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The Asia Rugby Women’s Championship got underway tonight at King’s Park Sports Ground, as hosts Hong Kong China tested Japan all the way in a hard fought contest that eventually ended 29-12 to the visitors.
The ARWC 2024 also features Kazakhstan in a round-robin format, with the remaining two matches taking place next week. The championship winner will qualify directly for the Rugby World Cup 2025 and earn the right to play in WXV2. The runner-up will play in WXV3, which has a further qualification pathway to next summer’s tournament in England.
Remaining Matches
- Mon 27 May, 19:00. Japan Women's XV vs Kazakhstan – King’s Park Sports Ground
Free Entry
- Sat 1 Jun, 18:30. Hong Kong China Women's XV vs Kazakhstan – Hong Kong Football Club
Note match is a doubleheader with Hong Kong China Men's XV vs UAE (KO 15:30)
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Full Match Report
The opening round of the ARWC 2024 saw Hong Kong China win the toss on an overcast late afternoon at Kings Park Sports Ground as they looked to add only a second win over Japan in their test match history. Although they didn't get the final result, Hong Kong China pushed a very strong Japanese side for the full 80 minutes and should be full of confidence preparing for their second match against Kazakhstan.
The 29-12 scoreline might even be slightly flattering for the visitors but they were deserved winners. Hong Kong China Head Coach Royce Chan said after the game, “We fought really hard for all 80 minutes, so I am super proud of the girls as it was a massive effort.”
First Half Defensive Heroics
Both team captains, Hong Kong China’s Pun Wai Yan and Japan Sakura XVs Iroha Nagata were playing in the #7 shirts so the pregame coin toss niceties were not going to be the last time their decisions would determine the outcome of the pivotal game.
Nagata was playing her 28th international and had led the Japanese in the ARWC in 2023 and into the WXV.
Hong Kong China kicked off with only four starters who were in the side the last time the women played an international in the ARWC nearly 12 months ago against Kazakhstan.
HKC flyhalf Fung Hoi Ching and Japanese flyhalf Ayasa Otsuka were exchanging downfield kicks but it was the Sakura XV who gained the better distance and the Japanese lineout would be a feature of the half (having three in the first 5 minutes) and placed Hong Kong China under pressure. Clearing the lines was also challenging and the Japanese relied on the territorial advantage to continue adding pressure.
The discipline was also a concern in the first half as the Japanese won several penalties from their ball retention and pressure and the first scrum (the Japanese had a slightly heavier pack) saw parity at the start, but gained momentum for the visitors as the half went on.
After seven minutes, the Japanese looked to have knocked the ball over the try line but the TMO reviewed and decided the grounding was good, although marginal, but the try was awarded to Japanese wing Mele Yua Kagawa with the flyhalf converting to take a 7-0 lead.
Japan were using their set piece and a superior kicking game to keep Hong Kong China pinned in their half with some attempted cross field kicks nearly getting them over the try line twice as they tried to stretch HKC out wide.
Defensively, Hong Kong China women were not shying away from their duties and the veteran centre, who often is the defensive leader, Natasha Olson-Thorne was immense and won a couple of turnovers while shutting down the outside backs of Japan.
The Japanese were still on the front foot, and after a slight mistake to put the ball into touch by HKC, Japan worked a smart short lineout move to run down the touchline and the Japanese captain went over to extend the lead with the conversion to 12-0.
Hong Kong China were not without good chances. Zoe Smith was a constant pain in the Japanese side on the left hand side, but elsewhere, one off runners were finding it tough to punch holes in the organised Japanese defence. Shanna Forrest was a constant battering ram in the half and throughout the match and eventually got the go forward needed.
After the 40th minute, Japan were held up over the line but had the penalty advantage and the ensuing quick take resulted in Olson-Thorne seeing a yellow card, however there were no more scores in the half.
Hong Kong China Threat in the Second Half
Royce said of the half time message, “The girls took the message really well and we knew that if we could keep the ball we would have our opportunities.”
The talk worked, as the second half was a completely different story for large parts as Hong Kong China, despite being a player down, started the much better of the two sides and for the opening ten minutes had Japan on the backfoot.
Rivers’ strong carries were causing the Sakura XV issues and the home side played some of their best rugby and had the most ball retention for the game while not conceding a point and while down to 14 players.
The side was soon back to a full complement of fifteen, and had also reversed the penalty count, with the Japanese repeatedly pinged by the referee.
Good phase play, better ball handling and increased confidence from the Hong Kong China side placed the favourites under immense pressure. The lineouts were functioning well for the most part, with Roshini Turner and Pun Wai Yan the targets. The side as a whole made life uncomfortable for Japan who struggled to exit their half but still denied HKC any points.
Twice, Hong Kong China opted for the posts after repeat infringements but both kicks were just wide and short, while Head Coach Royce Chan watched on with a poker face from the sidelines chewing through a pack of gum, but must have been brimming with pride internally with the second half performance.
With penalties being won by both sides, Japan (with a rare excursion into the HKC half in the second period) opted for the posts themselves and managed to knock over the extra three points to extend it to more than a two-try score game (15-0) with 15 minutes to go.
Hong Kong China were not folding through, and from the kick off again placed Japan under pressure as they were forced to defend their try line, but one of the best players on the field, Forrest, picked it up to drive over for the first Hong Kong China score which was converted by Smith - 15-7 with 13 minutes to go.
Japan then forced HKC on the back foot from the restart and Sakura XV front row replacement Nijiho Nagata, who has just finished a season with the Blues in New Zealand, added Japan’s third try, converted again by Ayasa Otsuka to make it 22-7.
The game had opened up but it was still fierce and physical. From the restart again, HKC forced Japan back and changes were rung on both sides to clear the substitute benches.
Japan had an excellent lineout move to close out the result, as the ball moved to the midfield quickly and Japanese centre #13 Sakurako Hatada cut through to secure a bonus point win and a 29-7 scoreline with just minutes remaining.
Hong Kong China had made Japan play for every inch and would rue some soft early tries but the match was not over. They continued their spirited performance in the second forty minutes and again sieged the Japanese 22m and try line before Chong Ka Ya added a second try with a final score of 29-12.
Japan's captain said after the game they were happy to execute the win but it was tough against the Hong Kong China team and they will need to regroup for the second match against a physical Kazakhstan team on Monday 27 May.
For Hong Kong China, the work put in to prepare was important and Royce Chan added that they are excited for the upcoming game against Kazakhstan. “It will be tough to play them as they have prepared since last year - they have experienced and threatening players and we will need to be prepared for that but there are lots of positives to take from today. We were good and the lineout worked well, but we need to work on the physicality.”
For the Hong Kong China women, as proud as they should be of the performance, they know this is not a one-match tournament and they will need to build from here and go into their final match with Kazakhstan on Saturday 1 June brimming with confidence.
Our Asia Rugby Championship match previews and reports are posted in collaboration with our good friends RugbyAsia247
