Hong Kong China Men XV South America Tour 2024

The Hong Kong China Rugby men’s XV team are heading to South America for a three-match international tour in July 2024, which will see them take on Chile, Paraguay, and Brazil.

Updated 6 July 2024

As we had first reported back in January 2024, this will be the longest Men’s XV tour from memory and will be ideal preparation for the men as they try and qualify for their first Rugby World Cup which next takes place in Australia in 2027.

This follows the news of the expansion from 20 to 24 teams for RWC 2027 which sees Asia gain an automatic spot from the winner of Asia Rugby Men’s Championship (ARMC) 2025 and Japan has already qualified based on 2023 results. The Hong Kong China men won the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship for a 5th consecutive time this year and should be facing UAE, South Korea, and Sri Lanka in 2025.

All but seven of the HKCR touring squad play with Hong Kong clubs in the domestic championship, and Head Coach Andrew Douglas has retained Joshua Hrstich as his tour captain.

Douglas told us, “With the South American tour in mind we had to think about the player load in the ARMC and Chile is our big target, which is the first week on tour. That’s an exciting prospect as Chile is ranked ahead of us, and played at the last  Rugby World Cup. That’s kind of where we want to see where we are. Many of their squad play together in a franchise team club team in the Super Rugby Americas and they are good.”

He added, “The tour will be an exciting time for us too, and a great measuring stick to see how close we are to those nations. It’s going to be much more physical over there (than the ARMC)”.

HKCR player Luke Van Der Smit said of the tour after the ARMC win, “I am excited about the tour, we have a great platform to work from and we can assess where we are against some of these other teams.”

Photo Credit: HKCR – Hong Kong China Men XV in Chile

World Rugby Rankings (correct at the time of publishing)

• Chile #23
• Hong Kong China #24
• Brazil #29
• Paraguay #38

Hong Kong China Men XV South America Tour 2024 Fixtures & Squads

• Saturday 6 July (KO 15:00 local time) – Chile vs Hong Kong China (Estadio Fiscal de Talca) – See more in our match preview here.
• Saturday 13 July (KO 16:00 TBD) – Paraguay vs Hong Kong China (Estadio Heroes de Curupayty)
• Saturday 21 July (KO 15:00 TBD) – Brazil vs Hong Kong China (venue TBC)

Hong Kong has played Brazil (Os Tupis) only once before in 2011 which they won 37-3 in Dubai. A bulk of the Brazilan squad ( 30 of the 36) selected play for the Cobras in Super Rugby Americas.

Team Management HKCR South America 2024 Tour

In June 2024, HKCR confirmed its 32-player squad for the Men’s XVs tour to South America with the bulk of their historic Asia Rugby Men’s Championship squad included. 

• Charles CHEUNG (Team Manager)
• Andrew DOUGLAS (Head Coach)
• Lewis EVANS (Coach)
• Logan ASPLIN (Coach)
• Marno MEYER (Coach)
• Peter NUGENT (S&C Coach)
• Andy YUEN (Analyst)
• Henry ELLIOTT (Physiotherapist)
• Tomas GALDAMES YARA (Physiotherapist)

Image Credit: HKCR

HKCR Players – South America 2024 Tour

1. Faizal SOLOMONA PENESA (HK Scottish)
2. Zacceus CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay)
3. Rory CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay)
4. James HOLMES (Kowloon)
5. Ben HIGGINS (Randwick)
6. Mikkel CHRISTENSEN (HK Scottish)
7. Alexander POST (Richmond)
8. Calum Scott (RAMS)
9. Patrick JENKINSON (Hong Kong Football Club)
10. Callum McCULLOUGH (Hong Kong Football Club)
11. Kyle SULLIVAN (USRC Tigers)
12. Jamie PINCOTT (HK Scottish)
13. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST (Hong Kong Football Club)
14. Tyler McNUTT (Hong Kong Football Club)
15. James SAWYER (Kowloon)
16. Joshua HRSTICH © (Hong Kong Football Club)
17. Luke VAN DER SMIT (Valley)
18. Pat Joe LAIDLER (Harry) (HKU Sandy Bay)
19. Bryn PHILLIPS (Kowloon)
20. Jack COMBES (USRC Tigers)
21. Nathan DE THIERRY (Hunter Wildfires)
22. Gregor McNEISH (VPC Andorra)
23. Matteo AVITABILE (Hong Kong Football Club)
24. Murray BRECHIN (Hong Kong Football Club)
25. Thomas Hill (Hong Kong Football Club)
26. Ben AXTEN-BURRETT (Hong Kong Football Club)
27. Jack ABBOTT (Hong Kong Football Club)
28. Sebastian BRIEN (HKU Sandy Bay)
29. Harry SAYERS (Valley)
30. Charles HIGSON-SMITH (Hong Kong Football Club)
31. Matthew WORLEY (Bedford Blues)
32. Paul ALTIER (SOC Rugby)

Image Credit: HKCR

How To Watch Hong Kong China Men XV South America Tour 2024

HKCR said that the broadcast details for each match are still being finalised and will be updated when available.

• The latest update for the HKCr vs Chile match is that the broadcast is only available on Disney+ in South America and the Caribbean. The Union will update with photos and scores.

International Rugby News 2024

• 2024 World Rugby U20 Trophy – Teams & Fixtures Guide.
• 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship.
• WXV 2024 Details Confirmed – WXV 3 Heads Back To Dubai.
• Sakura Fifteen Will Host USA in Two-Test Series.