PUBLISHED ON 25 JUN 2026
The Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) men’s representative XV warmed up for their arduous World Rugby Nations Cup campaign with a tense but entertaining 24-22 victory over a Waikato XV trial squad in a friendly played in cold and damp conditions in New Zealand.
Despite persistent rains making running rugby a challenge and adding emphasis to the forwards battle, (which HKCR comprehensively won on the day), the fixture was still played with great attacking spirit as the coaches made liberal use of expanded 25-player benches.
The chilly conditions will have also proven a good warm-up experience for HKCR with temperatures in New Zealand hovering around 10 degrees – ideal preparation ahead of South American winter.
In a rain-marred affair the home side flattered to deceive with a 10-7 lead at halftime despite Hong Kong enjoying much of the run of play and large periods of possession.
Hooker Harry Baron put the first points on the board for HKCR, scoring an early try through one of the team’s preferred attacking platforms: the driving maul from the lineout to give HKCR a 7-0 lead after Paul Altier’s conversion in the 8th minute.
The clinical lineout execution was emblematic of Hong Kong’s opening half with the forwards performing well in the set piece, while Hong Kong’s backline was sharp on attack and exerted significant pressure with their rush defence.
Waikato soon produced a textbook try of their own in response as the backs connected on a flowing move despite the wet conditions with the fullback dotting down in the far corner. The missed conversion left the hosts trailing 7-5.
Wakiato then turned the tables on Hong Kong with a well-executed try from a lineout near the 30-minute marker with their hooker finishing the move. The conversion was again missed, but Waikato had taken the lead for the first time at 7-10.
HKCR had numerous chances to regain the advantage in the first half but were foiled by tough handling conditions and some unforced errors, with neither side being able to add to the scoreline before half-time.
With expanded rosters of 25 players, both sides made significant changes at the interval giving the second half a fresh feel but derailing the match momentum for both sides.
Despite the flood of fresh faces, it was a veteran hand that started the scoring for HKCR with back rower James Sawyer producing a masterful charge down of the Waikato fullback’s clearance kick shortly after the restart.
He followed through to touch the bouncing ball down for a great solo effort try. Paul Altier’s second conversion returned the lead to HKCR, 14-10.
Reserve scrumhalf Eric Chui Wai Lap made an impact after coming on at the break, helping return energy and pace to the match as he moved HKCR swiftly from breakdown to breakdown. Chui completed his dress rehearsal by scoring a great try on the hour marker from broken play to extend Hong Kong’s lead to 21-10.
With so many substitutions on both sides the game took a while to return to its attacking flair as the new faces acclimated to the conditions and each other; the quality of scrummaging and loose play notably slipped with the return of heavy rains towards the end of the game.
The home team benefited best from the mid-match flux and worsening conditions to produce crucial back-to-back tries in the final quarter, as the lead changed hands for a third time with Waikato edging ahead 22-21 inside the last ten minutes.
A composed response from Hong Kong China saw them earn what is a well deserved win. HKCR maintained clean possession across the final minutes with some clinical recycling of the ball as they patiently inched up field.
The pressure soon told as Waikato conceded a penalty late.
Altier coolly slotted what was a difficult kick from 40 metres out on the right side to change the lead for the fourth and final time as Hong Kong won 24-22.
A second consecutive win over premier professional competition (after splitting the warm-up series with Japan Select in May) will further boost Hong Kong China Rugby’s momentum and self-confidence ahead of the Nations Cup.
HKCR will complete their cross-global transit on Friday when they move from New Zealand to South America.
The team’s next match will be at the World Rugby Nations Cup in South America where a physical test awaits against Samoa, ranked 20th in the world, on 4 July.
Hong Kong then play co-hosts Chile (ranked 18th), whom they will also meet next year at the World Cup, on 11 July, before closing out against Uruguay on 18 July, the highest ranked side in the competition at 15th in the world, in front of their home fans.
