The Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024 kicks off at the start of June and includes four teams; Hong Kong China, South Korea, Malaysia, and the UAE who will make their debut in the top tier of Asian men’s XV rugby. We look at the teams, schedule and what the Unions have said about the ARMC 2024 in our fan’s guide.
Keep checking back as we will add more information as teams, match officials and other information is made available – we will not be running separate match day previews.
Updated 20th June 2024
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What Is At Stake – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024
Image Credit: Asia Rugby
Although the Men’s tournament has expanded to four teams in 2024, there are no Rugby World Cup or other pathway qualifications at stake this year. Hong Kong China are chasing a 5th consecutive title, with South Korea the most likely to try and wrestle the title away from them.
The Hong Kong China men went to Australia for a preparation camp at the Brumbies facilities to help the squad prepare for the championship.
UAE are the newcomers and an unknown quantity, while Malaysia is yet to secure a win in the ARMC. Malaysia (known as the Bunga Raya) beat Singapore in an XVs friendly on 11 May 46-7 in preparation for the ARMC 2024.
The format is a round-robin with every side having the chance to play home and away in Hong Kong China, South Korea, UAE, and Malaysia between 1 -22 June 2024.
World Rugby Rankings
Correct at the time of publishing.
- #24 Hong Kong China
- #30 Korea
- #50 Malaysia
- #60 UAE
Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024 Schedule
Image Credit: Asia Rugby
In the opening match of the ARMC 2024, Hong Kong China takes on newcomers the UAE, on June 1st in Hong Kong, as part of a doubleheader with the final ARWC 2024 match as the HKCR women take on Kazakhstan. South Korea hosts Malaysia the following day in Incheon.
The second round of matches takes place from 8-9 June, with Malaysia hosting HKCR and the Koreans travelling to the UAE.
The final round follows a week’s break and potentially will see the title decided in Hong Kong as the defending champions host South Korea, while the UAE hosts Malaysia.
1st June 2024 – HKCR vs UAE (Hong Kong) 15:30
Photo Credit: HKCR
(Hong Kong – This will be a doubleheader with the final Women’s Championship match played on the same day) You can buy tickets here.
Hong Kong China have played the United Arab Emirates five times in tests, but the last occasion was in 2013, and the UAE have yet to win and HKCR has scored more than 50 points on each occasion.
Hong Kong China are also on a five-game winning run, dating back to a 49-7 loss to USA in the Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament in November 2022 and are favourites for the ARMC 2024.
HKCR has named a strong squad to open their ARMC campaign against the UAE with Josh Hrstich named as captain as expected, and some Sevens stars such as Seb Brien are playing as he is eligible for the Monaco Repechage. The home side features 3 new caps in the form of Matteo Avitabile, Chukwudi Edison, and Camil Cheung.
The UAE earned promotion in 2023, after beating Pakistan in Lahore twice with 95-0 and 93-3 wins and they also come into the Championship on a four-match winning run.
The bulk of the UAE men’s squad comes from Dubai Exiles RFC including its captain Matt Mills.
- Hong Kong China cannot improve their World Rugby ranking with victory over the United Arab Emirates.
- If the UAE wins, Hong Kong China could fall up to three places depending on the margin and the UAE could climb seven places.
RESULT: HKCR 52-5 UAE
HKCR Men’s Squad vs UAE – ARMC 2024
On the eve of the match, there were some late changes to the HKCR side, with Harry Sayers coming in at #23, Matteo Avitabile starting at #10 (Glynn Hughes dropping out of the 23), and Paul Altier starting at #15.
UAE Men’s Squad vs HKCR – ARMC 2024
- Pieter KILLIAN
- David GAIRN
- Riaan BARNARD
- Esekaia DRANIBOTA
- Marcus GUERIN
- Epeli DAVETAWALU
- Matt MILLS (Captain)
- Jaen BOTES
- Andrew SEMPLE
- Jamie GAVIN
- Sakiusa NAISAU
- Justin WALSH
- Rory ARTHUR
- Emosi VECENAUA
- Matthew RICHARDS
- Sunia LALADIDI
- Lukas WADDINGTON
- Moeneeb GALANT
- Chris MCKEE
- Liam CALDWELL
- Conor KENNEDY
- Carel THOMAS
- Johnny HARRIS
2nd June 2024 – South Korea vs Malaysia (Incheon, South Korea) 14:00
South Korea and Malaysia have played 13 tests with the Koreans winning all of them with an average score of 63-7.
South Korea has announced little publically but their squad to face Malaysia in their ARMC 2024 opener at home at the Namdong Asiad Rugby Stadium in Incheon features 7 players making their debut. Lock Seo Tae Pung measuring 186 cm and 150 kg will be a handful for the smaller Malaysia Bunga Raya squad and Coach Lee Myung Geun has not selected players from two of the leading Korean clubs.
The Malaysians have yet to win a match in the ARMC, and Scoop reports that the Malaysia Rugby Union has set a target for the team to win at least one of their three matches. The team is on a seven-game losing run coming into Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024.
Malaysia Rugby President Amir Amri Mohamad said “I am confident our team can give South Korea a tough fight in the opening Premier Division match in Incheon on Saturday. We can also count on home support when we face Hong Kong on June 8.” The Malaysians lost both matches in 2023, 27-3 to South Korea and 88-9 to Hong Kong China.
Jaco de Wit (UAE) will make his debut in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship, having previously refereed in Division 2 and Division 3 West.
- Korea can’t improve their World Rugby ranking this weekend if they beat Malaysia.
- If Malaysia wins, South Korea could fall up to five places depending on the margin, and would Malaysia climb 10 places on the back of a win by more than 15 points.
RESULT: Korea 55-5 Malaysia
South Korea Men’s Squad vs Malaysia – ARMC 2024
Photo Credit: KRU
Malaysia Men’s Squad vs South Korea – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024
8th June 2024 – Malaysia vs HKCR (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) 14:00
Hong Kong China men have never lost to Malaysia in the 12 times they have played (winning by an average margin of 55 points) and the hosts are on a long losing streak of 8 matches. The last time the sides met in 2023 in Hong Kong, Malaysia lost 88-9.
For the hosts, Mohd Fairuz won’t be included as he was injured in the opening-round loss to Korea. Mohd Farid Syazwan Abu Bakar was re-appointed as Malaysia’s head coach before the ARMC but he has lost all four matches in the Championship thus far.
Hong Kong China named another strong 23-player men’s squad for their second Asia Rugby Championship 2024 clash against Malaysia, which is played at UPM Stadium in Selangor.
They have made seven personnel and six positional changes to their starting line-up from the United Arab Emirates victory, and one new potential debutant named on the bench – #16 Calum Scott. The young hooker plays for the Rams in the English National One League after joining from London Irish and has previously represented England U20s.
Captain Joshua Hrstich shifts from blindside to number eight, while Glyn Hughes starts at flyhalf after being a late withdrawal before the United Arab Emirates match.
Players who started on the bench vs UAE are in the starting XV, especially in the pack with Post and Solomona Penesa at hooker and prop. The last time Alex Post played Malaysia he scored a brace of tries, while Seb Brien (starting on the left wing this weekend) scored 5 tries!
- Referee: Justin Wang (Singapore Rugby Union)
- Assistant Referees: Leow Wei Liang (Singapore Rugby Union), Darroch Chua (Singapore Rugby Union)
- Television Match Official: James Perry (Singapore Rugby Union)
Match Permutations – Malaysia vs HKCR – ARMC 2024
- Hong Kong China cannot improve their World Rugby rating if they beat Malaysia.
- If HKCR Men lose, they will drop at least one place and three places if they lose by 15 points or more.
- A draw would lift Malaysia one place to 48th but if they win, they could rise nine places if they beat HKCR by more than 15 points.
- Even a smaller margin of win for Malaysia would see them reach a record 43rd.
RESULT: Malaysia 6-70 Hong Kong China
Malaysia vs Hong Kong China Squad – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024
Starting: 1-Mohammad Azri Mohd Kamal Rosnan 2-Amirul Mukminin Bin Amizan 3-Mohamad Syahmi Afiq Bin Edan 4-Muhammad Sameer Muhammad Sani Surinder 5-Mohad Shobrey Bin Amok 6-Syarif Nurhidayat Muzhaimey 7-Suhalkal Suhaimi 8-Amirul Aiman Ihsan Abas
9-Mohamad Nasharuddin Isamil 10-Lee James Chapman 11-Muhammad Kamal Hamidi Bin Mohd Raihan 12-Muhammad Hakim Bin Abu Hassan 13-Muhammad Azwan Zuwairi Bin Mat Zizi 14-Muhammad Harith Iqbal Bin Bin Muhammad Ahnar 15-Anwarul Hafiz Bin Ahmad
Subs: 16-Mohd Nurazman Ramli 17-Azam Fakhrullah Bin Abd Razak 18-Muhammad Abrar Bin Zanuddin 19-Harith El Iskander Shah Mohd Shukri 20-Mohamad Amin Jamaluddin 21-Razali Ramlan 22-Mohammad Nzareen Fitri Bin Nasrudin 23-Zulkiflee Bin Azmi
Hong Kong China Squad vs Malaysia – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024
Team Management
Paul RENOUF (Team Manager)
Andrew DOUGLAS (Head Coach)
Lewis EVANS (Coach)
Logan ASPLIN (Coach)
Marno MEYER (Coach)
Alex ALLAN (Coach)
Peter NUGENT (S&C Coach)
Andy YUEN (Analyst)
Henry ELLIOTT (Physiotherapist)
Jonny MOSES (Physiotherapist)
Player (Club)
1. Rory Cinnamond (HKU Sandy Bay)
2. Alexander POST (Richmond)
3. Faizal SOLOMONA PENESA (HK Scottish)
4. Kyle SULLIVAN (USRC Tigers)
5. Callum McCULLOUGH (Hong Kong Football Club)
6. Tyler McNUTT (Hong Kong Football Club)
7. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST (Hong Kong Football Club)
8. Joshua HRSTICH © (Hong Kong Football Club)
9. Pat Joe LAIDLER (Harry) (HKU Sandy Bay)
10. Glyn HUGHES (Hong Kong Football Club)
11. Paul ALTIER (SOC Rugby)
12. Ben AXTEN-BURRETT (Hong Kong Football Club)
13. Jack NEVILLE (Cormoran)
14. Sebastian BRIEN (HKU Sandy Bay)
15. Matteo AVITABILE (Hong Kong Football Club)
16. Calum Scott (RAMS)*
17. Chukwudi EDISON (HK Scottish)
18. Zacceus CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay)
19. Jamie PINCOTT (HK Scottish)
20. James SAWYER (Kowloon)
21. Camill CHEUNG (USRC Tigers)
22. Thomas Hill (Hong Kong Football Club)
23. Murray BRECHIN (Hong Kong Football Club)
*Debut
9th June 2024 – UAE vs South Korea (Dubai, UAE)* 19:30
With the UAE going down in their first match to Hong Kong China, they will host their first ARMC match at home at The Sevens Stadium Pitch 1 against South Korea who looked strong against Malaysia in their opening fixture 55-5 win despite fielding an inexperienced side.
- Referee: Matthew Rodden (Hong Kong China Rugby)
- Assistant Referees: Morgan White (Hong Kong China Rugby, Craig Chan (Hong Kong China Rugby)
- Television Match Official: Stephen Copeman (Hong Kong China Rugby)
Match Permutations – UAE vs Korea – ARMC 2024
- Korea cannot improve on its 30th in the World Rugby rankings if they beat the United Arab Emirates.
- The United Arab Emirates are guaranteed their highest-ever ranking if they avoid defeat and could gain between 3-8 places if they win, depending on the margin of victory.
- Korea would fall up to five places if beaten by more than 15 points, while a defeat by a smaller margin would still see Korea equal their lowest-ever ranking of 33rd.
RESULT: UAE 36-32 South Korea
UAE vs South Korea Squad – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024
South Korea Squad vs UAE – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024
21st June 2024 – UAE vs Malaysia (Dubai, UAE)
The United Arab Emirates knows that destiny is in their own hands, and if they beat Malaysia on Friday night it is likely they will finish runners-up in their ARMC debut which would have surprised most.
The two sides have met twice previously, with the Malaysians winning both times in 2015 & 2017 but this is the first time ever they will play in the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE have shown enough in the championship that they are favourites playing a Malaysian team who has never won in the ARMC and had a goal this campaign of winning one game – but after seeing the UAE beat South Korea – those ambitions may have been dented coming into this final round. The visitors are also on an eight-game losing run and have failed to score a try in three of their last four test matches.
UAE captain Matt Mills told Yalla Sports, “If we win against Malaysia, it will make a significant statement. We’re hoping for more support from the UAE Rugby Federation and potentially a World Cup qualifier.”
UAE Head Coach Jacques Benade has made 3 changes in the starting XV to the side that beat South Korea, while Malaysia has made 5 changes to the side that lost to Hong Kong China.
Morgan White (Hong Kong China) will referee United Arab Emirates for the second time when they take on Malaysia.
RESULT: UAE 62-19 Malaysia
UAE Squad vs Malaysia – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024
Starting XV: 1-Pieter Killian 2-Moeneeb Galant 3-Riaan Barnard 4-Jaen Botes 5-Marcus Guerin 6-Epeli Davetawalu 7-(c) Matthew Mills 8-Chris McKee 9- Andrew Semple 10- Jamie Gavin 11- Tobias Oakeley 12- Liam Caldwell 13- George Hipperson 14- Sakiusa Naisau 15- Matt Richards
Substitutes: 16-David Gairn 17-Lukas Waddington 31-Jonathan Harris 18-Emosi Vecenaua 20-Justin Walsh 21-Connor Kennedy 24-Gareth Newman 30-Sunia Laladidi
Malaysia Squad vs UAE – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024
(This is based on information from Rugby Asie as there is nothing official from Asia Rugby or Malaysia Rugby by the morning of the matchday).
Starting XV: 1-Mohammad Azri Mohd Kamal Rosnan 2-Amirul Mukminin Bin Amizan 3-Muhammad Abrar Bin Zanuddin 4-Muhammad Sameer Muhammad Sani Surinder 5-Mohad Shobrey Bin Amok 6-Syarif Nurhidayat Muzhaimey 7-Samuel Rentap Meran 8-Mohamad Amin Jamaluddin 9- (c) Mohamad Nasharuddin Isamil 10-Lee James Chapman 11-Zulkiflee Bin Azmi 12-Muhammad Hakim Bin Abu Hassan 13-Muhammad Azwan Zuwairi Bin Mat Zizi 14-Ahmad Zulhilmi Azizad 15-Anwarul Hafiz Bin Ahmad
Substitutes: 16-Mohd Nurazman Ramli 17-Azam Fakhrullah Bin Abd Razak 18-Mohamad Syahmi Afiq Bin Edan 19-Harith El Iskander Shah Mohd Shukri 20-Suhalkal Suhaimi 21-Razali Ramlan 22-Mohammad Nzareen Fitri Bin Nasrudin 23-Henry Christian Preston
Match Permutations – UAE vs Malaysia
- Malaysia could climb as many as four places to 45th if they beat the United Arab Emirates by more than 15 points in Dubai.
- The United Arab Emirates can climb another five places to 42nd if they win and overtake Malaysia.
- Referee: Morgan White (Hong Kong China Rugby)
- Assistant Referees: Stephen Copeman (Hong Kong China Rugby), Francesco Cammisa (Hong Kong China Rugby)
- Television Match Official: Matthew Rodden (Hong Kong China Rugby)
22nd June 2024 – HKCR vs South Korea (Hong Kong)
Photo Credit: HKCR
These two sides have faced each other 36 times and HKCR lead Korea 20-16 with wins. However, Hong Kong China are on an 11-match win streak against the South Koreans dating back to a 33-26 loss at home in April 2015.
Following the opening two rounds results, Hong Kong China know that a win or a draw will be enough to secure another Asia Rugby Men’s Championship (a historic fifth consecutive title), and even a shock loss to the Koreans would probably be enough unless it was a record defeat. Korea are three points adrift of Hong Kong China in second place in the standings in ARMC 2024.
South Korea are in real danger of finishing third in the ARMC 2024 after their loss to the UAE in the second round.
Takehito Namekawa (Japan) referees the match, having been an assistant referee for this ARMC fixture in 2023.
Tickets to attend the match are available here.
Match Permutations – HKCR vs South Korea
- Hong Kong China will remain in 24th in the rankings if they beat Korea to win the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024 title.
- A defeat for Hong Kong China means they will drop at least one place in the rankings, and three if the margin is by more than 15 points.
- If Korea wins, they will regain the three places they lost following the defeat by the United Arab Emirates a fortnight ago, returning to 30th place.
- Referee: Takehito Namikawa (Japan Rugby Football Union)
- Assistant Referees: Katsuki Furuse (Japan Rugby Football Union), Ibuki Tetsuka (Japan Rugby Football Union)
- Television Match Official: Tasuku Kawahara (Japan Rugby Football Union)
Hong Kong China Squad vs South Korea- Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024
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- Image Credit: HKCR
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- Image Credit: HKCR
South Korea Squad vs Hong Kong China Squad – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024
Image Credit: KRU
Asia Rugby Men’s Championship Squads
Hong Kong China Rugby – ARMC 2024
You can read more from the HKCR perspective for the ARMC 2024 in our collaboration piece here.
New Zealander Head Coach Andrew Douglas has picked Joshua Hrstich as his captain for as the coach takes on his first ARMC.
South Korea – ARMC 2024
The South Korean squad for the ARMC is quite inexperienced and the group consists of 18 forwards and 11 backs with as many as 16 players who could make their debut in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship.
Asie Rugby reported that no university players, nor from clubs KEPCO or POSCO are included as the latter two did not participate in the Korea Super Rugby League 2024.
Below are squad details sourced from Rugby Asie.
Loose Head Props: Yang Keun Seob (Hyundai Glovis, 0 cap), Shin Ji Min (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 cap), Kim Tae Woo (Sangmu, 0 cap) Yang Keun Seob (Hyundai Glovis, 0 cap), Shin Ji Min (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 cap), Kim Tae Woo (Sangmu, 0 cap)
Hookers: Choi Ho Young (Sangmu, 4 caps), Lee Seung Eun (Hyundai Glovis, 0 caps), Park Gun Woo (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 caps) Choi Ho Young (Sangmu, 4 caps), Lee Seung Eun (Hyundai Glovis, 0 caps), Park Gun Woo (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 caps)
Tight Head Props: Park Ye Chan (Hyundai Glovis, 3 caps), Won Jung Ho (Hyundai Glovis, 2 caps), Seo Tae Pung (Sangmu, 0 caps) Park Ye Chan (Hyundai Glovis, 3 caps), Won Jung Ho (Hyundai Glovis, 2 caps), Seo Tae Pung (Sangmu, 0 caps)
Locks: Kim Sang Jin (OK Financial Group Okman, 5 caps), Park Joon Beom (Hyundai Glovis, 2 caps), Lee Hyeon Je (Hyundai Glovis, 0 caps), Seo Jong Soo (Sangmu, 0 caps) Kim Sang Jin (OK Financial Group Okman, 5 caps), Park Joon Beom (Hyundai Glovis, 2 caps), Lee Hyeon Je (Hyundai Glovis, 0 caps), Seo Jong Soo (Sangmu, 0 caps)
Loose Forwards: Yoo Jae Hoon (OK Financial Group Okman, 9 caps), Kim Yo Han (Hyundai Glovis, 4 caps), Hwang Jeong Wook (Hyundai Glovis, 1 cap), Kim Chan Ju (Hyundai Glovis, 0 caps), Yoo Gi Jung (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 cap) Yoo Jae Hoon (OK Financial Group Okman, 9 caps), Kim Yo Han (Hyundai Glovis, 4 caps), Hwang Jeong Wook (Hyundai Glovis, 1 cap), Kim Chan Ju (Hyundai Glovis, 0 caps), Yoo Gi Jung ( OK Financial Group Okman, 0 cap)
Scrumhalves: Heo Jae Jun (Hyundai Glovis, 0 cap), Kang Min Jun (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 cap) Heo Jae Jun (Hyundai Glovis, 0 cap), Kang Min Jun (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 cap)
Flyhalves: Jung Bu Hyon (Hyundai Glovis, 1 cap), Ko Seung Jae (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 cap) Jung Bu Hyon (Hyundai Glovis, 1 cap), Ko Seung Jae (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 cap)
Centres: Mun Jeong Ho (Hyundai Glovis, 6 caps), Lee Jin Kyu (Hyundai Glovis, 0 caps), Lee Yong Un (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 caps) Mun Jeong Ho (Hyundai Glovis, 6 caps), Lee Jin Kyu (Hyundai Glovis, 0 caps), Lee Yong Un (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 caps)
Wings: Jeong Yeon Sik (Hyundai Glovis, 15 caps), Shin Min Su (Hyundai Glovis, 1 cap), Kim Chan Deul (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 caps) Jeong Yeon Sik (Hyundai Glovis, 15 caps), Shin Min Su (Hyundai Glovis, 1 cap), Kim Chan Deul (OK Financial Group Okman, 0 caps)
Fullbacks: Baek Jong Eun (Hyundai Glovis, 1 cap) Baek Jong Eun (Hyundai Glovis, 1 cap)
UAE – ARMC 2024 Squad
UAE Director of Rugby, Apollo Perelini, is involved at most age-grade national team levels but for the ARMC 2024, the UAERF have appointed a coach for the senior men’s setup, Jacques Benade, supported by DuRandt Gerber (Backs Coach) and Aaron Persico (Forwards Coach).
The squad includes 14 members from the Dubai Exiles RFC which is where coaches Gerber and Benade are from. Dubai Exiles RFC‘s Matt Mills also captains the side.
Six of the squad as well as coach Aaron Persico are from Dubai Tigers RFC, four are from the Jabel Ali Dragons, 3 from Abu Dhabi Harlequins and at least 1 from Dubai Hurricanes.
Thanks to Yalla Rugby for some of the information.
- Pieter Killian
- Lukas Waddington
- Riaan Barbard
- Sunia Laladidi
- David Gairn
- Moeneeb Galant
- Esekaia Dranibota
- Johnny Harris
- Marcus Guerin
- Epeli Davetawalu
- Siri Laladidi
- Matt Mills (C)
- Ian Surtees
- Jaen Botes
- Chris McKee
- Andrew Semple
- Gareth Newman
- Carel Thomas
- Jamie Gavin
- Handre Snetler
- Sakiusa Naisau
- Rory Arthur
- Liam Caldwell
- Justin Walsh
- Tobi Oakeley
- George Hipperson
- Emosi Vecenaua
- Diarmuid Carr
- Matt Richards
- Conor Kennedy
Photo Credit: UAERF
Malaysia – ARMC 2024
Team details TBC
Photo Credit: Malaysia Rugby – ARMC 2024 Squad
How To Watch The ARMC 2024?
All of the matches will be streamed via Asia Rugby’s Facebook and YouTube platforms. The matches are confirmed to be streamed via RugbyPassTV too.
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