When the All Blacks were the final team drawn in last week’s Rugby World Cup draw, the Hong Kong China squad erupted with excitement.
The World Cup debutants had already learned they would share Pool A with host nation Australia and Chile, but for players with New Zealand roots or strong ties to Aotearoa, the chance to face the All Blacks was nothing short of a dream.
Alongside those born and raised in Hong Kong, the squad includes players from around the globe with different stories on how they ended up in the Chinese territory of seven and a half million people, but the Kiwi connections are among the strongest on and off the field.
The team is captained by Wellington-born loose forward Josh Hrstich, who has played 20 tests, while former Counties Manukau first-five Nathan de Thierry is a key playmaker.
Prop Sunia Fomai and flanker Tyler McNutt were born in Tonga and Hong Kong respectively, but both were schooled in New Zealand. Fullback Penetana Smith, from Hawke’s Bay, is part of the high-performance programme and will qualify as eligible soon, while others in the squad have at least one Kiwi parent.
The coaching staff also reflects this connection with former Hamilton Boys First XV coach Logan Asplin recently stepping up to the head coaching role. Fellow Kiwi Andrew Douglas, who led the team through World Cup qualification, moves into a Director of Rugby role ahead of 2027.
Hrstich, who played club rugby in Petone, where he recalls facing the likes of Julian and Ardie Sava and Ma’a Nonu, before spending time in Ireland, found himself in Hong Kong a decade ago and hasn’t looked back.
Speaking to the Herald, the 35-year-old said the way the draw panned out, ultimately setting up a clash with the All Blacks, is a dream result.
“It’s unbelievable the thought of going out there to face the haka,” Hrstich said. “I’m so exciting and I can’t wait.
“Being drawn with the All Blacks is a dream scenario. There’s nothing more we could have ask for. We spoke among ourselves about what our ideal draw might be, and for things to fall the way they did, there’s not much we could ask for.
“We’re underdogs, yes, but that’s what makes it exciting. Kiwis and Aussies love to get behind the battler, the little guy. We’re hoping to be everyone’s second-favourite team if not their first.”
Hong Kong China secured their World Cup spot in July by winning the Asia Rugby Championship, which included Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and South Korea.
Before moving to Hong Kong, Asplin coached many players who have gone onto higher honours including Josh Lord, Noah Hotham, and Quinn Tupaea, and spent time with Waikato U19s where Samipeni Finau and Samisoni Taukei’aho developed.
“I think what’s underpinning us at the moment is just that genuine excitement to go out and play,” Asplin told the Herald.
“I’ve even had messages from a few boys I coached who are now with the All Blacks and they’re excited too.
“For us, it’s a chance to face teams we’ve never played before, while they get to experience something new. With a three-hour flight across the ditch, we hope we can fill the stands and give people a second team to cheer for, it’s just an incredible feeling.”
In a full-circle moment, Asplin reconnected with loose forward McNutt, whom he knew from his time at Hamilton Boys.
McNutt was born in Hong Kong but grew up in Taranaki, and Asplin hadn’t known of his heritage until a mutual contact in Hong Kong alerted him -prompting him to reach out.
McNutt told the Herald that the prospect of playing the country where he was raised is exciting and he’s hoping to get the chance to square off against his former school teammate Hotham.
“With so many of the boys being from New Zealand, when we saw our flag come up and heard New Zealand, it was a pretty special moment,” McNutt said.
“Growing up, you supported them all the time, so it’s a weird thought to think you’ll be across from them potentially, staring down the haka.”
For Hong Kong China, this opportunity has been years in the making having fallen short in the repechage tournament attempting to qualify for the 2019 and 2023 tournaments.
Hrstich, who was part of the 2023 qualifying campaign admits they were probably not ready at that stage, but now believes they’ve proven why they deserve the chance to compete against the world’s best despite being one of the lowest ranked sides at the World Cup.
“Missing out hurt,” Hrstich said. “You go into these tournaments dreaming it’ll be you, but the work that’s followed to get us here has been huge.
“We’ll need even more support to close the gap before ’27. But being underdogs is something Kiwis and Aussies love and we’re hoping to be everyone’s second-favourite team, with players who have ties across the Tasman and plenty of stories to tell.”
Hong Kong China will head into the tournament as one of the lowest ranks sides in the tournament. As a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, they are a representative team, not a national side, making them unique in the tournament.
Their rugby programme has been restructured over the past year to grow the sport locally and make the team more competitive with an eye to the future.
Their fulltime programme has 36 contracted players and the Hong Kong-based players train during the week as part of the representative set up before heading off to their clubs to play in the Hong Kong Premiership.
“It’s fairly unique to get your head around from an outside perspective,” Asplin said.“I can’t think of any other team with this model.
“Although it’s a challenge, it’s something to celebrate, the time this group gets together is huge.”
Knowing their destiny for the World Cup, preparations are only going to intensify as they look for the best preparation possible, with more higher-level games.
They’ve predominantly played other Asian teams, but there is a clear gap between them and the rest. Last month they faced Super Rugby side ACT Brumbies and Japan A, along with a test against Portugal in Lisbon which the hosts won 58-12.
The test against Portugal was one of only two tests in the past two years where they’ve faced a team higher in the rankings, with the other being Chile where they suffered a narrow 22-17 defeat.
But next year’s second-tier Nations Cup will see them get more chances against those higher ranked sides with reports saying they will face Samoa, Chile and Uruguay in July, followed by Canada, the United States and Tonga in November.
The match against Chile is particularly important, as the two sides meet again at the World Cup.
“We played Chile away to start our South America tour and came really close to knocking them over,” Asplin said. “It was a tight contest and would’ve been a dream result.
“I think we’d be lying if we said we’d match up against some teams better than others and I think the World Cup draw worked out pretty well.
“Whilst understanding the fact of when you’re playing the number two ranked team in the world and the number seven ranked team in the world, there’s a massive level up for us that we’re excited for.
“Given our goals of winning a game at the World Cup, finishing third in the pool, and creating something memorable for Hong Kong.
McNutt believes the full-time programme is already paying dividends.
“We want to show that rugby can grow anywhere,” he said. “The big teams have dominated for years, but the game is expanding, and we hope people get behind those of us trying to build our own legacy.
“We’ve had obstacles, but our focus now is putting together a full 80-minute performance consistently.”
Hrstich has a clear message for New Zealand rugby fans:
“There’s no bigger underdog at this tournament, and with plenty of Kiwi links in the team, if you’re looking for a second side, why not Hong Kong?”
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.