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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.
Japan rugby officials have said the player pool of Japan-born players is shrinking, and limiting foreigners would help boost it. Photo: AFP
Asia Rugby

Japanese rugby rolls back on planned restrictions on certain foreign-born players

Top domestic competition Rugby League One will allow certain players with Japanese nationality, but who were born elsewhere, to qualify.

Japan’s young rugby team gain ‘great experience’ despite heavy loss to Australia

Sanae Takaichi

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

Hong Kong International Test Rugby

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

City side defeat higher-ranked South Americans having been 26-13 down at half-time and after earlier losses to Samoa and Chile.

videocam
Hong Kong celebrate beating 17th-ranked Uruguay in Montevideo to finish their Nations Cup matches on a high. Photo: HKCR
Hong Kong China Rugby

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

South Americans run in three unanswered tries in second half, punish Hong Kong ill-discipline in prequel to clash in Australia next year.

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.

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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.

Lakopo Mapu of Samoa scores his side’s seventh try despite the challenge of Marcus Ramage of Hong Kong. Photo: World Rugby
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.

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.

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’.

Japan coach Eddie Jones is not allowed to set foot in the stadium for their Nations Championship opener against Italy in Tokyo on July 4. Photo: AFP
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.

Australian Eddie Jones, who is in his second stint as Japan coach, will miss his team’s Nations Championship opener against Italy in Tokyo on July 4. Photo: AFP
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.

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.

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.

Anthony Watson joins a Laureus Sport For Good community visit to The Education University of Hong Kong. Photo: Laureus
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.

Hong Kong’s Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana (with ball) is tackled by two Thailand players in their match on Saturday while her teammates offer support. Hong Kong lost 24-12. Photo: Elson Li

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.

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.

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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.

Hong Kong beat South Korea to win the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship and qualify for the World Cup. Photo: Patrick Leung

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.

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.

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.

Scott Robertson said in a statement he was ‘gutted’ to be leaving. Photo: AFP
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.

Ben Axten-Burrett takes on South Korea during last year’s Asia Rugby Championship, a tournament Hong Kong now dominate. Photo: Jonathan Wong
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 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.

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.

Japan full-back Yoshitaka Yazaki makes a break during the Autumn Nations Series match against Ireland in Dublin on November 8. The Irish won 41-10. Photo: AFP
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.

Miracle Fai’ilagi of Samoa on the charge against Namibia during the final qualification tournament in Dubai. Photo: World Rugby via Getty Images
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.

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.

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