Hong Kong’s Rugby World Cup hopefuls out to build on historic win in final Nations Cup Rounds

[Hong Kong, China, 30 October 2026]:  On the heels of one of the biggest wins in Hong Kong rugby history, Hong Kong China Rugby’s (HKCR) Men’s Representative XV are set to kick off the final rounds of the World Rugby Nations Cup 2026 this November.  HKCR will play three more test matches as part of the Nations Cup in November as they build towards a debut appearance at the Rugby World Cup in October 2027. 

The men’s representative XV will warm up with a match against Belgium on Saturday, 31 October, (kick-off at 0300 HKT on 1 November) at the Edmond Machten Stadium in Brussels.  Belgium is ranked 23rd with Hong Kong China one spot back in 24th ahead of the fourth meeting between the teams. Hong Kong have the series advantage 3-1 with the last meeting a 36-17 win in Brussels in 2019.  The match will be shown live and on demand on RugbyPass TV.

The challenge intensifies in the Nations Cup proper when Hong Kong face the highest ranked side in the competition - 15th ranked USA in France on 8 Nov.  The two sides met for the first time in over 20 years at the RWC 2023 qualification event in Dubai, with Hong Kong losing 49-7.  Round 5 sees HKCR face 22nd ranked Canada on 15 November.  Hong Kong and Canada faced off in the repechage for Rugby World Cup 2019 in France with Hong Kong losing on that occasion, 27-10.  Hong Kong’s Rugby World Cup road warriors will then return home to take on 19th-ranked Tonga at the Kai Tak Youth Sport Ground on 21 November in a rare home international against non-Asian competition.  

Much has changed for Hong Kong China since those early qualification attempts, most notably the institution of a full-time professional player programme to prepare the team for Rugby World Cup 2027.  

“We've come a long way since then, and they've grown also,” said Hong Kong native and scrumhalf Jack Combes. “All three nations have grown since as well, and they've got some really good results under their belt, so it's going to be a real tough battle.”

Hong Kong’s tightknit squad are leaning into the challenge with a group of 32 players from the programme travelling; 18 forwards and 14 backs have been named for the upcoming Nations Cup rounds.

Twelve of the forwards from the summer’s Nations Cup campaign are again featured, with six incoming heavies in Jack Bartlett, Thomas Concu, sevens star Callum McCullough, Callum McFeat-Smith, Faizal Solomona Penesa and Tsoi Kin-san.  

Four backs come in for their first taste of the Nations Cup 2026, including wings Charles Higson-Smith and Dylan McCann.  Experienced HKCR representative Nathan De Thierry is also included in the squad for France after sitting out the early rounds while recovering from injury. Centre Benjamin Carter-Smith is in line to earn his first HKCR cap in the warm-up against Belgium on Saturday, becoming the Union’s 388th capped representative since 1952.

They join a group of key players from the South American leg of the Nations Cup, including game-winner Altier, Jack Combes, former sevens captain Seb Brien, and current sevens rep Harry Sayers, fresh from winning Asian Games gold earlier this month.

Combes spoke about the progress of Hong Kong’s Rugby World Cup preparations saying, “What we've been able to get in terms of exposure - and that's a credit to the union and also to World Rugby - to give us this exposure is just so valuable. 

“To play against U. S., who we played against in the repechage and fell short quite a bit, we probably weren't where we needed to be back then. To play Canada, whom I haven't played since age grade U20s, and then Tonga, who I played against in Australia when we played in the repechage again - and Belgium before that as a warm up test! Four games that are so valuable for us in terms of growth, exposure, hardening and just technical and tactical detail; it is so valuable,” said Combes who has represented Hong Kong at every age grade since U14s before playing professionally overseas.

World Class Rugby Returns to Hong Kong on 21 November

The Tonga match on 21 November will be a doubleheader with the HKCR Men’s and Women’s XVs both in action versus the Pacific Island rugby powerhouse.

The women will play their fourth test of the year at home after their successful participation in the WXV Global Series Challenger in September, which was also hosted in Hong Kong, packing out the house at Kai Tak Youth Sport Ground. 

Hong Kong Rugby fans can purchase their tickets via the public sale beginning at 10:00am on 2 November 2026.  

Diehard fans can pre-register for tickets at the HKCR fanzone for early access to the general sale starting from 5:00pm on Sunday, 1 November.  Reserved seating for the matches is HK$250, with Adult prices at $180, Students at $140, Children at $100.  It always pays to play rugby, as registered members of HKCR clubs are eligible for a HK$50 discount across all ticket classes. 

Hong Kong China Rugby Squad vs Belgium, 31 October

1. Sunia FAMEITAU; 2. Harry BARON; 3. Faizal SOLOMONA-PENESA; 4. Maximilian MURHPY; 5. James RIVERS; 6. Jack BARTLETT; 7. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST; 8. Josh HRSTICH (Captain); 9. Jack COMBES; 10. Nathan De THIERRY; 11. Seb BRIEN; 12. Isaac CAMPBELL-WU; 13. Benjamin CARTER-SMITH*; 14. Charles HIGSON-SMITH; 15. Paul ALTIER; 16. Alexander POST; 17. Thomas CONCU; 18. Keelan CHAPMAN; 19. Lachlan DOHENY; 20. Dana FOURIE; 21. Brendon NELL; 22. Dylan McCANN; 23. Marcus RAMAGE. Coach: Andrew DOUGLAS; Manager: Charles CHEUNG.