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HKFP
07-07-2025
- Sport
- HKFP
Hong Kong China qualifies for the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027
Hong Kong China have qualified for the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 for the first time, following their 70-22 win over Korea on Saturday. Hong Kong also made history as only the second Asian team, after Japan, to qualify for the tournament according to a statement released by World Rugby. 'There has been an enormous commitment from the team over the last 12 months to best prepare. The team travelled to Chile, Paraguay and Brazil last summer, hosted Brazil twice in November, completed a full domestic rugby season, then held pre-tournament camps in Australia and Japan,' said Head Coach Andrew Douglas following the Asia Rugby Emirates Championship victory, the statement said. The Asia Rugby title granted the team an automatic qualification for the tournament taking place in Australia in October, 2027. The team, currently ranked 23rd in the World Rugby Men's Rankings, won their sixth consecutive champions trophy at the Incheon contest on Saturday. Chris Brooke, chair of Hong Kong China Rugby, congratulated the team on their achievement: 'We have always said that potential Rugby World Cup qualification marked a huge opportunity for the four teams competing in this tournament, and indeed for rugby in Asia as a whole – and we are very proud to be joining Japan as a second Asian team at a Men's Rugby World Cup,' 'Qualifying for a Men's World Cup is a historic moment that will act as a further catalyst for growth at all levels of the game,' he added, according to the press statement.
South China Morning Post
06-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong have finally made it to the Rugby World Cup – now the real work begins
Hong Kong's men made history in Incheon on Saturday, qualifying for the Rugby World Cup for the first time – now the real work begins. Advertisement A 70-22 victory over South Korea sealed a sixth consecutive Asia Rugby Emirates Men's Championship title and booked a spot at the global tournament in Australia in 2027. Hong Kong will be only the second team from Asia to play in the World Cup after ever-present qualifiers Japan, who have already qualified for 2027 after finishing third in their pool at the 2023 tournament in France. The 10 tries Hong Kong scored at the Incheon Namdong Asiad Rugby Stadium, after they ran in 12 against Sri Lanka two weeks ago, took the team's total to 28 for the championship, underscoring the gulf that exists between the side and their regional rivals. Once again they came from forwards and backs, with the former having the upper hand in the rout. Alex Post, the hooker, and Josh Hrstich, who started the game at No 8, scored a brace each, while James Sawyer and Luke van der Smit also crossed. Hong Kong captain Josh Hrstich scored two tries in his team's 10-try haul. Photo: HKCR In the backs, Matt Worley's individual score – created by man of the match Nathan de Thierry, who kicked nine conversions as well as pulling the strings from fly half – got things moving with just two minutes gone, and he was followed across the line by Paul Altier, Harry Sayers and Max Denmark.
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hrstich ‘super, super proud' as Hong Kong men make Rugby World Cup history
Hong Kong's men made history in Incheon on Saturday, qualifying for the Rugby World Cup for the first time. A 70-22 victory over South Korea sealed a sixth consecutive Asia Rugby Emirates Men's Championship title and booked a spot at the global tournament in Australia in 2027. Three years ago, Hong Kong escaped with a narrow 23-21 victory, thanks to Gregor McNeish's final kick of the game. This time, they had run in three tries midway through the first half and were 39 points clear at the break. Not for the first time, a dominant forward performance was the bedrock for the victory, and it was no coincidence that the pack scored six of the tries. Alex Post and Josh Hrstich each bagged a brace, while James Sawyer and Luke van der Smit each added one of their own. The backs, meanwhile, had Matt Worley, Paul Altier, Harry Sayers and Max Denmark crossing the line. Paul Altier works his way through the South Korea defence. Photo: HKCR 'It's pretty overwhelming to be honest,' Hrstich, the Hong Kong captain, said. 'Just super, super proud of our playing group, our management, coaching staff and people behind the scenes. There's a lot that goes into making a team successful.
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hrstich ‘super, super proud' as Hong Kong men make Rugby World Cup history
Hong Kong's men made history in Incheon on Saturday, qualifying for the Rugby World Cup for the first time. A 70-22 victory over South Korea sealed a sixth consecutive Asia Rugby Emirates Men's Championship title and booked a spot at the global tournament in Australia in 2027. Three years ago, Hong Kong escaped with a narrow 23-21 victory, thanks to Gregor McNeish's final kick of the game. This time, they had run in three tries midway through the first half and were 39 points clear at the break. Not for the first time, a dominant forward performance was the bedrock for the victory, and it was no coincidence that the pack scored six of the tries. Alex Post and Josh Hrstich each bagged a brace, while James Sawyer and Luke van der Smit each added one of their own. The backs, meanwhile, had Matt Worley, Paul Altier, Harry Sayers and Max Denmark crossing the line. Paul Altier works his way through the South Korea defence. Photo: HKCR 'It's pretty overwhelming to be honest,' Hrstich, the Hong Kong captain, said. 'Just super, super proud of our playing group, our management, coaching staff and people behind the scenes. There's a lot that goes into making a team successful.
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong men make history, qualify for Rugby World Cup for first time
Hong Kong's men made history in Incheon on Saturday, qualifying for the Rugby World Cup for the first time. Advertisement A 70-22 victory over South Korea sealed a sixth consecutive Asia Rugby Emirates Men's Championship title and booked a spot at the global tournament in Australia in 2027. Three years ago, Hong Kong escaped with a narrow 23-21 victory, thanks to Gregor McNeish's final kick of the game. This time, they had run in three tries midway through the first half and were 39 points clear at the break. Not for the first time, a dominant forward performance was the bedrock for the victory, and it was no coincidence that the pack scored six of the tries. Alex Post, Josh Hrstich both bagged a brace, while James Sawyer and Luke van der Smit each added one of their own. The backs, meanwhile, had Matt Worley, Paul Altier, Harry Sayers and Max Denmark cross. South Korea did themselves no favours, and even against 14 men, after Axten-Burrett was sent off for a nasty clash of heads with wing Chang Yong-heung in the first half, a dysfunctional line-out and poor handling meant that Chang's two late scores were the smallest of consolations. Paul Altier works his way through the South Korea defence. Photo: HKCR It took Hong Kong little more than two minutes to get on the board, a line-out on the halfway line was recycled through several phases, and eventually a missed pass across the backline from de Thierry sent Worley flying through a split Korea defence.
