bc magazine

East Asia Cup: Hong Kong 14, Japan 24

Japan beat Hong Kong 24-14 in Hokkaido to win the rugby league East Asia Cup 2024. The match was tightly fought but in the end, Hong Kong’s lack of playing time and international fixtures over the last six years allowed Japan to close out the match.

Congratulations to Japan on their victory. Congratulations to all the Hong Kong players and here’s hoping it’s not another six years until the next international.

Hong Kong v Japan – East Asia Cup
Date: 13:30, 13 October, 2024
Venue: Hokkaido, Japan
Tickets: Free

Additional reporting and images: HK Rugby League

East Asia Cup 2024

After a break of six years, Hong Kong’s rugby league players defend the East Asia Cup against Japan in Hokkaido on the 13 October.

Hong Kong won the East Asia Cup in 2018. It was the first-ever test victory for Hong Kong’s rugby league team in only their second test match.

If you’re in the area drop in and support Hong Kong or watch the match here https://espn2broadcast.takemaster.org/rugby.php

Hong Kong v Japan – East Asia Cup
Date: 13:30, 13 October, 2024
Venue: Hokkaido, Japan
Tickets: Free

Additional reporting and images: HK Rugby League

Rugby League World Cup 2021 Rescheduled to 2022

Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021) have confirmed that the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments will now take place in 2022 from 15 October – 19 November.

RLWC2021 also announced that the opening match and the men’s / women’s doubleheader finals will be played, as originally planned, at St James’ Park, Newcastle and Old Trafford, Manchester respectively.

The tournament starts one week earlier than the 2021 dates so that RLWC2021 falls between the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2022 FIFA World Cup this change will allow all 61 games to be televised live.

Tickets for the 2021 tournament will be valid for the same fixture in 2022.

Thunder Compete in Emerging Nations World Championship

The Hong Kong Thunder take to the world stage when they compete in the Rugby League 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship. The tournament takes place in Australia and features 11 countries and four Regional Confederation teams competing in 30 matches during the first two weeks of October.

The 11 teams have been broken into groups based upon their current World Rankings, and will play off for the Emerging Nations World Cup, Trophy and Bowl, whilst the four Regional Confederation teams will play off for their own trophy.

Hong Kong are in Pool C and will play Poland on the 4 October and the Solomon Islands on the 7 October. All matches are being live streamed on facebook and you can find out more about the tournament here www.rlenwc.com.

Hong Kong Thunder Squad for Emerging Nations World Cup

Seb Alfonsi, Ghislain Baleyte, Alvin Chan (陳兆墇), Jason Fairleigh, Lee Griffiths, John Howarth, Gareth Janes, Rhys Johnson, Toby Lei (雷穎中), Richard Lindsay (連冠英), Ringo Lung (龍卓楠) [Captain], Craig McMurrich, Ben Mouclier, Allan Newsome, Jack Nielsen, Komei Ogiyama (荻山浩明), Ari Rogers, Ben Ryan, Evi Seumanutafa, Alex Shvets (書羲賢), Frankie Solomona, Gus Spence, Hogan Toomalatai, Mike Tsang (曾仲禮), Matthew Waugh, Dicky Wong (黃迪奇), Tommy Wong (黄樺), Hung Yip (葉潤鴻), Jason Yip (葉仲芹)

Images: HKRL

Hong Kong Win Rugby League’s East Asia Cup

Historic victory for the Hong Kong Thundar 32-20 over Japan in the East Asia Cup in Tokyo. The win is Hong Kong’s first ever rugby league test victory, in only their second test match.

The game at Inagi Chuo Park in Tokyo also saw man of the match Hogan Toomalatai become the first ever Hong King international to score a hat trick.

Tries
Hogan Toomalatai (3), Gus Spence, Craig McMurrich, Ghislain Bayleyte

Conversions
Gus Spence, Richard Lindsay (3)

Hong Kong Thunder v Japan

Full back: Tommy Wong #3
Wing: Alvin Chan #16
Centre: Hogan Toomalatai #15
Centre: Ghislain Baleyte #4
Wing: Ben Mouclier #2
Stand off: Jason Fairleigh #20
Half back: Gus Spence #1
Prop: Ben Ryan #23
Hooker: Ringo Lung #7
Prop: Jack Nielsen #22
Second row: Richard Lindsay #10
Second row: Jason Yip #12
Loose forward: Alex Shvets #6

Bench
Toby Lei #18
Udo Wong #11
Alan Newsome #15
Craig McMurrich #13

Additional reporting and images: HK Rugby League

Japan Host Hong Kong in Second East Asia Cup

In rugby league Japan will host Hong Kong in the second East Asia Cup on 16 June in Tokyo as both teams prepare for this year’s Emerging Nations World Championships.

Hong Kong narrowly lost to Japan in inaugural East Asia Cup last November at King’s Park. The match, which was also Hong Kong’s international rugby league debut, saw Japan build up a solid 24-0 lead before Hong Kong came storming back in the second half, only to fall just short in a 24-22 loss.

The fixture will be another milestone in a busy year for HKRL which kick’s off with the fourth HKRL 9s on 27 May at King’s Park. Followed by the return of HKRL’s domestic club competition the Super League. All roads though lead to Sydney where Hong Kong will participate at the Emerging Nations World Championships.

The ENWC tournament is aimed at boosting the development of the game globally, and will see Tier 2 and 3 rugby league nations compete in a two week tournament. The reach and diversity of those participating reflects of the growth of rugby league around the world with Canada, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Niue, Philippines, Thailand and Vanuatu all confirmed.

Hong Kong Rugby League Nines
Date: 27 May, 2018
Venue: Kings Park
Tickets: Free
More info: http://hongkongrugbyleague.com