Asia Rugby Championship: Hong Kong have 2 priorities as they start title defence against Malaysia
- Head coach Lewis Evans targets retaining ARC crown and building for next World Cup campaign
- Welshman leading Hong Kong at home in a Test match for first time since taking charge
Hong Kong go into this weekend’s Asia Rugby Championship clash against Malaysia with two goals in mind: defending their title and looking ahead to the next World Cup in four years’ time.
Saturday’s match should be the easier of two encounters Lewis Evans’ men face over the next fortnight, with South Korea likely to provide a far sterner test in a game expected to decide who wins the competition this year.
South Korea beat Malaysia 27-3 last weekend in a rain-soaked affair, and will be looking to avenge their last-minute defeat at home to Hong Kong in the championship decider in 2022, which sent Evans’ side on the way to a World Cup qualifier against Tonga.
Despite being in charge for Hong Kong’s past five tests, Evans is leading the team for the first time at home, and has assembled a squad that mixes youth with the experience of the likes of Tom Hill, Patrick Jenkinson and Gregor McNeish, who kicked the game-winning penalty in Incheon last year.
“We have a really good blend of old and new players in the final squad, including some of our sevens players,” Evans said. “There are also six players arriving from overseas, so we are going into the ARC with a lot of confidence.
“It’s a new Rugby World Cup qualification cycle and we want to get fresh faces involved for the long term, but we also have a short-term goal of winning the ARC – that is our priority. We are confident that this is a good group of players for both goals.”
