Hong Kong send SOS as ‘headaches’ leave men’s rugby squad short for final shot at World Cup

Hong Kong’s last chance to qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup begins in Dubai on Sunday, and head coach Lewis Evans is already facing “some headaches” over team selection.

Already struggling with cover for the front row, Evans has lost the services of prop Callum McFeat-Smith to a knee injury.

McFeat-Smith, who can play on either side of the scrum, would almost certainly have been involved in the game against Portugal, after his performance in the encounter with Tonga in July.

Evans said he was “gutted” for the prop, adding it meant making some difficult decisions over a position Hong Kong are light at when it comes to depth.

“We’re looking to fly someone out in the next 24 hours really,” Evans said. “We’ll get them up to speed, get them integrated into training as quickly as possible and then they’d be looking to be involved in that squad for next week.

“We’re gutted because he’s a good kid, he was a part of the process [last time] he couldn’t make the [Asia Rugby Championship against] South Korea, but then joined us in Australia.