HONG KONG CHINA TO HOST BRAZIL FOR MEN’S 15s AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS
[3 Oct 2024] Hong Kong China 15s
Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) can confirm that our men’s 15s representative team will take on Brazil in a two-match series in Hong Kong in November. The autumn international fixtures will serve as a key part of the group’s preparation for the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025, which will reward the winners with qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The first match will be played at Hong Kong Football Club on Saturday 9 November, with the second match taking place at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground a week later on Saturday 16 November. Both matches kick off at 4 PM.
World Rugby’s traditional international window in November sees representative teams head on tour, with Germany travelling to Hong Kong in 2023. This year will see Brazil, who are currently #29 in World Rugby’s ranking system, as the visitors with Hong Kong China currently ranked at #23.
HKCR Executive Director of Performance Rugby, Jo Hull, talked of the significance of the two matches in regards to the team’s broader goals for 2025:
“This year we've made a concerted effort to increase the amount of international matches that we play, including our three-match tour to South America, and this is very much looking at the optimum preparation for the Asia Rugby Championship in 2025.
“We are using this November window to bring the team and staff together as we prepare for what is absolutely critical nine months leading into possible World Cup qualification, as we look to maximise every opportunity we have within our current resource.”
Hong Kong China and Brazil met in July in São Paulo as part of a South America Tour, with the visitors snatching a dramatic 26-25 victory thanks to a last-minute converted try. Hull was also delighted with the match up, which sees Brazil play in Hong Kong for the first time, adding:
“Playing Brazil will give us a really good benchmark as to where the team's at, how much we've improved since the South America tour and most important of all quality time together as a team.”
“Welcoming opposition from outside of Asia also helps us to engage and excite a wider audience. As an organisation we’re trying to generate role models within our programmes to inspire the next generation to get involved in rugby, and a big part of that work happens when we get the chance to play high-profile fixtures in front of our home crowds.”
Hong Kong China Men’s 15s Captain Joshua Hrstich, who led the team throughout the successful Asia Rugby Championship campaign, gave his thoughts ahead of the matchup:
“It's always exciting to get the gang back together, and with the opportunity ahead, our group is highly motivated and eager to get back on the pitch. We are really fortunate to have clever individuals monitoring our loading process, and as a player it is easy to trust them to ensure that we are in the best possible shape to compete.
"Brazil has a very strong team, as we saw recently during our summer tour to South America when they pushed us for the full 80 minutes. They are a big, physical team that is not afraid to move the ball, so we are looking forward to hosting them for what should be two super competitive games."
HKCR are also looking beyond the next nine months for the men’s programme, with Hull adding:
“What we are targeting is very much the longer term, so leading the team not only into 2027 but also into the 2031 World Cup cycle. Our expectation is that we can build on the performances from November, apply the lessons learned into our preparations for the Asia Rugby Championship and from there develop as sustainable a programme as possible.”
Ticket information for both matches will be released next week, for the latest information please head to hkrugby.com
Information and photo source : Hong Kong China Rugby
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