ARMC 2023 Decider – Hong Kong China vs South Korea Match Preview

With both South Korean and Hong Kong China Men’s XV teams having won their opening fixtures against Malaysia in the ARMC 2023, the title will be decided on Saturday 17th June at HKFC as the pair face off in likely very wet conditions in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong China was far too strong for the Malaysian side last week, thumping the visitors 88-9 in front of a home crowd, the first time they had been able to compete at home since 2019. There were standouts across the team, but Seb Brien’s 5 tries grabbed the highlights.

However, it was a team performance that never let the Malaysians settle, and big hits, a dominant forward pack led by No.8 Luke van der Smit, free-running backs and the accurate kicking of fly-half Gregor McNeish saw the points tick over throughout the match.

The home side hasn’t seen many changes for this final matchup, but among them, prop forward Ash Hyde has dropped out of the matchday 23 after struggling with an illness which allows veteran Ben Higgins to earn his 25^th appearance for Hong Kong China. Two potential first caps are waiting in the wings for front-rower Matt Keay and fly-half/fullback Dylan White.

The only real blemish last week for the hosts was the red card for fullback Paul Altier, who plays for Stade Olympique Chamberien in France, but he has to make way for utility back Nate DeThierry.

South Korea are fielding a new coach and a younger team in this year’s championship to the one HK China beat away from home last year in Incheon, but the South Koreans will be tougher opposition this weekend than what Hong Kong China faced on June 10th 2023.

Photo Credit- HRKU/ Ike Li / Ike Images – Seb Brien dotting over against Malaysia

Over 1,200 fans were in attendance last week and the match this weekend is due to be another sellout with the ticket allocation all gone (if the fans all turn up in potentially wet conditions), which they should as they could witness their home team lift silverware in Hong Kong for the first time in several years and a potential fourth straight Asia Rugby Championship in a row.

Centre Tom Hill was captaining for the first time in only his fifth appearance for Hong Kong China last week and was pleased with last the win and is excited to play in front of family and friends – with his own family flying into Hong Kong to see him play this weekend.

“That was a really pleasing performance. It is awesome to be playing rugby again in Hong Kong in front of our home crowd and it is a huge honour to captain this team. The Asia Rugby Championship is really important. We have won it the last few years and we want to keep winning it and go on to the next level.”

Photo Credit: HKRU / Ike Li / Ike Images – Team Hong Kong China captain’s run ahead of their match vs South Korea – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2023 at Hong Kong Football Club, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Of the likely wet conditions and the challenge South Korea poses, Hill told us before the captain’s run at HKFC “Nothing really changes. I think we kind of back our skills in any conditions so we’re prepared for anything. South Korea pose probably a tougher challenge. We’ve watched lots of videos, so we feel like we’re very well prepared for whatever they come at us with. We’re still looking to play an attractive brand of rugby – that’s our focus – we’re really looking forward to it and ready for the challenge.”

South Korea doesn’t have a huge amount of international experience in their squad, and Captain Noh Okgi will only be earning his 6th cap against Hong Kong China. There are only a handful of players with double-digit international XV caps but a bulk of the squad has fewer than 3 caps, with a couple of debutants in the touring party too.  

The South Koreans saw off Malaysia in wet conditions in Kuala Lumpur a few weeks ago and have had time to regroup, with South Korea Head Coach Lee Myung Geun making two changes in the squad compared to their ARMC 2023 opener.

Hong Kong China Head Coach, Lewis Evans, is confident, but added “The coaches were really proud of the way the boys conducted themselves versus Malaysia. South Korea is a different beast and we know that. But we are entering this game with confidence and have had a really good week of training. The boys look sharp – They are ready.”

Photo Credit: HKRU / Ike Li / Ike Images – Team South Korea captain’s run before they face Hong Kong China in the 2023 Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2023 at Hong Kong Football Club, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Mr Chris Brooke, Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Union said after last week’s match “This is another milestone in Hong Kong rugby’s recovery from the pandemic. Today was a great celebration and the support from the rugby community throughout what has been a challenging period has been incredible. The team has picked up right where it left off and I am sure that next week will be an electric finale for the Asia Rugby Championship.”

Editors Note – There is still no official news about what will happen to the Malaysians (known as Bunga Raya) in 2024. The winner of the AR Division 1 between Pakistan and UAE will earn promotion to ARMC 2024 but will Malaysia drop down or will the top tier include 4 teams?

The Straits Times reported that Malaysia Rugby is under the impression they might still be competing in the top tier but some facts in their article are incorrect such as the status of the Asia Rugby Division 1 in 2023. It would really help all fans and Unions if Asia Rugby could clearly outline pathways for the Championships – but in reality, the Asia Rugby Divisions are all in need of an overhaul in our opinion.

Hong Kong, China Squad – ARMC 2023 vs South Korea

 1. Ben HIGGINS, 2. Alexander POST, 3. Faizel SOLOMONA PENESA, 4. Callum MCCULLOUGH, 5. Patrick JENKINSON (vice-capt.), 6. Sam TSOI Kin-san, 7. James SAWYER, 8. Luke van der SMIT 9. Jamie LAUDER, 10. Gregor MCNEISH, 11. Seb BRIEN, 12. Tom HILL (Captain), 13. Harry SAYERS, 14. Charles HIGSON-SMITH, 15. Nate DE THIERRY, 16. Matt KEAY, 17. Zac CINNAMOND, 18. Keelan CHAPMAN, 19. Josh HRSTICH, 20. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST, 21. Bryn PHILLIPS, 22. Dylan WHITE, 23. Will PANDAY.

Image Credit: HKRU

South Korea Squad – ARMC 2023 vs Hong Kong, China

Seok Dong Hee (POSCO, 4 caps), Shin Gi Soo (KAFAC, 3 caps). Choi Ho Young (Korea Univ., 2 caps), Yeo Jae Min (POSCO, 1 cap), Kang Soon Hyuck (POSCO, 7 caps), Won Jeong Ho (Korea Univ., 1 cap), Shin Da Hyun (KEPCO, 11 caps), Lee Jin Seok (POSCO, 8 caps), Kim Dae Hwan (KEPCO, 3 caps), (c) Noh Ok Gi (KEPCO, 5 caps), Kim Yo Han (Hyundai Glovis, 3 caps), Park Woo Bin (KAFAC, 1 cap), Hwang Jeong Wook (Korea Univ., 1 cap), Noh Myung Soo (POSCO, 0 caps), Lee Geon (KEPCO, 3 caps), Kim Wan Seok (KAFAC, 1 cap), Kim Ki Min (KEPCO, 5 caps), Kim Hyun Jin (Korea Univ., 0 caps), Kim Yong Hwi (OK Financial Group Okman, 2 caps), Heo Dong (Korea Univ., 1 cap), Jeong Yeon Sik (Hyundai Glovis, 14 caps), Jang Jeong Min (KEPCO, 11 caps), Chang Yong Heung (KEPCO, 10 caps),Kim Eui Tae (KAFAC, 1 cap)

How To Watch the Asia Rugby Mens Championship 2023

There is free streaming via Asia Rugby and HKRU for the match:

• Hong Kong China vs South Korea – 17th June 2023  – HKRU Live Stream link (Kickoff 5 PM local time)
• All matches will also be broadcast live on Asia Rugby’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Asian Rugby Tournament News 2023

• Asia Rugby Championship 2023 – Hong Kong China, South Korea & Malaysia.
• ARMC 2023 Hong Kong China vs Malaysia Match Preview.
• Hong Kong China Men Look To Defend ARMC 2023.
• Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 2023.