Hong Kong head to Dubai for Rugby World Cup repechage with stakes high, and for some it will be all or nothing
- Hong Kong have never qualified for a World Cup, and face tough opposition in Portugal, Kenya and the US
- Centre Tom Hill says he ‘genuinely thinks’ any of the teams in Dubai have the chance to cement their spot for Paris 2023
There is a lot riding on the next month for Hong Kong’s rugby players, not least of which is the chance to make history as the first team from the city to qualify for a World Cup.
Lewis Evans’ side flew to Dubai on Sunday ahead of the repechage tournament where they will take on Kenya, Portugal and the United States for the right to play at the main event in Paris next year.
For some of those in the 30-man squad, November represents a last chance, and in several cases, an only chance, to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Tom Hill is among the latter, the Australian-born centre moved to Hong Kong five years ago with a specific dream in mind, and there are three games standing between him and that achievement.
“I’m in my 30s, I won’t get another shot in four years time, this is it,” Hill said. “I think most [of the squad] are like that, some of the younger guys might get another shot in four years, good luck to them, but this is it for me.”
Given everything that is riding on the next few weeks in Dubai, those like Hill might be forgiven for allowing it to change how they view the games ahead.
But for the Hong Kong Football Club back, November represents the culmination of a plan and a tournament that has been “on the radar for a while”.
“I moved to Hong Kong five years ago, I had the view to be here for three years, qualify for Hong Kong, go to the World Cup, that was my plan,” Hill said.
