Hong Kong, it’s history: first time at the Rugby World Cup

A new, unpublished page of the history of rugby: for the first time Hong Kong qualifies to the final phase of the World Cup after having beaten South Korea, Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka in Asia Rugby Championship 2025, the tournament that assigned a direct ticket for Australia 2027. A historical result that may surprise, but not entirely, because in the land of the “fragrant port” (this is the literal translation of Name) has been playing rugby for over a century, and if for several reasons in the “classic” version at 15 did not yet arrive so many satisfactions, in the “Olympic” rugby at 7 Hong Kong for years has been the absolute protagonist. Also because with Covid even many rugby players had lost the opportunity to devote themselves only to the oval ball (they were the years of the first full time contracts) and it seemed unthinkable, a few years later, to see the national team conquering the world stage. This qualification, therefore, does not come by chance, although obviously favored by the enlargement of the World Championship from 20 to 24 teams that has freed an extra place for Asia (considering that the first ticket has always been the prerogative of Japan) and has allowed this country to achieve a historical result that tells not only its sporting growth, but the face of a nation suspended between East and Wester and with a future – not only rugbistic – to be discovered.

The British, Seven and professionalism

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Obviously, the British rugby also brought him to Hong Kong, of which the country was colony until 1997. Even, the first documented game dates back to 1886, when the Garrison British Army challenged a team of clubs in the field of a racecourse. It was precisely the military who contributed to the development of the game, organizing tournaments that put the first clubs and the various teams of military and police forces. When China arrived in 1997, which was never very interested in rugby, the oval ball was already very widespread, so much so that even the first international rugby tournament at 7 (which has always played more in those parts) dates back to 1976, complete with great teams in tow: from Australia to Figi to New Zealanda. A historic tournament that will act as a forerunner at the Sevens World Series, still today the most important itinerant tournament in the 7 rugby world, of which the Hong Kong stage is a point of reference, with 40 thousand spectators every year. Inevitably, all the movement has focused mainly on this variant which, however, guaranteed an important economic induced both from a sporting and tourist point of view, so much so that all high -level players in the round of the Seven national team have full time contracts from professionals, train full time and travel the world for World Series. Indeed, there are 12 hours per week to dedicate to extra activities, so that you can study or make other work experiences to be able to build a future at the end of the career.

An Italian in Hong Kong

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Among the professionals of Hong Kong there is also an Italian by birth: his name is Alessandro Nardoni, he plays in the Hong Kong Scottish and is under contract with the Federation since 2016. And to think that in Hong Kong, and Rugby, he had arrived almost by chance: the father worked in the leather industry and had moved for work, and it was he who convinced him to play Rugby. Initially it had to be a way to enter a new society, with a different language and culture: it was no love at first sight, on the contrary, it was perhaps more the father who insisted, but then it was enough to change teams to change everything. After 9 years in the Seven also came the call in Rugby at 15 and the debut in the qualifying match won against Sri Lanka: there are still two years left and Alessandro still remains a player mainly of 7 rugby, but who knows, it could be the first Italian to play the world championship with a shirt other than the blue one. Nardoni is not the only one to find himself in Hong Kong almost by chance: Rowan Varty, the first Hong Kong player to be convened in the legendary Barbarians in 2013, born in London as an English father and Chinese-Portuguese father, also found himself growing in a different country, he discovered rugby at the King George V School and-in the years before professionalism-he worked in a law firm- And he fought to play in the national team, getting his passport only at 27 years old. Others, in addition to rugby, had particular career: and Rolston did not even have time to enjoy the new era of Hong Kong, because in 2017 he was forced to retire for a neck injury. Beautiful not only in the field but also outside, he recycled himself as an actor, and now he also manages a restaurant. Also thanks to these characters, children of a different rugby, today Hong Kong has come down to here.

politics and controversy

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Obviously it’s not all roses and flowers, on the contrary. The political situation, characterized by a strong Chinese interference, ends up reflecting in one way or another also in sport. Despite the tradition and the deep bond with the Hong Kong Rugby, he had to deal with a delicate context, where every public gesture can turn into something bigger. When in 1997 Hong Kong returned to China’s hands he did so according to the “a country, two systems” principle. Hong Kong had to give in to the Administration of Beijing the sovereignty and decisions regarding foreign policy and military defense, in fact becoming a province subjected to the Chinese government authority, while the territories would have maintained a status of “special province” with an autonomous and capitalist economic regime and with different political and administrative institution. In fact, however, the interference is there and it is always present. Emblematic what happened in 2022, during a Seven in Incheon tournament, when by mistake he resounded from the “Glory to Hong Kong” speakers, the hymn symbol of pro-democracy protests, instead of the Chinese official “March of the Volunteers”. An oversight? A desired gesture? It is not known, but a huge diplomatic case that forced everyone – Federation, players, institutions – to walk on the thin thread that separates sports and politics broke out. The official version of Asia Rugby was that of an error by the interns that was to send the hymn and who – naively looking for “Hong Kong” – started the first piece in front of him. The rugby players, conspicuously embarrassed by the situation, chose not to make statements, but the very fact that Hong Kong continues to have their own national team, with their own flag and their hymn, tells of an identity that is still alive, albeit fragile. A land suspended between two worlds, which through sport – and now through this first, historic qualification for the World Cup – tries to write a different piece of future. It will not just be a question of destinations and platelets: for Hong Kong, climbing on that global stage will mean, after all, continue to exist. And telling each other, beyond every border.

Covid and rebirth

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The 15 rugby route was diametrically opposite. A little because it went into the background “obscured” by the success of Seven, a little because it requires greater resources to be able to stay at high levels, a little for the greater competition has never been the priority of Hong Kong, who in reality had also tried to make the leap in quality, trying the path of professionalism with the South China Tigers, a franchise that was to serve to play international games against other Asian clubs, Due to Covid. The pandemic has practically collapsed the rugby system at 15, forcing the federation to cut many of the contracts previously stipulated, while the Seven in some way has held hard strong of its tradition and follow -up. The key to the rebirth was precisely the enlargement of the 24 -team world championship: with one more place for Asia, Hong Kong knew he could be the main candidate for qualification and started investing again. To date, the national team is based on a group of about 25 players with full -time contracts, even if the rest of the players continues to live rugby as a parallel passion for other occupations, but considering that it is certainly not a leading country from a rugby point of view, it is already so much. And with the world championship there is talk of a further enlargement: the professionals could also become 30-35, it would be an incredible goal for a small town that perhaps will have the honor of facing the All Blacks, or the Springboks, or anyone who will happen in the world round. Because Hong Kong has just earned a place among the great ones.