Hong Kong national rugby league team

The Hong Kong national rugby league team represents Hong Kong in the sport of rugby league.

Hong Kong
Team information
NicknameThunder
Governing bodyHong Kong Rugby League
RegionAsia Pacific
Head coachJason Fairleigh
CaptainRingo Lung
Most capsToby Lei (6)
Richard Lindsay (6)
Ringo Lung (6)
Top try-scorerCraig McMurrich (4)
Top point-scorerRichard Lindsay (30)
RLIF ranking45th
Uniforms
First colours
Team results
First international
 Hong Kong 22-24 Japan 
(Kowloon, Hong Kong; 4 November 2017)
Biggest win
 Japan 20-32 Hong Kong 
(Inagi, Tokyo; 16 June 2018)
Biggest defeat
 Hong Kong 6-62 Poland 
(St Mary's Stadium, Australia; 4 October 2018)
World Cup
Appearances0
Hong Kong playing Poland in 2018

History

The Hong Kong Rugby League (HKRL) was formed in December 2014, with the first official rugby league matches in Hong Kong being played in 2015[1] and the inaugural Hong Kong Super League being contested in 2017.[2]

Hong Kong made its Test debut in November 2017, losing to Japan in Kowloon.[3] Hong Kong plays Japan for a trophy called the East Asia Cup.

Hong Kong was included in the RLIF world rankings for the first time in December 2017.[4] Hong Kong is currently ranked 45th in the world. [5]

Current squad

Squad selected for 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship;[6]

  • Matthew Waugh
  • Mike Tsang
  • Rhys Johnson
  • Richard Lindsay
  • Ben Wong
  • John Howarth
  • Gus Spence
  • Lee Griffiths
  • Craig McMurrich
  • Gareth Janes
  • Benoit Mouclier
  • Alex Shvets
  • Ari Rogers
  • Toby Lei
  • Ben Ryan
  • Hung Yip
  • Ringo Lung
  • Allan Newsome
  • Jack Nielsen

Hong Kong Residents XIII

The Hong Kong Residents XIII was a representative team made by the Hong Kong Rugby League to give open-age players who currently reside in Hong Kong the opportunity to help develop Rugby League throughout Asia. Whilst not the International Representative team of Hong Kong, the Residents team gave an opportunity for a number of players in the Thunder to develop.

The Residents have had three tours since their formation in 2015, touring the Philippines twice, and Thailand once.

2017

Hong Kong Residents 58 defeated Philippines Admirals 8 (John Franklin Agunod, Jay Caña tries) at Emperor Stadium, Taguig City, Philippines (18 March 2017)[7]

2016

Hong Kong Residents 20 (Rob Hotchin 2, Doug Fluker, Hugh Quinivan tries; Doug Fluker 2 from 4 goals) defeated Thailand Residents 16 (Sakul Chopaka, Richard Chigumba, Julien Domenech tries; Ben Geldart 2 from 3 goals) at Horseshoe Point Resort, Pattaya, Thailand (28 May 2016)

2015

Hong Kong Residents 40 (Tom Patridge 2, Kurt O'Brien 2, Doug Fluker, Tom Beresford, Yosuke Yamagishi tries; Doug Fluker 6 from 6 goals) defeated Manila Storm 34 (Elvis William Jensen 2, Martin Yam 2, Greg Ranza, Benny Noki tries; Martin Yami 5 from 6 goals) at Southern Plains Field in Alabang, Philippines (7 November 2015)

International Results

International results for the Hong Kong Thunder.

2018

Hong Kong 32 defeated Japan Samurais 20 at Sogo Ground of Inagi Chuo Park, Tokyo, 16 June 2018.

Poland 62 (S Maslanka 2, R Mykietyn 2, C Korostchuk 3, J Metuangaro 2, E Niszczot, M Maslanka 2 tries; E Niszczot 7 goals) v 6 Hong Kong (C McMurrich try; R Lindsay 1 goal) at St Marys Leagues Stadium, Sydney, 4 October 2018. 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship. C McMurrich sin binned twice.

Solomon Islands 32 (L Tongaka, T Sanga, S Momoa, M Singamoana 2, H Angikimua, D Saomatangi tries; E Moeava 2 goals) v 12 Hong Kong (L Griffiths, M Waugh tries; R Lindsay 2 goals) at Kellyville Ridge Stadium, Sydney, 7 October 2018. 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship. L Griffiths and M Singamoana sin binned.

Japan 32 (K Fukushige, F Karino, I Matsuo, E Shivasaki 2, G Gerediaga tries; T Sugano 4 goals) v 30 Hong Kong (R Lindsay, L Griffiths, B Ryan, C McMurrich, G Spence tries; R Lindsay 5 goals) at Windsor Sports Complex, Sydney, 11 October 2018. 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship.

Solomon Islands 56 (Singamoana, Angikumua 3, Moe'ava 2, Sanga, Tengemoana, Manau, 2, Saomatangi tries; E Moe'ava 5, T Sanga 1 goals) v 14 Hong Kong (B Barnes, R Lindsay, C McMurrich tries; B Barnes 1 goal) at St Marys Leagues Stadium field number 2, Sydney, 13 October 2018. 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship. C McMurrich sin binned.

2017

Hong Kong 22 (Ben Ryan 2, Gus Spence, Toby Lei tries; Kin Chong 3 from 4 goals) lost to Japan Samurais 24 (Kazuki Fukushige, Itaru Matuso, Kenshin Tsutsui, Kohei Ishikawa, Royoji Kitabayashi tries, Dai Fujitaka 2 from 5 goals) at King's Park in Kowloon, 4 November 2017.

Fixtures

Upcoming fixtures for the Hong Kong Thunder

2018

Emerging Nations World Championship - Sydney, Australia (September - October 2018)

References
  1. Hong Kong Rugby League launched
  2. HKRL announce inaugural Super League competition
  3. Brave Hong Kong lose narrowly against Japan in historic encounter
  4. PNG climbs to 10th place in World Rugby League Ranking
  5. "RLIF - Rugby League International Federation". www.rlif.com. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  6. https://www.rlenwc.com/teams/hong-kong/ Hong Kong RLENWC
  7. "Filipinos make International League History - The Philippine Times". The Philippine Times. 20 March 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
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