HONG KONG CHINA MEN’S XVs CHASE ASIA RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 2025 AND QUALIFICATION FOR RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027

The Hong Kong China Men’s XVs representative team feature in the upcoming four-team round robin Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship as defending champions. 

Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025 - Hong Kong China Fixtures

• Saturday 14 June: United Arab Emirates vs Hong Kong China (Dubai, UAE) 
• Sunday 22 June: Hong Kong China vs Sri Lanka (Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground, Hong Kong)
• Saturday 5 July: Korea vs Hong Kong China (Incheon, Korea)

The squad heads to Japan on Saturday (24 May) for a week-long camp concluding with warm-up match against a JAPAN XV on Saturday 31 May in Oita. The Japan camp includes some additional overseas-based players who are also in contention for selection in the ARC – with the travelling squad confirmed at the bottom of this article.

The boys are chasing a sixth consecutive Asia Rugby title and – more importantly for this year – a spot at Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia. Automatic qualification to the newly expanded 24-team World Cup will be awarded to the winners of the Asia Rugby Championship, with the runners-up competing in a repechage route later in 2025.

Hong Kong China Men’s XVs captain Josh Hrstich is one of a group of players who were given a full-time contract by Hong Kong China Rugby in preparation for what is the most important Asia Rugby Men’s Championship to date. He said:

"It feels pretty awesome. We have such a good group and culture, and it's a place you really look forward to coming into in the mornings. As hard as we are training, you still get up in the morning excited to come in. It's probably the most exciting time for Hong Kong China Men’s rugby fifteens ever. You cannot ignore the carrot of going to the World Cup, and that pinnacle of the game."

Players and coaches have been in preparation mode for much of the last year, including a three-match tour to South America last summer and a two-match series against Brazil in Hong Kong in November, with many players also competing through a full season of domestic rugby.

In terms of recent preparations, prior to the trip to Japan, a squad of 32 players travelled to the ACT Brumbies Academy in Canberra in April for a training camp and hit-out against a Brumbies A side with Super Rugby and Wallaby talent.

The team also had a camp with the Brumbies back in 2024, and Hrstich said of the difference a year makes, "There's a noticeable improvement from last time. Our guys are bigger, faster, stronger. And we're so much further ahead, and that's thanks to having a full-time programme. 

"Japan will be an interesting test, but it's an exciting opportunity. To go and play a Japan representative (that is full of JRLO players and who convincingly beat a New Zealand University team in May 2025), you've got to expect that it's going to be a handy side."

Hong Kong China Men’s Head Coach Andrew Douglas said that as a group, they have talked about seizing the exciting opportunity and that the training squads have introduced new players such as Ben Sheldon and Max Murphy, who has come back to Hong Kong from Richmond in the RFU Championship. 

“It's a position that not many get to be in. We're trying to walk towards that pressure, and I think the players are excited. It's given a new lease of life to a few who have been through a few seasons, which has been good to see.”

Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship Rivals

Of course, all four of the competing nations in the AREMC 2025 will be eyeing history and are targeting the Rugby World Cup. 2024 runner-up the UAE, Korea, and newly promoted Sri Lanka are our opponents in the championship.

In last year's championship, our men were undefeated and racked up more than 180 points while only conceding two tries; they beat the UAE 52-5, Malaysia 70-6 and Korea 62-7.

Hrstich said of the preparation and fixtures coming up in June and July, "If we're so wrapped up in getting to a World Cup and not respecting our position and taking it game by game, you're not doing yourself any justice, or the jersey. We won't be taking anyone lightly."

He recalled the match in South Korea in 2022 in which the side went down to 14 men early but rallied to win a tight game, which won them the right to try and qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023. Those experiences help build foundations and know-how in tough situations.

Andrew Douglas explained, “I know it is a cliche, but we'll deal with the Championship one game at a time. The UAE and Korea have both lifted their game as well in terms of full-time programmes. I'm sure they've scoured the world for players, and we know Sri Lanka played New Zealand 85s. Everyone's doing a lot more, so you can't just think it's going to be the same as last year. But pressure's a privilege, so we'll just embrace it.”

The UAE and Korea played test matches in November 2024, both played Zimbabwe, and the UAE hosted Germany too. The UAE side will play Kenya on May 24 2025, as part of their preparations, and will then be our first opposition in the Championship away from home on Saturday 14 June.

Hong Kong China’s captain is comfortable with knowing there is a core leadership group in the team and that the culture they have created makes it a positive environment. “We've got a really good leadership group, and the culture we've created around being honest and vulnerable with each other encourages those conversations and guys to be open and honest. It's easier to pick up on things, and it's everyone's responsibility.”

Douglas has also had access to the Hong Kong China 7s players, and the likes of Max Denmark, Harry Sayers, James Christie and others have been in the mix at training and on tour.

Home Match – Hong Kong China Men’s XVs vs Sri Lanka

Our men play their first and only home match against Sri Lanka at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground on Sunday 22 June (KO 4:30 PM), a week after the opening match in the UAE. Tickets for the match will be on sale soon – with details to be shared at hkrugby.com

Douglas and his team have more footage and analysis than usual to prepare for the matches, which start with hosting Sri Lanka. The team is back in the top-flight of Asian rugby for the first time in a decade after beating Malaysia 59-19 in the Asia Rugby Emirates Championship Playoff in April. They also played a touring New Zealand U85kg team twice since then.

Hrstich is confident that the squad is in a great place, now just three weeks away from the start of the tournament. “We're getting higher exposure to high-intensity games, and we're probably training at a higher intensity to try and simulate some of that footing. The more exposure we get, the better off we're going to be.”

Hong Kong China Men are currently ranked 23rd in World Rugby’s global rankings, followed by Korea in 35th, Sri Lanka in 39th and the UAE in 50th. 

The runner-up of the AREMC 2025 will be given a second chance to qualify via a repechage route. This comprises an Asia/Africa Play-off match for a place at a Final Qualification Tournament – final details have recently been confirmed by World Rugby.

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

Hong Kong China Men’s Squad – Japan Training Camp (24 May – 1 June 2025)

Team Management: 

Andrew DOUGLAS (Head Coach) 
Lewis EVANS (Coach) 
Logan ASPLIN (Coach) 
Marno MEYER (Coach) 
Alex ALLAN (Coach)
Pete NUGENT (S&C Coach) 
Andy YUEN (Analyst) 
Henry ELLIOTT (Physiotherapist) 
Jonathan MOSES (Physiotherapist) 
Charles CHEUNG (Team Manager) 

Players: 

1. Sunia FAMEITAU (HKU Sandy Bay) 
2. Rory CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay) 
3. Zacceus CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay) 
4. Faizal SOLOMONA PENESA (HK Scottish)
5. Keelan CHAPMAN (Hong Kong Football Club)
6. Alexander POST (Richmond)
7. Calum SCOTT (London Scottish)
8. Harry BARON (HK Scottish)
9. Patrick JENKINSON (Hong Kong Football Club) 
10. Jamie PINCOTT (HK Scottish) 
11. Mark PRIOR (HKU Sandy Bay)
12. Tyler McNUTT (Hong Kong Football Club)
13. Callum McCULLOUGH (Hong Kong Football Club) 
14. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST (Hong Kong Football Club) 
15. James SAWYER (Kowloon) 
16. Joshua HRSTICH © (Hong Kong Football Club) 
17. Luke VAN DER SMIT (Valley) 
18. Jack BARTLETT (Hong Kong Football Club) 
19. Alessandro NARDONI (HK Scottish) 
20. Gregor McNEISH (HK Scottish)
21. Nathan DE THIERRY (Hunter Wildfires)
22. Joseph BARKER (Kowloon)
23. Thomas HILL (Hong Kong Football Club) 
24. Ben AXTEN-BURRETT (Hong Kong Football Club) 
25. Maxwell THRELKELD (HKU Sandy Bay)
26. Harry SAYERS (Valley) 
27. Max DENMARK (Hong Kong Football Club) 
28. Matteo AVITABILE (Hong Kong Football Club) 
29. James CHRISTIE (HK Scottish) 
30. Jack COMBES (USRC Tigers)