HKCR U20 Head Coach Logan Asplin – World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 Preparations

Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) U20 Coach Logan Asplin has been in his role for a year since joining from New Zealand and was most recently helping the Men’s XV during the victorious 2023 Asia Rugby Championship run. He has been focusing on getting the Union’s U20 Men ready for the World Rugby U20 Trophy which will be held in Kenya in July.

The squad departs this week and their first journey takes them to Holland for the Corendon Summer Tour where they will be involved in one match on July 8th 2023 as they take on the Dutch U20s. The time spent in the Netherlands will be vital for the group of players and coaches to prepare for the World Rugby U20 Trophy where they are pooled with Spain, Samoa and Kenya in Pool B.

We spoke with Asplin about the preparations and expectations for the group as well as the pre-tournament tour to Holland.

Photo Credit – HKCR – U20 Head Coach Logan Asplin

World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 Squad Selection

The Hong Kong China Rugby U20 selection took the coaches on a global search of eligible talent as Head Coach Asplin explains why.

“We ran an extended group selection here in Hong Kong for eligible players but let’s put it in context. This age bracket includes those born in 2006 but in most tier-one nations, they’ll pick 85% of players in the older end of the age bracket. In Hong Kong, there just actually aren’t many in that bracket because the general trend of kids here is they go overseas to university, or they finish their high school overseas.

A vast majority of those selected have been involved in rugby in Hong Kong including the recent New Year’s Day tournaments, for example. Hong Kong is home to these boys, and that’s really, really important. There are a few outliers of guys that are also qualified, but most are qualified as they were born here, or their parents are born in Hong Kong.

Photo Credit: HKCR

We’ve had a really good look at the players that are based here and at overseas players; we have linked up with their coaches, or with coaches who coached them here, or contacts that we’ve developed as a coaching group.”

To whittle down the squad from over 100 eligible players and build up a snapshot of players who are now in their database will do the development pathways a world of good, especially as this group, in particular, were robbed of some key playing years due to the pandemic.

Asplin added, “If we can find pathways for these players it will make the union grow and it’s only going to make our game better.”

On The Holland Trip And Preparations – Corendon Summer Tour 2023

This past weekend the group of selected players had one last training session which was attended by friends and family, while Hong Kong China Rugby CEO Robbie offered words of advice and senior Men’s player Max Denmark added encouragement to the team.

Asplin added that for the tour to Holland, he feels they are fortunate to get the extra preparation with the whole squad together. “It’s something like a mini Academy which has allowed us to have more numbers at training, and it’s given the players more opportunity to grow which has been great.”

For the preparations in Holland, Asplin added: “It’s all about how we maximise our time together. We’ll finish by playing the Netherlands Under 20s and maybe another warm-up fixture. I guess the challenges are that a lot of these guys have had a break from the game and we are asking the squad to effectively play five games of rugby over 28 days, it’s going to be tough.

It will be pretty important for our S&C (strength and conditioning) and recovery, and even the mental side as well. It will be our experience as coaches and staff to look out for them. There’ll be bumps in the road, but we must make the most of the time we have to perform and I think we’ve got a general plan.”

Photo Credit: HKCR

On The Challenges Of The Teams At The U20 Trophy Tournament

The HKCR (Hong Kong China Rugby) U20 Head Coach is excited about the challenges ahead. “I think it’s gonna be a really good challenge, and by all means, we’re going in with eyes wide open. We are just going to start with the first match and see how we best utilise our time on the ground.”

The warm-up match against the Netherlands will be good preparation for Spain as Asplin thinks the two sides pose similar physical threats to his side who might be smaller. “Our ability to play the game at pace needs to be diligent. And that is going to be really, really important”

Of the Samoan threat he has worked with some of the selected players back in New Zealand and acknowledges their style means you never know what you’re gonna get. “I have seen their team and have coached and worked with some of those guys and they have some really good players.”

Kenya will have home advantage and as such will be a fantastic challenge and the coach knows the Kenyans will have “some big athletes that are gonna be really good in the loose.”

Photo Credit: HKCR U20 squad with family and friends before they depart Hong Kong

Building For The Future of Hong Kong China Rugby

Although the focus is on 2023 and the matches ahead, for Hong Kong China Rugby it’s about building depth and identifying talent for the future – with goals such as Rugby World Cup qualification still a target.

“There is a gap between Under 20s and the Men’s first XV but it is probably smaller than in any other country in the world. We know that the men’s senior side has got an aging group and there’s gonna be a priority targeting RWC 2027, and even RWC 2031 for Hong Kong – so we have to provide these Under 20s with the best rugby experience so that they really want to come back to Hong Kong,” added Aspplin.

It will be really cool to see these guys progress, whether everyone there makes it or maybe some of them have the capability, but certainly, over the next two-three years it’s up to us to show them to choose Hong Kong.”

World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 – Hong Kong China Rugby Squad

Blake ELLIOT; Callum FITZHENRY; Camill Martin Marie CHEUNG; Charles AMISTOZO-WARREN; Chun Yim Glenn HUI; Ciaran DELANEY; David BENNETT; Dominic HEDLEY; Dylan MCCANN; Ethan AGREN; Fritz-Gonzales MAHN; Izac Tehanakore MANU; Jamie BLAIR; Joseph Michael DENMARK; Josh BAILEY; Joshua EUSTACE; Jude HARDING; Julien BOURRON; Justin EDEN; Marco CONTI; Maxwell THRELKELD; Oliver PYLE; Samuel MARTIN; Takuma YAMAUCHI; Theodore Angel MAG; Tyler MCNUTT; William RIGBY; Adam BABER

What To Know About The World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023

8 teams will play in Nairobi, Kenya.

The tournament returns for the first time since 2019.

Second time Kenya will host it after 2009.

Qualification to the World Rugby U20 Championship in 2024 is up for grabs!

U20 Rugby News

• Hong Kong China Select World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 Squad.
• World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 Pools and Schedule Confirmed.
• World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 – Complete Guide.
• Japan World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 Squad.