MEN’S XVs RELISHING OPPORTUNITIES FROM JAPAN TOUR AHEAD OF FIRST 15s MATCH AT KAI TAK STADIUM

Hong Kong China Rugby’s (HKCR) Men’s XVs are set to play the second match on their training tour of Japan against professional team LeRIRO Fukuoka on Saturday, (18 Oct., kick-off 13.00).  The match is the final warm-up before the historic game against Japan ‘A’ at Kai Tak Stadium (24 Oct.) in what will be the first XVs match ever played at Kai Tak Stadium.

Last Saturday, Hong Kong China narrowly lost to a well-seasoned Skyactivs Hiroshima, 28-21, in their first match since qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2027 in July.  The visitors impressed on their first action in months – especially considering six players were making their first appearances in a representative jersey.  

“Skyactivs gave us a good first hit out; they are a really good team,and it was great to get a match against a quality side after feeling a bit starved for opportunities in recent years,” said HKCR captain Josh Hrstich from the team’s training camp in Okinawa.

“We are hugely grateful to the clubs here in Japan and to the HKCR for arranging this; we hope that those teams get as much out of this as we do but for us to test ourselves against local sides is a huge advantage for us for next week at Kai Tak.

“This week’s camp has also been really positive. It’s great to be get away and spend time as a group and build connections between players and lock in our footy a bit. The first game was a good chance for the coaches to get a look at the players to see what they bring to the team, and what improvement we’ve made from our conditioning and training so far,” Hrstich added.

HKCR Head of Technical Rugby Andrew Douglas plans for all three dozen contracted players to get a game in Japan, pending injuries, including recently arrived players like HKCR flyhalf Gregor McNeish, who starts on Saturday alongside scrumhalf Brendon Nell, who made his senior debut last week, in a new halfbacks pairing after Eric Chui Wai Lap and Joe Barker started game one.  Two additional players will make their senior debuts on tour on Saturday: centre Isaac Campbell-Wu and lock James Rivers, who joins his sisters Gabriella and Georgia, as Hong Kong China Rugby representative players. 

“After the match we have been looking at areas where we can improve; there are a few tweaks and adjustments as you would expect, just working on refining some things around our set piece and some of our attack.”

Hrstich said the squad was relishing the opportunities provided from the tour and the HKCR’s contracting of a centralized group of players as the group ramps up for its debut Rugby World Cup. 

For the No.8 originally from New Zealand the tour has already been an invaluable preparation on and off pitch:  “The management team has arranged a great facility for us. It’s pretty awesome, and I’ve definitely noticed guys reacting to the environment. The next level of leadership is emerging and more guys are standing up and becoming bigger parts of the team and taking on bigger roles, which is what we need if we want to get better and play against some of the biggest teams in the world.”

The team is gelling well with part of the camp focusing on squad culture and values: “We are a close group, and our culture is incredibly positive. We have amazing coaching and support resources at our disposal, and everyone is open and willing to help; as long as the senior guys continue to show the way, and everyone keeps open to improving and as long as guys stay open and willing to learn, we will be fine.

For Hrstich, the fresh faces in the squad have complimented the environment by their presence and their performance: “We’re all excited for them. Just to see what they can do on the field. Some have been with us all pre-season, but some have just come in and there is a sense of excitement for them to get involved and see what they bring to the team. We are pretty pumped.”

That enthusiasm extends to Saturday’s match: “After a bit of rustiness in that first game, we’re looking forward to seeing what we can do in the next. We’re not massively focused on LeRIRO. They are a good side and we’ve played them before, they are one of the more physical sides in Japanese rugby so we have to start well, match that physicality and get a bit more precision in our attack. 

“We’ve only played one game so far. Our physicality and intent from game one was impressive. It was a good effort from the players and a good reflection of the work they have put in over the past weeks to get themselves bigger, faster and stronger. I’d like to see us have the same desire and intent as in game one, or even a new level from that, the physicality we brought last week was awesome. 

“We can’t afford to concentrate too much on our opposition, but we are giving them the respect they deserve. 

Everyone is excited to see how what we have been working on so far can translate into the game. Training has been competitive. 

With everyone getting a fair bite at making the squad for Kai Tak, there’s been a good bit of spice on the training ground, but it’s all love at the end and everyone is trying hard to get better. With a game behind us and a bit more polish from another week of training in the bag, it's another great opportunity for us to go and improve, and that’s all we can ask for.”

HKCR Squad vs LeRIRO Fukuoka (18 Oct 2025) 

1.  Rory CINNAMOND; 2. Harry BARON; 3. Faizal SOLOMONA-PENESA; 4. James RIVERS*; 5. Kyle SULLIVAN; 6. Dana FOURIE; 7. James SAWYER; 8. Josh HRSTICH (C); 9. Brendon NELL 10. Gregor MCNEISH; 11. Guy SPANTON; 12. Isaac CAMPBELL-WU*; 13. Marcus RAMAGE; 14 Charles HIGSON-SMITH; 15. Penetana CARTER-SMITH; 16. Harrison KING; 17. James HOLMES; 18. Callum MCFEAT-SMITH; 19. Jack BARTLETT; 19. Tyler MCNUTT;  20. Eric CHUI Wai Lap; 22. Joe KNIGHT; 23. Ben AXTEN-BURRETT; 24. Jack ABBOTT; 25. Tom HILL (vice captain); 26. Matt WORLEY

*Senior squad debut

Management Team:

Andrew Douglas, Head of Technical Rugby

Logan Asplin, Head Coach

Lewis Evans, Coach

Marno Meyer, Coach

Pete Nugent, S&C Coach

Andy Yuen, Analyst

Charles Cheung, Team Manager