Advertisement
Advertisement
TOPIC

Rugby World Cup 2027

Rugby World Cup 2027
The men's Rugby World Cup will be held in Australia from October 1 to November 13. Hong Kong qualified for the tournament for the first time after winning the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men's Championship.
Timothy Lafaele (centre) and Japan teammates celebrating their 2019 Rugby World Cup pool-stage win over Ireland in Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture. Photo: Kyodo
Sanae Takaichi

Why immigration politics in Japan is leaving its Rugby World Cup stars in limbo

Timothy Lafaele starred for Japan at 2019 Rugby World Cup, but now, under new rules for the local league, he is not sure whether he belongs.

Hong Kong International Test Rugby

Hong Kong end Nations Cup rugby campaign with come-from-behind win over Uruguay

videocam
Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong handed Rugby World Cup reality check by dominant Chile in Nations Cup

Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong brace themselves for hostile Chile Rugby World Cup dress rehearsal

City team ready for Vina del Mar encounter with South Americans, with both sides due to do battle again at World Cup in Australia next year.

Josh Hrstich, here trying to break through a tackle in training, will return to captain Hong Kong against Chile on Sunday. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong receive rude awakening at hands of Samoa in Nations Cup demolition

Pacific Islanders were rattling along at a point a minute at one stage of the 66-19 hammering in the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile.

Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong start Nations Cup campaign against Samoa with plenty to prove

Match in Chile is the start of six games for the city side to try to establish credibility ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Japan coach Jones to serve last match of suspension in Nations Championship opener

Team start rugby campaign in Tokyo against Italy on Saturday, then face Ireland in Newcastle, Australia, and France on home soil this month.

Eddie Jones is serving the last game of a four-match suspension imposed by the Japan Rugby Football Union for abusing match officials on a tour of Australia this year. Photo: AFP
World Rugby

Japan rugby coach Eddie Jones eyes Mourinho-like laundry stunt to escape ban

Spiky Australian, who is suspended for four matches after abusing a referee, jokes he might go ‘into the dressing room in a laundry basket’.

Hong Kong China Rugby

Japan coach Eddie Jones banned for abusing officials, to miss Hong Kong matches

Ex-Wallabies coach apologises after being banned for four games and has salary cut following incident on Australian tour with under-23 team.

Asia Rugby Championship

Hong Kong eye Seawolves prop Walsh as team builds to 2027 Rugby World Cup

Limited depth in an ageing front row and financial restrictions of governing body are proving troublesome ahead of the showpiece tournament.

Hong Kong are looking into the possibility of adding Charlie Walsh (centre) to the team ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Photo: Handout
Super Rugby

Australia legend Hooper tips old boss to inspire New Zealand World Cup challenge

Brilliant former flanker anticipating his ex-Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie turning All Blacks into ‘dangerous’ unit for global showpiece.

Fraser Dingwall crosses for England in a defeat for New Zealand last November that would prove Scott Robertson’s penultimate match in charge. Photo: AP
Hong Kong China Rugby

Ex-England star Anthony Watson backs Hong Kong to ‘show they belong’ at World Cup

Dazzling former wing at peace with forced retirement, anticipates his old boss Steve Borthwick turning around England fortunes.

Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong women’s 7s team coach sees gains of Thai rivalry despite missing final

Andy Vilk says their close matches bring out ‘the best of both teams’, will help prepare for the Asian Games rugby in Japan in six months.

New Zealand coach Rennie shakes up back room team as 2027 Rugby World Cup looms

Hong Kong’s highest-ranked group stage opponent for tournament in Australia retain one member of previous team, bring in All Blacks legend.

Dave Rennie, who was named New Zealand coach earlier this month, has been given the task of whipping the All Blacks into shape for next year’s World Cup in Australia. Photo: AP
Hong Kong China Rugby

Olympics and World Cup ambition can go hand in hand, Hong Kong rugby bosses say

City’s men also have their eyes on retaining their Asian Games sevens title and reaching the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Hong Kong have already qualified for the Rugby World Cup, with a spot at the LA Olympics sevens tournament next on the list. Photo: World Rugby
Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong ready for ‘harsh reality’ of Rugby World Cup, but boss proud of progress

Head coach Logan Asplin is under no illusions about the ‘pretty tough’ fixtures that lie ahead in preparation for the 2027 tournament.

Japan coach Eddie Jones says Rugby World Cup schedule ‘fair’, helps small teams

He says that, unlike in previous tournaments, the fixtures for next year’s event give all teams equal preparation time between matches.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong rugby head coach admits surprise at playing Australia in World Cup opener

World Rugby chairman has been forced to defend a decision that pitches debutants ranked world No 22 against two-time world champions.

Australian captain Harry Wilson will lead his Wallabies side against Hong Kong in the opening match of the Rugby World Cup on October 1 next year in Perth. Photo: World Rugby

All Blacks fire coach Robertson less than two years before World Cup

The 51-year-old said he was ‘gutted’ to be leaving the team; former Australia coach Dave Rennie has been linked to the job.

Hong Kong China Rugby

Rugby World Cup 2027: can Hong Kong close gap before facing Wallabies, All Blacks?

City’s rugby chiefs filling next two years with matches they hope will equip players to make the step up for World Cup debut in Australia.

Hong Kong China Rugby

2027 Rugby World Cup draw: Hong Kong welcome clashes with Australia, New Zealand

‘Everybody loves an underdog, and giant-killers,’ captain Josh Hrstich says after debutants are drawn in Pool A with two rugby superpowers.

Hong Kong players Eric Chui Wai-lap (left) and captain Josh Hrstich react to Wednesday’s draw. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong China Rugby

2027 Rugby World Cup draw: when is it, how do I watch, who won’t Hong Kong play?

The city’s men have qualified for the tournament for the first time and are in Band 4 for the ceremony in Sydney.

Hong Kong qualified for the men’s 2027 Rugby World Cup by winning the Asia Rugby Championship. Photo: HKCR
Asia Rugby

Coach Eddie Jones tells his Japanese rugby players to beef up after bruising tour

Australian says he wants to see those who hope to play for national side to work harder, says his team can make last four of next World Cup.

World Rugby

Samoa last team to reach 2027 Rugby World Cup after winning qualifying event

They join Hong Kong and 22 other teams in the draw on December 3 following tense draw with Belgium in Dubai.

Hong Kong International Test Rugby

Rugby chiefs unveil ‘watershed’ Nations Championship to crown top team, hemisphere

Top 12 teams to play in international windows of July and November, while 12 more teams including Hong Kong will play in second-tier Nations Cup.

Six Nations winners France (in blue) faced Southern Hemisphere champions South Africa in Saint Denis in early November. Photo: EPA
Samoa

Belgium on brink of surprise Rugby World Cup spot, but must beat Samoa to make it

The Belgians will face the Pacific Islanders for a spot at the 2027 tournament after both teams get two wins in the qualifiers in Dubai.

Belgium’s Felipe Geraghty pounces on a loose ball during the Rugby World Cup 2027 final qualification tournament match against Brazil in Dubai on Thursday. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong rugby’s Luke van der Smit facing long ban after failing drugs test

The No 8 reportedly tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance after Asia Rugby Championship clash against Korea in July.

Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong handed 9-try Rugby World Cup reality check by Japan A

City’s men lose Kai Tak Stadium encounter 59-14, with coach Andrew Douglas ‘pretty disappointed’ with team’s performance.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement