SERIES PREVIEW: HONG KONG CHINA MEN'S XVS READY TO TACKLE OS TUPIS

Hong Kong China Men’s XVs will host Brazil in an important two-match series which will be played on Saturday 9 November 2024 at Hong Kong Football Club, and on Saturday 16 November 2024 at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground (see the squad for the first match here).

Hong Kong China is the second highest ranked Men's XV team in Asia (ranked 23rd globally) and the defending Asia Rugby Men's Championship title-holder, while Brazil (known as Os Tupis) are the 4th highest-ranked team in South America and ranked 29th according to World Rugby.

Hong Kong China Men’s XVs Head Coach Andrew Douglas talked of the importance of this series in the context of being as well prepared as possible for the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 in which the winner will earn direct qualification to the Australia Rugby World Cup 2027, and the runner-up will still have a pathway, albeit more challenging. He said: 

“We remember it was quite a dramatic finish in July and hopefully it's not as dramatic this time but I think it'll be a tough series, to be honest.”

Hong Kong China captain Josh Hrstich believes the side has been preparing well and are excited to host the Brazilians, seeing it as great opportunity to test themselves against a physical side as well as being an important step in preparing for the Asia Rugby Championship and to try and qualify for a World Cup. He commented: 

“The boys can’t wait to get stuck in, and against a big strong physical team like Brazil, if you are not ready, you can easily be caught out. Our goal is to make this two wins from two at home, and three from three against Brazil this year.”

Brazil captain Cleber Días also gave his thoughts on the series, “The expectation is that it will be a tough and physical game, as that is the way Hong Kong China plays and the way Brazil likes to play. The last game was so close we hope to win this time round and get different perspectives moving forward.”

Japan Training Camp & Preparations

Reflecting on the last few weeks of preparation, Douglas said, “We have got a foundation to build on and that includes this Brazil series and the Asia Rugby Championship next year. We were in Japan for a four-day camp at the end of October in Fukuoka [the HKCR women had also been there in May of this year] and we took a squad of 30 players. We played a training game against KyudenVoltex (JRLO Division 2) which was a non-contact type of training, where we worked on scenarios with them. Then we had a full game against LeRIRO Fukuoka [a new team which will compete in the JRLO Division 3] which went well.”

The Head Coach said everyone got decent game time which was the main idea – to give a bit of a hit out before Brazil arrives:

“It's a great facility there [Japan Rugby Football Union’s JAPAN BASE is it's elite national rugby training centre] in terms of everything being right there; your recovery area, your gym, your playing field, your cafe where you eat, and the accommodation side which is perfect. So you get good interaction with players and good recovery, good training times.”

Back in Hong Kong, Douglas said the squad has been working pretty hard as it's been an intense period of preparation, adding, “Always in these short campaigns, you have to condense things a little bit but the mood is good and training has been a little bit edgy, which is also good to see.”

He also says that everyone is happy to be in close proximity again after the success of the tour in July to South America which was the longest time the group had spent together, “I think they enjoy getting the band back together. They had a good time in South America and with rugby and all team sports, you make really good friendships, don't you?”

Brazil November Series - What To Expect

The squad in Japan for the camp was similar to the squad that won the Asia Rugby Championship and travelled to South America but for a few exceptions. A couple of players have commitments with their clubs overseas while new faces could be earning their first cap in this series against Brazil. Douglas said: 

“It's a familiar squad and they've been together a while now, so we're starting to get some nice synergy between them. We'll still introduce probably a couple of new caps this series but the squad in general is pretty solid and stable. It has got that nice balance of the majority who have been there before, and just a couple of newbies to bring in a bit of energy.”

Of potential new caps, he explained, “Max Threlkeld has come in from the University of California, Berkeley – and he played for our Under 20 team a couple of years ago and we've bought him back from America for this campaign as an outside centre – he's been training really well. Sunai Fameitau has been in Hong Kong for five years now playing at Sandy Bay as a prop, so we'll look to cap him as well and give him his opportunity. He's also been training really well and has been one of the better scrummagers in Hong Kong for a number of years so we want to reward that as he's fulfilled his residency.”

Hrstich also commented on the new additions to the playing group, “The new faces have been settling in really well into the camp environment and have brought some extra energy into our preparations. I know the whole squad are really excited to see what they are capable of during this series.”

What Will Brazil Bring On Tour?

Hong Kong China beat Brazil back in July at the Estádio Nicolau Alayon in São Paulo thanks to a post-hooter final kick courtesy of an ice-cool Nathan De Thierry to win 25-24. 

The Os Tupis Head Coach Emiliano Caffera has seen his side comfortably beat Paraguay 77-17 and Belgium 47-25 but lost to an Argentina XVs side 26-64 and to Chile 10-36 since they played Hong Kong China.

Brazil’s 28-man touring squad contains 17 forwards and 11 backs, most of whom play at Brazilian-based Os Cobras who compete in the Super Rugby Americas 2024, as well as seven players who play their rugby outside of Brazil. Notable mentions include Wilton Rebolo (who plays in the Major League Rugby for Los Angeles), and the uncapped Théo Bastardie who plays in the French Top 14 with Vannes.

Douglas expects another fierce physical battle and acknowledged the tourists had brought in some players from Europe into their squad, “That generally means they're going to be fairly battle-hardened. The French league is a tough League, whatever division you're playing in, and it's pretty physical. We can expect a good set piece from them, and they'll be fairly direct. They're a tough team so I don't expect that to change but because of the different personnel, they'll probably stay in that fight even longer.”

He adds that he also expects a more dynamic opponent this time around, “They'll want to move the ball a bit more than what they did, and they rely on that set piece. But I think they've developed the game a little bit more than that lately, so I think they'll test us in a number of areas. They do defend very well, and obviously we're a team that likes to create width, and they tend to not give us those avenues so much. So we are probably a bit more creative around how we play them in those areas.”

Días also gave his thoughts on the two team's ways of playing, “One thing we noticed with Hong Kong China in how they are different to the South American sides we play, is they avoid the fixed formations and mix their forwards and backs, and they have more interplay. In South America, we have more set pieces and plays and the backs and packs have more defined roles - so it is new for us to face that style of play.”

It is also Brazil's first visit to Hong Kong and Hrstich said that although they expect the two games to be fiercely competitive on the field, they are looking to spend some time with the tourists off the field as each side is on a very different pathways to try and reach a first World Cup. His Head Coach added: 

“The players made a few connections over there and will enjoy catching up and I am sure I'll have a yarn with their coaches. Hong Kong is an enjoyable city and it's pretty easy to get anywhere here, so there is lots to see and do over two weeks. I'm sure they'll make the most of it, and hopefully, they will really enjoy it, and get to see the best of Hong Kong.”

Home Ground Advantage  

Of playing at home, and what will be the first rugby game at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground in the second match, Hong Kong China Rugby hopes there will be fervent support to get behind the team across these two games – it is rare Hong Kong hosts internationals in November. 

Douglas commented: “The boys are really excited and I'm pretty excited to be honest, to see what it's like and see how it goes. I think there are 3,000 seats open at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground and HKFC is always a good venue to play at and for the fans. Hopefully, the Hong Kong China rugby community gets around us and we would like to get as many people there as we can.”

Hrstich added: “It's a great chance for our fans to come out in their own backyard and watch a new opposition bring their exciting brand of rugby to Hong Kong, so we really can’t wait.”

This is the first of a few steps on the pathway to the vital Asia Rugby Championship 2025 and the goal is to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027.

Douglas concluded: “I've got a very intelligent player group and we all know Rugby World Cup qualification is on the line. We'll focus on things game by game – you can't reach the top of a mountain without doing the hard work first. We need to get our performances right, making sure we've got a game plan that can beat these teams and take us forward.”

This article was posted in collaboration with our good friends at RugbyAsia247 – check them out for all the latest Asian Rugby news!