Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) 2022 Final Preview – South Korea vs Hong Kong

The biggest rugby game in Asia this weekend is the men’s Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) 2022 final played in Incheon on Saturday 9th July between the hosts Korea, and Hong Kong.

The fixture has so many unknowns which makes it an intriguing match-up between the current reigning ARC men’s champions Hong Kong, and a Korean team which has recently spent time in Japan to prepare for this vital game.

Four Japanese Rugby Football Union match officials have been appointed for the ARC match by World Rugby and Asia Rugby, with Tasuku Kawahara the match referee.

Road to Rugby World cup 2023

In addition to claiming the Men’s Asia Rugby Championship title, the winner also has a crack at qualifying for the Rugby World Cup 2023.

Whoever wins on Saturday 9th July will be crowned Asia Rugby Champions in 2022 and then face the daunting task of heading to Australia to compete with Tonga and the victor will earn direct admission to Rugby World Cup 2023 via the Asia-Pacific RWC 2023 qualification berth in France.

Match Permutations – World Rankings

• Korea could jump three places with a victory over Hong Kong, but fall by the same depending on the margin and results of other teams around them.
• Hong Kong will climb one place if they beat Korea and if Canada is beaten by Spain

Hong Kong XV Squad – Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) 2022 final

A veteran Hong Kong team will run out against South Korea on Saturday with HKRU Premiership player Josh Hsrtich making his debut as captain and supported by fellow back-row forward, James Cunningham, and fly-half Glyn Hughes, also on his Hong Kong debut, as vice-captains.

Other players to watch include Alexander Post, who was recently named Most Valuable Player of the Varsity Match in the UK, and James Sawyer, who took part in Hong Kong’s two-month-long Sevens tour in the UK and
Portugal.

Props Faisal Solomona and Ashton Hyde and locks Mark Prior and Patrick Jenkinson round out the starting pack, while experienced campaigners Kyle Sullivan and South China Tigers star Luke van der Smit are on the reserves bench.

Hughes is paired with scrumhalf Bryn Phillips, also recently returned from the  HK Sevens tour, with new cap Tom Hill pairing Ben Axten-Burrett in the centres.

Former age-grade star Matt Worley, who played for Racing 92 here versus Cell C Sharks in 2018, and Charles Higson-Smith are on the wings, with HK Sevens star Jack Neville at fullback. Gregor McNeish and Jack Combes provide more depth in the backfield.

Coach Lewis Evans is confident that after multiple years of pandemic-related delays Hong Kong is prepared for the challenge of facing Korea.

You can read more from the HK Head Coach Evans in our interview here.

1.Faisal SOLOMONA 2. Alex POST 3. Ashton HYDE 4. Mark PRIOR 5. Patrick JENKINSON 6. James CUNNINGHAM (vc) 7. James SAWYER 8. Josh HRSTICH © 9. Bryn PHILLIPS 10. Glyn HUGHES (vc) 11. Matthew WORLEY 12. Tom HILL 13. Ben AXTEN-BURRETT 14. Charles HIGSON-SMITH 15 Jack NEVILLE 16 John MCCORMACK HOUSTON 17. Ian ETHERIDGE 18. Zacc CINNAMOND 19. Kyle SULLIVAN 20. Luke VAN DER SMIT 21. Jack COMBES 22. Gregor MCNEISH

Korea XV Squad – Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) 2022 final

Korea comfortably beat Malaysia in the opening game of the Asia Rugby Championship (see the full match below)  55-10 and has since had training camps in South Korea and in Japan.

When we spoke with the HKRU XV coach, Evans told us that the match footage they had reviewed when Korea beat Malaysia showed that “Korea is a good team and they have some sevens players too. Their counterattack was very good so we have been working on making sure our defensive line is there and we are aware of their set-piece so we have some scrum focus.”

The Korea match-day squad was released on the KRU Facebook and Instagram by the time of publishing.

(Unfortunately, all press releases we have seen from the Korea Rugby Union are only in Korean and with no English translations available we have limited information). 

Where to Watch the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2022 Final – South Korea vs Hong Kong 

• Date: Saturday, 9th July KO: 17:00 (+6 GMT)
• Venue: Incheon, South Korea – Namdong Asiad Rugby Stadium

Photo Credit: Asia Rugby