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Games with Japanese pro clubs ahead of first kick off at Kai Tak on 24 October
The players in Hong Kong China Rugby’s (HKCR) professional Men’s XVs squad depart today for a week-long training camp and matches in Japan. The squad will play two games against professional club sides before facing Japan ‘A’ in Hong Kong on 24 October in the first ever fifteen-a-side rugby match at Kai Tak Stadium.
The camp is the initial step on Hong Kong China’s road to Rugby World Cup 2027 (RWC) after qualifying in July 2025 - becoming the first men’s team from the city to achieve the feat after the women reached the RWC in 2017.
The tour also signals the start of a significant increase in international competition with HKCR (ranked 23rd in the world) confirming they will play Portugal (ranked 20th) in Lisbon on 15 November.
On arrival in Japan the team will be thrown right into the action with a match against Mazda Hiroshima Skyactivs tomorrow (11 Oct. at 1400 Japan time). Hong Kong will then hold a week-long training camp in Okinawa before playing LeRIRO Fukuoka on 19 October.
“It is the start of a really special journey for us,” said HKCR Head of Technical Rugby and Elite Coach Development Andrew Douglas: “Our first games after qualifying are really important for us, to know that we are making progress every single day and every single match, so Saturday’s game is quite important in that context.”
“The boys have been working hard. We aren’t the finished product yet, there is still a lot of work to do coming into the upcoming games against Japan and Portugal, so this trip is about getting a few things right. We have had enough training and now it’s time to play.”
26 players will dress for each match with the objective of getting everyone in the squad game time and giving the players a chance to press claims for selection for the first ever match inside Kai Tak against Japan ‘A’ on 24 October.
For Douglas, the games present an important opportunity.
“Testing our depth; it’s important to build a good base of 40-50 players and this is a good opportunity to get guys ready for the next level. They are also an important selection tool and a chance to see the guys under pressure. There’s a lot of pressure at the World Cup and at this level, pressure is a privilege, so they need to enjoy it.”
Former HKCR U20s captain and sevens representative Pierce Mackinlay-West will lead the team in the opening game against Skyactivs with team captain Josh Hrstich coming on as a substitute.
“It’s a great honour, firstly to represent Hong Kong China, and then to lead the team out for the first time. It is also a great responsibility, but luckily for me, we have a group of leaders in the team, and a number of guys that can contribute in different ways.
“We’ve had a long and tough pre-season, so we’re really excited to get out there and actually play. The first goal is to enjoy that, enjoy being in a competitive environment together again, and enjoy what is a good opportunity to test where we are at the moment. The game will be a good marker to see where we are against a good standard competition.”
While the group boasts several experienced senior leaders like squad captain Hrstich, vice-captain Tom Hill and the 28-year old Mackinlay-West, it also features some fresh faces including Eric Chui Wai Lap, who will start for Hong Kong China when he makes his senior team debut on Saturday.
The 21-year-old scrumhalf from Kowloon welcomed the opportunity saying: “I was not part of the team that qualified for the World Cup, but I am delighted to see the team qualify, allowing me this opportunity to be a part of it. I hope to be part of the squad for 2027, so I can keep improving. I have represented Hong Kong at junior level but this is my first senior professional game for Hong Kong. This tour will allow me to see what being a pro rugby player is like - their mentality and focus, and the standards of professional teams.
“It feels very different training with these guys. There is a huge difference in standard between them and our club training; these guys have stronger physique, and their focus on the sport and training is heavier too. Being in this group I have also been learning more about rugby culture. The friendship and respect for each other and the sport is something I have not seen in other sports,” Chui said.
The matches will also be the first outing for this group of players who are now under professional contracts for the stretch run to the RWC. It is the first time that HKCR have engaged players on a full-time basis for fifteen-a-side rugby since prior to the pandemic. The move was welcomed by Douglas.
“It is extremely hard to go to a Rugby World Cup, one of the world’s premier and most intense sporting competitions, with a group of amateur or semi-professional players, if you want to perform. Given the challenge that awaits it was important to give the players the full time support they needed around preparation, strength and conditioning and nutrition.
“It is a big step for Hong Kong China Rugby, and an exciting one. Going full-time is not an easy or an inexpensive thing to do, but it clearly demonstrates our intent to do well on this grand stage, and to represent Hong Kong China as best we can,” concluded Douglas.
Hong Kong China Teams rally ahead of Home Competitions at Kai Tak
On Friday 3 October, some of Hong Kong’s top footballers - but from different codes - rallied support for the hometown teams ahead of key upcoming matches for Hong Kong China’s football and rugby teams. Yapp Hung Fai, Kyle Lau Ka Kiu and Wong Wai joined rugby captain Josh Hrstich and squad members Kyle Sullivan, Dylan McCann, Murray Brechin, Jack Combes and Isaac Campbell-Wu in a unique crossover event at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground. The head coaches of both teams: Ashley Westwood for football and Logan Asplin for rugby were also both in attendance.
The engagement saw the athletes swap codes and have some fun while also promoting their upcoming matches at Kai Tak. The Football Association of Hong Kong China XI will face off with Bangladesh at Kai Tak on 14 October while HKCR will play Japan A in the first ever XVs match at Kai Tak Stadium on 24 October. Tens of thousands of tickets have already been sold as Hong Kong fans show their support for the city’s sporting heroes.
“I really enjoyed today’s rugby crossover activity. The sports are similar in that they both have to kick the ball. I am a goalkeeper, so for me, catching the rugby ball was also similar. It was a lot of fun,” said long-serving Hong Kong football captain and goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai.
He also had a message for the football fans snapping up tickets for the Bangladesh match:
“Thank you to the fans who bought tickets to the Bangladesh game, we are really excited to hear that the tickets sold so quickly. We hope to bring back the same energy and vibe from the India game and to put together an even better performance this time.”
Despite the different sports the players shared the same athletic potential for Yapp:
“I saw some rugby players today with definite potential to be great at football. They kick the rugby ball with ease and with so much power, kicking a perfectly round ball would be no problem to them.”
The city’s most capped footballer also shared some thoughts on representing Hong Kong China at Kai Tak with the city’s rugby stars: “No matter which sport, hearing the cheers and support of the Hong Kong crowd will always be the biggest encouragement to us athletes. We will always do our best no matter what and we all thank the fans very much for supporting us and our sports.”
Video of the engagement is available at Hong Kong China Rugby YouTube channel.
HKCR Squad vs Mazda Hiroshima Skyactivs (11 Oct 2025)
1. Sunia FAMEITAU; 2. Harrison KING*; 3. Zacceus CINNAMOND; 4. Max MURPHY; 5. Kyle SULLIVAN; 6. Tyler McNUTT; 7. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST (C); 8. Jack BARTLETT; 9. Eric CHUI Wai Lap* 10. Joseph BARKER; 11. Murray BRECHIN; 12. Ben AXTEN-BURRETT; 13. Elliott QUINTON*; 14 Dylan MCCANN; 15. Matt WORLEY; 16. James HOLMES; 17. Callum MCFEAT-SMITH; 18. Faizal SOLOMONA-PENESA; 19. Dana FOURIE; 20. Joe KNIGHT*; 21. Josh HRSTICH (squad captain); 22. Brendon NELL*; 23. Gregor MCNEISH 24. Tom HILL; 25. Penetana CARTER-SMITH*; 26. Marcus RAMAGE
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
