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Hong Kong China Rugby have confirmed a 29-man squad to take part in the Men’s XVs Brumbies Tour.
The group will head to Canberra, Australia from 22-28 April. This follows the Women’s XVs Brumbies Tour back in January, with both trips serving as preparation for the summer XVs schedule. Head Coach Andrew Douglas said:
“We’re taking a mixed squad, made up of young and old, with some unproven players and some that will be newly qualified over the next 12 months. It gives us a chance to experience a good week at a great facility to build into our ARC preparation and into our South American tour.”
The team will be based at the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport), helping to create a week-long professional environment for the group. Douglas continued:
“It's a chance to see where these players are at, how they respond to an intense week with double days and a game plan situation – and how quickly they adapt to it. This is another level which comes with more pressure. Skill execution is under more pressure, your ability to make decisions is under more pressure and the game is generally a little bit faster with fatigue a bit quicker. So what we want to see is those players who can cope with that.”
Many of the selected players featured in an intense end to the Nan Fung Group | SEWIT Men's Hong Kong Premiership season in March. Douglas added:
“There's the younger ones, the likes of Matteo Avitabile who are coming along, and players like Sunia Fameitau who will be qualified very shortly. They will still be surrounded by some experience, with the likes of Josh Hrstich and Tommy Hill who have been there, done that. It’s a really exciting mixture and the squad's been together for a week now, so it's still early days but coming together really well.”
The tour will also include a match against ACT Brumbies A on Saturday 27 April. This will be played as a curtain raiser for the Super Rugby clash between ACT Brumbies and New Zealand’s Hurricanes at GIO Stadium Canberra. Douglas concluded:
“This is why we train, we train to play games. And having a game in a stadium of 40,000 capacity, and with a big game following us, means there should be a good crowd.
“A few of our boys have their family there, which is exciting for them because their families don't get to see them play that often.
“Australian sport is a different environment, a hugely competitive environment, and I’m sure the boys will hear a few comments (from the stands), and that will be good for them too.”
Confirmed Tour Group
Team Management:
1. Andrew DOUGLAS Head Coach
2. Charles CHEUNG Team Manager
3. Lewis EVANS Assistant Coach
4. Logan ASPLIN Assistant Coach
5. Marno MEYER Assistant Coach
6. Alex ALLAN Assistant Coach
7. Peter NUGENT S&C Coach
8. Henry ELLIOTT Physiotherapist
9. Simon WONG Physiotherapist
10. YUEN Kin Ho Analyst
Players (Club):
1 James HOLMES (Kowloon)
2 Faizal SOLOMONA PENESA (Valley)
3 Zacceus CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay)
4 Rory CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay)
5 Sunia FAMEITAU (HKU Sandy Bay)
6 John McCORMICK-HOUSTON (Hong Kong Football Club)
7 Jude HARDING (The University of Sydney)
8 LAM Jak Shing (HKU Sandy Bay)
9 Jonathan KENNY (Kowloon)
10 Jamie PINCOTT (HK Scottish)
11 Dana FOURIE (HKU Sandy Bay)
12 Hugh McCORMICK-HOUSTON (Hong Kong Football Club)
13 Tyler McNUTT (Hong Kong Football Club)
14 Dean ROSSOUW (HKU Sandy Bay)
15 Joshua HRSTICH (Hong Kong Football Club)
16 Luke VAN DER SMIT (Valley)
17 Matteo AVITABILE (Hong Kong Football Club)
18 Nathan DE THIERRY (Newcastle Aus)
19 Thomas HILL (Hong Kong Football Club)
20 Ben AXTEN-BURRETT (Hong Kong Football Club)
21 Jack ABBOTT (Hong Kong Football Club)
22 Jack MORRIS (HK Scottish)
23 Murray BRECHIN (Hong Kong Football Club)
24 Will PANDAY (HKU Sandy Bay)
25 Dylan McCANN (University Aus)
26 Shiven DUKHANDE (USRC Tigers)
27 Dylan WHITE (Kowloon)
28 Anthony COEBERGH (Net)
29 Pat Joe LAIDLER (Harry) (HKU Sandy Bay)
Asia Rugby Championship Dates
Women
Men
