HKCR Men Ramp Up Preparations For November 2024 Internationals With Japan Camp

A squad of 3o players and 10 staff from Hong Kong China Men’s XVs are in Japan from 24-27 October 2024 for a four-day training camp in Fukuoka as they ramp up preparations for the two-match international series against Brazil in November in Hong Kong.

The HKCR men’s camp includes joint training sessions with Kyushudenryoku Kyuden Voltex in Japan Rugby Division 2 and LeRIRO Fukuoka of Japan Rugby Division 3 in the JRLO.

The vital test series in November serves as part of the key preparation for the 2025 Asia Rugby Championship, which takes on extra meaning as the winners with automatic qualification for the Rugby World Cup in 2027.

Some of HKCR’s Asian rivals also have November tests lined up with the UAE playing Kenya and Germany, while South Korea will also host the African side.

Hong Kong China will host their South American counterparts on Saturday 9 November at Hong Kong Football Club and on Saturday 16 November at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground.

HKCR said, “The camp also continues to develop Hong Kong China Rugby’s broader relationship with the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), after our women’s XVs also travelled to Fukuoka for a training camp in May ahead of the 2024 Asia Rugby Championship campaign.”

The Japan Rugby Football Union opened JAPAN BASE, its elite national rugby training centre in Fukuoka, in mid-2023 and several other Asian national rugby teams have held camps there, including from Singapore, India, and Thailand.

HKCR Men’s XV Japan Camp – October 2024

Photo Credit: HKCR

Players

Front Row: Faizal SOLOMONA PENESA (HK Scottish), Zacceus CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay), Rory CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay), James HOLMES (Kowloon), Sunai FAMEITAU (HKU Sandy Bay), Keelan CHAPMAN (Hong Kong Football Club), Jude HARDING (University of Sydney), Thomas GIBB

Second Row: Patrick JENKINSON (Hong Kong Football Club), Kyle SULLIVAN (USRC Tigers), Jamie PINCOTT (HK Scottish), Mark PRIOR (HKU Sandy Bay), Finlay FIELD (Hong Kong Football Club)

Back Row: Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST (Hong Kong Football Club), Tyler McNUTT (Hong Kong Football Club), James SAWYER (Kowloon), Joshua HRSTICH © (Hong Kong Football Club), Luke VAN DER SMIT (Valley)

Scrum-halves: Pat Joe LAIDLER (Harry) (HKU Sandy Bay), Jack COMBES (USRC Tigers), Jamie LAUDER (Hong Kong Football Club)

Fly-halves: Nathan DE THIERRY (Hunter Wildfires), Matteo AVITABILE (Hong Kong Football Club)

Centres: Thomas HILL (Hong Kong Football Club), Ben AXTEN-BURRETT (Hong Kong Football Club), Guy SPANTON (HKU Sandy Bay)

Outside Backs: Charles HIGSON-SMITH (Hong Kong Football Club), Matthew RICKARD (HKU Sandy Bay), James GOSTICK (Hong Kong Football Club), Dylan WHITE (Kowloon)

Team Management

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)
Jonathan MOSES (Physiotherapist)
Charles CHEUNG (Team Manager)

Asian International Rugby 2024

• UAE-Based Duane Aholelei Selected For Tonga November 2024 Men’s XV Tour.
• Hong Kong China Confirms It Will Host Brazil For Two Men’s 15s Autumn 2024 Internationals.
• World Rugby Match Official Appointments For Men’s November 2024 Internationals Confirmed.
• UAE And Hong Kong China Men’s XV To Host November 2024 International Tests.