the Nations Cup), and a victory over Brazil, whom Hong Kong also beat in 2025.

The Hong Kong China XV is undeterred by the scale of the challenge:

“Samoa is a team with a lot of history, and players who play at the highest level. We know it is going to be a huge physical challenge; they have got some big bodies, and they like to play a physical game. That is a challenge we are really ready to meet head on,” said captain Mackinlay-West.

“At the same time, we're going to try and play to our strengths. It is not about reacting to them, it is about imposing our game. We have a lot of talented players, and we are a cohesive team. The guys have trained together for a long time, so we want to impose our game out there. This game is a great opportunity to go out and express ourselves, and I think we are up for the challenge,” added the 29-year-old.

Asplin also placed stock in HKCR’s preparations saying: “ith Samoa, you know that there is going to be that flair, that physicality, and some fantastic individual athletes. We need to show that our cohesiveness to combat maybe a team that's had less time in combinations. At the same time, we need to respect our opposition and know that our own physicality and ability to halt momentum is going to be massive for taking away their superpowers,” said Asplin. 

“The mindset has been incredibly positive. The players fully understand the task that lays ahead of them. But we have asked for this opportunity for a long time, and that underlying excitement is massive. We are looking forward to getting after it,” concluded Asplin.

After Samoa, Hong Kong will play Nations Cup co-hosts Chile (ranked 18th), whom they will also meet next year at the World Cup, on 11 July.

HKCR close the competition against Uruguay on 18 July, the highest ranked side in the competition at 15th in the world.

WORLD RUGBY NATIONS CUP 2026 HONG KONG CHINA RUGBY XV vs SAMOA

1.Rory CINNAMOND, 2. Harry BARON, 3. Keelan CHAPMAN, 4. Max MURPHY, 5. Kyle SULLIVAN, 6. Tyler McNUTT, 7. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST (Captain), 8. James SAWYER 9. Jack COMBES, 10. Joe BARKER, 11. Harry SAYER, 12. Matteo AViATABILE, 13. Max THRELKELD, 14. Marcus RAMAGE, 15. Paul ALTIER, 16. Sunia FAMEITAU, 17. Alexander POST, 18. James HOLMES, 19. Lachlan DOHENY, 20. Dana FOURIE, 21. CHUI Wai Lap, Eric, 22. Isaac CAMPBELL-WU, 23. Matthew WORLEY

Team Management
Manager: Charles CHEUNG 
Head Coach:  Logan ASPLIN
Head of Technical Rugby: Andrew DOUGLAS 
Coaches: Lewis WILSON; Kane HAMES; Marno MEYER
S&C Coaches: Liam McSTAY; Madison HUNTING S&C Coach
Physiotherapists:  Henry ELLIOTT; Stephen MUTCH
Analyst: Andy YUEN