Coach urges Asia Rugby to step up player welfare efforts as Hong Kong World Cup bid begins

Andrew Douglas has urged Asia Rugby to stop “paying lip service” to the issue of player welfare, but said his Hong Kong team would be in their “best physical and mental state” when they launch their WXV3 campaign against Fiji on Saturday.

The stakes could not be higher for Hong Kong, with qualification for the 2025 Rugby World Cup up for grabs over the next fortnight in Dubai, where Douglas’s world No 17-ranked team also face Madagascar and Netherlands.

The head coach, therefore, was bewildered by the continental governing body’s decision to stage two Asia Rugby Sevens Series (ARSS) tournaments so close to WXV3.

A number of Douglas’ players were in the Hong Kong team that reached the final of the ARSS leg in South Korea three weeks ago.

They subsequently joined the 15s team for WXV3 preparations but missed last week’s ARSS competition in Hangzhou, where Hong Kong finished fourth but suffered a trio of heavy defeats.

“Asia Rugby has to really look at their scheduling,” Douglas said. “The September and October window for women’s [15s] internationals has been set for a while, so to plonk a sevens series right in the middle is not ideal.