Hong Kong braced for fired-up Chile, with rugby bosses poised to hand Asia World Cup spot

Head coach Andrew Douglas said Hong Kong were expecting to run into a fired-up Chile on the first leg of their South American tour this weekend.

The game will provide Hong Kong with an overdue challenge against legitimate Test-calibre opposition, after a series of no-contests en route to claiming a fifth successive Asia Rugby Championship last month.

Proposed changes to 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification, gifting Asia an extra spot at the expense of South America, have added extra spice to the clash in Talca, which begins at 3am Hong Kong time on Sunday.

Chile, ranked one place above Hong Kong at No 23 in the global standings, made their World Cup debuts last year. The national team has benefited from its union entering a domestic franchise, Selknam, into the South American championship.

And Douglas would be keen for Hong Kong to replicate that arrangement by placing a team in the Japanese top division.

“It is a model world rugby is promoting, and could fit us in future,” he said. “A number of franchise teams have helped counties succeed. Japan is the closest professional league, so the easiest for travel. It is something we need to dig into further.”