bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Sam Agars

With Hong Kong’s 2019 World Cup qualification path set to run through the Oceania region, coach Leigh Jones is relishing the addition of Papua New Guinea to this year’s Cup of Nations.
The round-robin tournament, also featuring Zimbabwe and defending champions Russia, kicks off on Friday and will see Jones’ side play three games in nine days.
“It’s great exposure to the northern hemisphere style of rugby – Russia are going to be very strong and very powerful – and then with PNG and Zimbabwe we’ve got a southern hemisphere-type approach,” Jones said.
“That mix and that exposure for our guys is going to be invaluable in terms of developing Hong Kong rugby.
“Against a new team in PNG, it offers new exposure and I just think it makes our players more rounded when we play different types of opposition.”

Hong Kong, who finished second in last year’s event behind Russia, launch their campaign against PNG and Jones is expected to name a handful of new faces to take on the 69th-ranked side.
“Papua New Guinea are the lowest-ranked team so if you are going to take a few chances this is the obvious one,” Jones said.
“We are probably experimenting more with this game and it’s got the potential to go horribly right or horribly wrong.
I’m in for Hong Kong’s Cup of Nations tilt, says Japan-based Jamie Hood
“We are pretty confident, we have trained really well and we are confident the youngsters will come in a do a job for us.”
While Jones will take the opportunity to put some of his up and comers under the microscope, Hong Kong will need to find some form ahead of clashes next week with 37th-ranked Zimbabwe and their biggest test against Russia.
“I think they are going to be big and physical and they’ll play a bit,” Jones said of PNG.

“They are not going to take a backward step and they’re highly skilled, so we are going to have to meet them on the front foot, make sure our set piece is effective and try not to give them much ball to play with.”
Russia sit at 21 on the rankings, four spots ahead of Hong Kong, and have arrived in Hong Kong with what looks like a stronger squad than last year.
They will be using the competition as vital preparation for the Rugby Europe Championship starting in February, the winners of whom qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
Tough start to the Premiership has Hong Kong primed for Cup of Nations, says James Cunningham
“We have managed to bring most of the strongest players over here, some of the veterans were given a bit of time off to recover and we had a couple of players that couldn’t come because of injuries,” Russia captain Vasily Artemyev said.
“All in all we have managed to bring together quite a strong squad, it is our last opportunity before the European competition starts in early February so we need to come out and play together.
“Whatever we can do now is going to be beneficial in a couple of months time.”


Hong Kong hold on for win over Kenya in Cup of Nations

Hong Kong coach Leigh Jones to name strongest squad to face Kenya in Cup of Nations 2017 finale

International rugby a ‘walk in the park’ for Sam Purvis as Hong Kong grind out Cup of Nations win over Chile

Jack Neville to steer the ship as Hong Kong coach Leigh Jones rings changes for Chile clash

Hong Kong Cup of Nations

Papua New Guinea’s addition to Cup of Nations can make ‘players more rounded’, says Hong Kong’s Leigh Jones

Zimbabwe coach Cypren Mandenge, Russia coach Aleksandr Pervukhin, Hong Kong coach Leigh Jones and Papua New Guinea coach Sydney Wesley at the Cup of Nations launch. Photos: SCMP Pictures

Lex Kaleca in action for Hong Kong during the 2015 Cup of Nations.

Press conference of Regal Hotels Cup of Nations 2016 at Kings Park Sports Ground, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon on 9 November 2016, Hong Kong, China Photo by : Ike Li / ikeimages

Sport

Rugby

The tournament kicks off on Friday at King’s Park with the hosts taking on the new side and Zimbabwe playing Russia
